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Many transmissible diseases, endemic in the Mediterranean area have been spread to countries where they have never been diagnosed before, because of the increasing international trade and travel activities. The purpose of this review is to describe the ocular manifestations of these infectious and parasitic diseases, which are also common in Greece, along with some insights into their etiopathogenesis, differential diagnosis and treatment. While ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis), leishmaniosis (Leishmania infantum) and dirofilariosis (Dirofilaria immitis) mainly cause intraocular disease, most often exemplified by immunological uveal tract damage, onchocercosis (Onchocerca spp) and thelaziosis (Thelazia calipaeda) affect the adnexa and periocular tissues in the majority of cases. Apart from the specific treatment, which may be either conservative or surgical, applied for the disease, topical glucocorticoisteroids, antibiotics and/or mydriatics-cycloplegics accelerate the healing process and may prevent post-treatment complications.
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