A rare eye infection has struck in Cooma with Express journalist John Bannon recently suffering from the aptly named Christmas Eye.
Registrar Doctor Chee Coh from the Sharp Street Medical Practice said although practitioners cannot be sure exactly what causes the infection there are some tell tale signs.
"Its usually starts when there are bugs or dust in the air, these then make their way into the eye and when people rub their eyes the infection spreads," he said.
The infection creates a superficial ulcer over the conjunctiva and the cornea resulting in a painful stinging sensation and a temporary loss of vision.
It is not a bacterial infection, instead it is a severe chemical or allergic reaction to plant and dust matter.
Little is known about Christmas Eye because there are so few cases. The infection usually only occurs in late November through to January when drier conditions release more plant and dust matter into the air.
Fortunately, Christmas Eye is curable with a series of antibiotic and steroid drops that help fight the infection and return the eye to its original condition in about 10 days.
Dr Coh said although Christmas Eye can occur in the Cooma-Monaro region, he has not seen any other cases this summer and believes it is a little more common in the Canberra region.
It is recommend that you consult your general practitioner or an eye specialist straight away if you feel a stinging sensation in your eye this summer.
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