Physician Fights Off Ebola Virus in Eye

"When Dr. Ian Crozier was released from Emory University Hospital in October after a long, brutal fight with Ebola that nearly ended his life, his medical team thought he was cured. But less than two months later, he was back at the hospital with fading sight, intense pain and soaring pressure in his left eye," according to the New York Times. "Test results were chilling: The inside of Dr. Crozier’s eye was teeming with Ebola. His doctors were amazed. They had considered the possibility that the virus had invaded his eye, but they had not really expected to find it. Months had passed since Dr. Crozier became ill while working in an Ebola treatment ward in Sierra Leone as a volunteer for the World Health Organization. By the time he left Emory, his blood was Ebola-free. Although the virus may persist in semen for months, other body fluids were thought to be clear of it once a patient recovered. Almost nothing was known about the ability of Ebola to lurk inside the eye." Read more.

Also read the post about changing eye color and about the Crozier case history.

Viral Infections Change Eye Color

"How can a viral infection change the color of a person’s eye?" asks the New York Times. "Months after Dr. Ian Crozier thought he had recovered from Ebola, he was stunned to find himself developing intense eye pain and fading vision. The inside of his left eye was still occupied territory, full of live, replicating virus. And one morning during this siege, he looked in the mirror and saw that his iris had changed from blue to green. Although such color changes are rare, they do occur from time to time during viral infections, eye doctors say. Herpes viruses are the most common cause, but other viruses can do the same thing. The changes in hue are almost always permanent." Read more. See this post as well.

Eye Color Relates to Personality? Study Says Maybe

"The eyes are the window to your soul? Maybe, but new research is highlighting how the colour of your eyes could hold clues to your health," writes the Daily Mail. "The curious links between eye colour and health have fascinated scientists for years, leading to a body of research that suggests the colour affects how much you feel pain, your chance of getting diabetes, how quick your mind is - and even how well you can throw a Frisbee or handle your drink. The latest piece of evidence in this scientific jigsaw has been added by scientists at the University of Pittsburgh. They found Caucasian women with light-coloured eyes - blue or green - appear to tolerate pain and distress better than those with brown or hazel eyes." Read more.

Eye Color Related to Skin Disease?

"They say 'the eyes are the window to the soul.' But a new study suggests the eyes may also offer a sneak peek at the risk of serious skin problems down the road," according to WebMD. "The results showed that people with blue eyes were less likely to develop vitiligo. Meanwhile, people with brown eyes were more likely to develop the skin disease and its characteristic white patches of skin and hair." Read more.