Madras Eye may not be a life-threatening disease, but doctors say that we cannot be lax with the infection. “Madras Eye may not have lasting visual implications for most of the population. But, the infection can be passed on to a large population very soon, keeping people away from their daily lives for some days. Therefore, we should take it seriously.
The inflammation of the conjunctiva is called conjunctivitis. Madras Eye is typically characterised by red eye and irritation in the eye. But those symptoms are not always sufficient to conclude that a patient has it. Apart from irritation, itching and redness in the eyes, an infected person’s eyes may water. “This is how the body tries to clear any element that is bothering it- by washing it out. Sometimes, there will be a discharge of mucus or pus. There is no specific treatment to kill the virus, doctors usually advise lubricant eye drops and decongestants for patients, so that their eyes are comfortable. Doctors also prescribe antibiotics when there is secondary infection and antivirals are the last resort.