Adult Eye Conditions: Common Eye Conditions.

In primary care practices and emergency departments, approximately 2% to 3% of visits are related to eye conditions. The most common diagnoses are corneal abrasion, corneal foreign body, conjunctivitis, external hordeolum (stye), and subconjunctival hemorrhage. This section addresses hordeolum, chalazion, conjunctivitis, corneal abrasion, and corneal foreign body. A thorough history and physical examination are crucial for patients with these conditions, and frequently are sufficient for diagnosis. Conservative therapies are first-line treatments for hordeolum and chalazion, including application of warm compresses, eyelid scrubs, and eyelid massage. Conjunctivitis is the most common etiology of red eye and has infectious and noninfectious causes. Bacterial conjunctivitis typically resolves in 1 to 2 weeks, but can be managed with topical antibiotic solutions or ointments. Viral conjunctivitis management involves frequent handwashing and use of cool compresses and artificial tears. Corneal abrasion is the most common eye injury seen in emergency departments, and corneal foreign body is the second most common. Topical antibiotics and cycloplegics are mainstay therapies for corneal abrasion, with consideration of topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for pain management. Follow-up visits are recommended for select patients. Management of corneal foreign body requires prompt removal of the object, pain management, consideration of prophylactic antibiotics, and follow-up when appropriate.

The Ebola Outbreak of 2014-2015: From Coordinated Multilateral Action to Effective Disease Containment, Vaccine Development, and Beyond.

The Ebola outbreak of 2014-2015 exacted a terrible toll on major countries of West Africa. Latest estimates from the World Health Organization indicate that over 11,000 lives were lost to the deadly virus since the first documented case was officially recorded. However, significant progress in the fight against Ebola was made thanks to a combination of globally-supported containment efforts, dissemination of key information to the public, the use of modern information technology resources to better track the spread of the outbreak, as well as more effective use of active surveillance, targeted travel restrictions, and quarantine procedures. This article will outline the progress made by the global public health community toward containing and eventually extinguishing this latest outbreak of Ebola. Economic consequences of the outbreak will be discussed. The authors will emphasize policies and procedures thought to be effective in containing the outbreak. In addition, we will outline selected episodes that threatened inter-continental spread of the disease. The emerging topic of post-Ebola syndrome will also be presented. Finally, we will touch on some of the diagnostic (e.g., point-of-care [POC] testing) and therapeutic (e.g., new vaccines and pharmaceuticals) developments in the fight against Ebola, and how these developments may help the global public health community fight future epidemics.