epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC) [Gk, epi, above, demos, the people, keras, horn; L, conjunctivus; Gk, itis, inflammation] , an adenovirus infection consisting of an acute, severely painful conjunctivitis followed by keratitis. In the western world, EKC strikes predominantly in selected environments: industry eye clinics, emergency rooms, nursing homes, schools, camps, and child-care centers. The virus is often found on the hands of people with active EKC. Hand-to-eye transmission is felt to be a common method of spread, especially in the medical setting. Swimming pools and schools have been implicated in transmission, and it can spread through inanimate objects. In the eye clinic and emergency room, instruments and contaminated eyedrops can transmit the virus. EKC is quite contagious and prone to epidemics that may be quite large. It is treated by lubrication with artificial tears.
