Bloodshot Billboards: Eye Syphilis is Serious
May 07 2024 - 4:35PM
Business Wire
AHF’s latest eye-catching out-of-home campaign
draws attention to an uptick in cases of sexually transmitted
infection that impacts vision
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is using the image of two giant
bloodshot, infected eyes and the blurry words “Eye Syphilis is
Serious” along with the URL freeSTDcheck.org to draw attention to
the importance of getting tested for ocular syphilis, a sexually
transmitted infection (STI) which can cause blurred vision,
floaters, light sensitivity, and even blindness if left
untreated.
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AHF has launched a new national public
awareness campaign using the image of two giant bloodshot, infected
eyes and the blurry words “Eye Syphilis is Serious” along with the
URL freeSTDcheck.org to draw attention to the importance of getting
tested for ocular syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection (STI)
which can cause blurred vision, floaters, light sensitivity, and
even blindness if left untreated. The CDC reports that cases have
been on the rise nationwide lately. (Graphic: Business Wire)
Cases of syphilis are on the rise nationwide, and according to
CNN, researchers in Chicago found more than two dozen cases last
year of patients reporting unusual symptoms, such as vision and eye
problems consistent with ocular syphilis.
“Syphilis itself is at an all-time high, and cases of ocular
syphilis are likely to be underreported,” said Dr. Michael
Dube, National Medical Director for AHF’s Public Health
Division. “Symptoms that impact the eyes are becoming more common
and can have permanent negative health outcomes, so we are drawing
attention to the need for people to get tested.”
A 2019 study of 41,187 syphilis cases from 16 states found that
1.1% of those cases were ocular syphilis and were more likely (60%)
to present in people living with HIV than people who are not.
AHF’s outdoor advertising campaign will run in 12 states (CA,
FL, GA, IL, LA, MD, MS, NV, NY, OH, TX, and WA) and Washington, DC
for a three-month rotation, featuring the eye-catching image on
billboards, transit shelters, bus interiors, posters, benches,
standalone kiosks, and more.
The most notable recent outbreak of ocular syphilis occurred in
Michigan in 2022. Five women presented to their individual
providers with blurry eyesight, floaters, and double vision, all
within a few weeks of each other. All five women had ocular
syphilis from sexual contact with the same man who had asymptomatic
syphilis.
The CDC recommends screening for syphilis in any patient that
presents with new changes in their vision, especially if they fall
into risk categories such as men who have sex with men (MSM),
people living with HIV (PLWH), and people with multiple or
anonymous partners.
Treatment for ocular syphilis should be managed alongside an
ophthalmologist. If a client diagnosed with syphilis has any new
issues with their eyes, they should be screened for ocular
syphilis. Those with ocular syphilis should be tested for HIV.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the world’s largest
HIV/AIDS healthcare organization, provides cutting-edge medicine
and advocacy to more than 1.9 million individuals across 47
countries, including the U.S. and in Africa, Latin
America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region, and Eastern Europe. To
learn more about AHF, visit us online at AIDShealth.org, find us on
Facebook, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, and
subscribe to our AHFter Hours podcast.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240507952510/en/
Ged Kenslea, AHF Sr. Comms Dir. (323) 791-5526
Ged.Kenslea@ahf.org
W. Imara Canady, AHF National Comms Dir. (770) 940-6555
Imara.Canady@ahf.org