Eye syphilis is on the rise in the United States, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
More than 200 people across 20 states were diagnosed with the sexually transmitted disease in their eyes between 2014 and 2016.
Ocular Syphilis can cause blindness and blurry vision. It develops out of a syphilis infection in the spinal cord and then spreads to the eye.
It was once rare, but rates have been rising slowly in the U.S. in recent years.
The CDC says ocular syphilis can involve any part of the eye, but it usually causes inflammation of the eye's middle layer. It blurs vision and can ultimately lead to vision loss. It can even travel to your brain.
In very rare cases syphilis can be transmitted through prolonged kissing, but it's most common forms of transmission are via vaginal, anal, and oral sex.
Patients in the early stages can get injections of Benzathine penicillin G to eliminate the infection. Those with latent syphilis can get 3 doses penicillin injections, 7 days apart from each other.