What is Apollo Eye Disease? 

Understanding Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Options

What is Apollo Eye Disease (Acute Hemorrhagic Conjunctivitis)? Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

[BGN Eye Clinic Jamsil Lotte Tower Branch]

Hello, this is Dr. Park Se-kwang, Chief Physician at BGN Eye Clinic Jamsil.

While many patients visit our clinic for vision correction, cataracts, and various ocular conditions, being an ophthalmology clinic means we also receive numerous inquiries regarding Apollo eye disease and various types of keratitis. Today, I would like to take the time to discuss in detail this eye condition that affects many people every year.

What is Apollo Eye Disease?

Apollo eye disease is a form of Acute Hemorrhagic Conjunctivitis in medical terms. It is a representative infectious eye disease primarily caused by Enterovirus 70, Coxsackievirus A24, or Adenovirus. Because it is highly contagious, understanding its transmission routes and thoroughly preventing infection is essential.

Primary Causes and Transmission Routes

This condition is a highly contagious viral infectious disease. After exposure to the virus, symptoms typically develop rapidly within 24 to 48 hours. Infection primarily occurs through the following routes:

• Physical Contact with an Infected Individual: Direct transmission of the virus via hands that have touched infected eyes.
• Sharing Contaminated Items: Indirect transmission through everyday items such as towels, handkerchiefs, doorknobs, computer keyboards, and smartphones.
• Visiting Crowded Public Places: Cross-infection in crowded environments including schools, workplaces, public transportation, and swimming pools.
• Potential Droplet Transmission: Possibility of airborne transmission via fine droplets from coughing or sneezing.

Because Apollo eye disease is exceptionally contagious, the rate of transmission is extremely fast in group settings like schools, kindergartens, and offices. Therefore, early isolation and strict adherence to hygiene rules are essential.

Frequently Asked Questions Before Treatment (Q&A)

When diagnosed with Apollo eye disease or upon noticing early warning signs, many patients urgently ask practical questions right before visiting the clinic. Here are clear answers to the most common inquiries.

Q1. Can I go to school or work as usual? What is the isolation period?
Apollo eye disease is a highly contagious condition. The most contagious period is approximately one week after symptom onset. During this timeframe, it is a strict rule to avoid going to work or school and to remain isolated at home.
Specifically for students, an official medical opinion note (or diagnostic certificate) can be issued after examination for attendance approval, so an early clinic visit is highly recommended.

Q2. Can I just use existing eye drops or wear an eye patch from home?
Using a family member's eye drops or old leftover medication on your own must be strictly avoided, as it can induce secondary bacterial infections or complications.
Additionally, wearing an eye patch increases the temperature and humidity inside the eye area, creating the optimal environment for viral replication. Therefore, you should not wear an eye patch. It is best to leave the eye exposed to air circulation while administering prescribed eye drops.

Stage-by-Stage Symptoms

Symptoms begin with mild initial discomfort and show a clinical progression where conditions rapidly worsen.

Initial Self-Examination Symptoms

It usually starts in one eye with a sensation of a foreign object or itching, quickly progressing to both eyes. The surrounding area becomes noticeably red, conjunctival hyperemia becomes severe, and the discharge of tears and sticky eye discharge increases.

Advanced Stage Symptoms

Hemorrhaging appears as pinpoint or wide spots of blood on the sclera (white part of the eye), which is a classic characteristic of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis. Eyelid edema occurs where the eyelids swell uncomfortably, and photophobia (light sensitivity) accompanied by sharp pain upon light exposure, as well as temporary vision reduction, may occur.

Essential Facts to Remember During Treatment

Because Apollo eye disease is a viral infection, there is no single targeted cure that immediately eradicates the specific virus.

In most cases, it naturally improves within 1 to 2 weeks as the body's immune system recovers.

However, careful medical evaluation by an ophthalmologist is necessary during the course of the disease to prevent additional corneal damage, relieve pain, and avoid complications.

Treatment and Prevention Guidelines

The ultimate goal of treatment is to alleviate symptoms and prevent complications such as secondary bacterial infections and severe corneal opacity.

Discomfort Relief Therapy

• Cold Compress Application: Applying a cold compress using a clean pack over the eyelids effectively reduces swelling and stinging pain.
• Preservative-Free Artificial Tears: Frequently flushing the eyes with artificial tears physically washes away debris and viruses.
• Specialist Prescribed Eye Drops: Administering broad-spectrum antibiotic eye drops as directed by a doctor prevents secondary mixed bacterial infections.

Prevention and Prognosis Guidelines Recommended by Dr. Park Se-Kwang

Many people tend to take the treatment process lightly due to memories of recovering easily from eye diseases during childhood. However, if the timing of proper care is missed and the virus deeply invades the cornea, it can induce corneal opacity, causing blurred vision and long-term vision impairment.

If you detect any of the following warning signs, you must seek a detailed examination from a nearby ophthalmologist immediately:

• Heavy, severe eye pain accompanied by worsening blurred vision
• Swelling so severe that the eyelids can barely open, or deepening hemorrhagic spots
• No improvement after more than 7 days, or eye discharge turning yellow or pus-like