Gonococcal Conjunctivitis
Gonococcal conjunctivitis is an eye infection caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacteria responsible for gonorrhea — generally more severe than typical pink eye and requiring prompt, specific treatment.
How it happens and what it looks like
Like chlamydial conjunctivitis, this typically results from hand-to-eye contact with infected genital fluids, rather than direct sexual contact with the eye. It tends to be more severe than most conjunctivitis causes — significant redness, swelling, and thick, often profuse discharge — and can, without prompt treatment, threaten vision through corneal damage, which is genuinely more serious than most other causes of pink eye.
A note on newborns
Gonococcal conjunctivitis in newborns, acquired during vaginal delivery from a mother with an active infection, is a recognized and serious concern — which is why prenatal gonorrhea screening is standard, and why many hospitals administer preventive eye treatment to newborns shortly after birth regardless of known maternal status.
Treatment
This requires prompt treatment with the appropriate antibiotic (current guidelines favor ceftriaxone, consistent with gonorrhea treatment generally) — standard antibiotic eye drops alone typically aren't sufficient, and delayed treatment raises the risk of more serious eye damage.
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