Zika Virus: Children With Microcephaly May Develop Eye Defects

Zika virus may be linked with another birth defect in infants, such as ocular abnormalities associated with impaired vision, according to a new study published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association Ophthalmology."We're very concerned about this," said ophthalmology professor Lee Jampol. "There hasn't been enough testing yet to know what these babies' vision is going to be, as more babies are examined, we'll have a better idea of the range of damage that occur to the retina."

Researchers explained that the infection causing microcephaly typically occurs during the first or second trimester of pregnancy."We don't know with 100 percent certainty that the virus is causing retinal lesions, but we think it likely," Jampol added,"ocular abnormalities were present in 10 of the 29 infants examined (35%) and were bilateral in 7 of the 10." The mosquito-borne disease was linked also to Guillain-Barré syndrome, which can cause temporary paralysis, meanwhile, there is still no vaccine or treatment to treat the virus.