Is Travelling Risky For A Patient Suffering From Dry Eye Condition?

Posted on Fri, 5 Feb 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 5 Feb 2016 Answered on

Tue, 29 Mar 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : I am 67 years old with a dry eye condition. I am concerned about possibly contracting pink eye from the Sika carrying mosquitoes. Would you recommend that I not travel to the country of Panama to avoid this risk?

Thankyou. XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Noble Zachariah (37 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
No need to curtail trip. Take care to avoid mosquito bites

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Welcome and thanks for your query.
I understand your concern.
Having dry eyes does not increase your risk of contacting the Zika virus.
The proven way of transmission of Zika virus is through the bite of an infected aedes mosquito.
There is no need for you to cancel your trip if you are keen to ho, but it would be prudent to take measures to avoid mosquito bites. You could apply repellant creams or there are small devices that heat a mosquito repellant and gets your room rid of mosquitos.
Take care,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Noble Zachariah (47 minutes later)

If I am bitten by this infected mosquito, would pink eye aggravate my dry eye condition? If so, would my dry eye condition be more painful and difficult to control? If I do not use the Muro 128, my eye becomes very red and at times I have had to go to the emergency room.

Thankyou.

Answered by Dr. Noble Zachariah (16 hours later)

Brief Answer:
likely to be painful

Detailed Answer:
Sorry for the delay in replying as I live in a different time zone.
If you get a conjunctivitis due Zika virus infection, there can be painful swelling of the conjunctivae and it may be quite painful.
Antiviral medication along with Muro 128 might help.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar