Many measles survivors developing eye complications
Experts call for immediate screening as seven more children die from measles-like symptoms
Even after recovering from measles, a growing number of children and adults are developing eye complications, with many seeking treatments for symptoms including white spots on the cornea, blurred vision, red eyes and excessive tearing.
Eye specialists urged all measles patients to undergo immediate eye screening after recovery. They warn that if left untreated, these complications can progress to corneal ulcers or perforation, potentially leading to permanent vision loss.
Dr Md Masudul Hasan, executive director of Vision Eye Hospital, told TBS that nearly 100 patients with measles-related eye complications have visited his chamber so far, including both children and adults.
He recently treated a three-year-old child who suffered severe corneal damage in one eye after developing keratomalacia due to acute vitamin A deficiency.
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"If a suitable donor cornea becomes available, the child will undergo a corneal transplant. However, the low rate of corneal donation in Bangladesh makes obtaining a suitable cornea a major challenge," he said.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), since March, 118,250 children have so far been infected with or are suspected of having measles, of whom 85,122 have recovered and been discharged from hospitals.
Dr Masudul Hasan said eye complications can emerge even after recovery from the disease. He recently treated a physician who developed blurred vision after recovering from measles and was found to have a white spot on the cornea – a sign of post-measles corneal complications.
Patients commonly present with symptoms such as corneal white spots, blurred vision, excessive tearing, red eyes and conjunctivitis, he added.
He warned that untreated symptoms can initially lead to corneal ulcers and, in patients with vitamin A deficiency, may progress to keratomalacia, causing corneal sores and eventually perforation, with a high risk of permanent vision loss.
Prof Dr Md Bazlul Bari Bhuiyan, an ophthalmologist at Holy Family Red Crescent Hospital, said measles is frequently associated with conjunctivitis and corneal complications, particularly among vitamin A-deficient children.
"Most well-nourished children recover as their immune system overcomes the infection, but malnourished children face a much higher risk of complications," he said, adding that many patients with measles-related eye problems have sought treatment at the hospital.
Dr ASM Quadir, director of the National Institute of Ophthalmology, also said patients with measles-related eye complications are increasingly seeking treatment at the institute.
According to the World Health Organization, all children and adults with measles should receive two doses of vitamin A supplements, given 24 hours apart, to restore depleted vitamin A levels, prevent eye damage and blindness, and reduce measles-related deaths.
Professor Abid Hossain Mollah, former chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Dhaka Medical College, said measles significantly depletes vitamin A levels in children, causing eye dryness and increasing the risk of corneal damage.
He said he has also treated patients who developed eye complications after recovering from measles.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh's measles outbreak continues to worsen. Seven more children died from measles-like symptoms in the 24 hours until 8am yesterday, raising the combined tally of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 738.
