How Lyme Disease Can Be Dangerous for Your Sight

May is known for many things: flowers, warmer weather, the end of school terms, but a lesser known May celebration is Lyme Disease Awareness Month. This tick-borne disease causes many complications throughout the body, including problems with the eyes. Lyme disease is a spiral-shaped bacteria, and depending on where they grow, different eye problems can occur. Luckily, eye complications don’t always occur with Lyme disease and treatment is possible for the disease and any problems it may cause your eyes. Here are the most common symptoms that Lyme Disease can have on your sight:

• Sensitivity to Light

A common effect of Lyme disease is sensitivity to light, even on cloudy days or at night.

• Cloudy or Foggy Vision

Sometimes those with Lyme disease with find their vision to be cloudy, especially as the bacteria are being killed off and giving off endotoxins. This often occurs after a person wakes up.

• Conjunctivitis

Commonly called pink eye, conjunctivitis causes eyes to be red and itchy, and to produce discharge. Unlike common pink eye, this is not contagious. This usually occurs in the early phase of Lyme disease.

• Uveitis, or Inflammation of the Middle of the Eye

The uvea includes the iris (the colored part of the eye), the ciliary body (which makes the fluid that fills the eye), and the area beneath the retina. Inflammation of the uvea can cause floaters in a person’s vision, which appear as dots or lines that float around in someone’s vision. Uveitis can be treated by eye care pros like Infinite Eye Care.

• Optic Neuritis, or Inflammation of the Optic Nerve

Optic Neuritis is the inflammation of the fibers covering the optic nerve. Since this is the channel of communication to the brain, this can be painful and cause vision loss, but is also treatable.

• Keratitis, or Inflammation of the Cornea

The cornea is the transparent protective outer layer of the eye. Inflammation of the cornea leads to light sensitivity, eye pain, and blurry vision. Eyes with keratitis can even have the appearance of being cloudy.


If you have been diagnosed with Lyme disease or have questions about any of these symptoms, please contact us immediately at (320) 257-4990. We can help treat any eye problems, whether they’ve been caused by this disease or not. Visit Livestrong.com for more information on ocular signs of Lyme disease.

How to Prevent Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is spread by the bite of an infected tick. While not all ticks carry this disease, lyme disease prevention starts with preventing the bite, so follow these steps to keep the ticks away altogether:

• Cover your legs, ankles, feet, head, and arms if you plan on hiking, being in tall grasses, or in the woods
• Always check your skin (and your children or pets) for ticks, which can be very small—poppy seed size—this early in the summer. Don’t forget in between the toes and in the hair! 
• Wear insect repellant to keep ticks and other bugs away
• If you have found a tick on you, remove it properly, and keep watch for fever or rash

Summer is just about here. Although it may attract some unwanted pests, you won’t want to miss a second of it! If you are having troubles with your vision - whatever the reason may be - make an appointment with Dr. Tom and the caring staff at Infinite Eye Care.