American Doctor Declared Free Of Ebola Finds The Virus In His Eye Weeks Later

Dr. Lan Crozier

 

American doctor Ian Crozier was treated for Ebola in Atlanta last year and declared free of the virus in his blood. But he had no way of knowing it still lurked in his eye.

Weeks after he was released from the hospital, he experienced a piercing pain in his left eye. The pressure in his eye elevated while his vision decreased.   After repeated tests, doctors discovered the virus was still living in his eye.

His case has left doctors stunned and highlighted the need for eye checkups for Ebola survivors.

Crozier, 43, was hospitalized at Emory University Hospital for more than a month in September after contracting the disease in Sierra Leone, where he worked at a hospital.

Despite the presence of the virus in the eye, samples from tears and the outer eye membrane tested negative, which means the patient was not at risk of spreading the disease during casual contact, Emory said in a statement Thursday.

Though the patient was not at risk of spreading the virus, all health care providers treating survivors, including eye doctors, must follow Ebola safety protocols, says Jay Varkey, assistant professor at Emory University School of Medicine.

Following recovery from Ebola virus disease, patients should be followed for the development of eye symptoms including pain, redness, light sensitivity and blurred vision, which may be signs of uveitis," said Steven Yeh, associate professor of ophthalmology at Emory University School of Medicine.