Ophthalmological Pathology of the Eye: Conjunctiva

Conjunctivitis is an inflammatory infectious process, bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic, chlamydial, allergic, autoimmune fibrosing granulomatous conjunctivitis (pemphigoid, epidermolysis bullosa) or non-autoimmune. Bacterial conjunctivitis forms are: hyperacute—gonococcal conjunctivitis of the new-born, acute—pseudomembranous, purulent, catarrhal conjunctivitis and chronic—catarrhal with acanthamoeba in contact lens wearers. Conjunctivitis with chlamydia caused by chlamydia trachomatis, serotypes D-K, is present in new-borns; it can be complicated with pannus, corneal leukoma. In adults, trachoma is a primary chronic keratoconjunctivitis with gradual evolution, followed by serious palpebral complications: trichiasis, entropion, corneal ulcer sequelae, pannus, corneal opacities, blindness, symblepharon. Trachoma requires continuous surveillance in the endemic area with appropriate preventive and curative treatment. Viral conjunctivitis forms are relatively common, have varied etiology, multiple clinical manifestations and can be associated with viral respiratory infections. Allergic conjunctivitis often has a chronic evolution, of variable intensity and is rarely associated with vision loss. They can be simple allergic conjunctivitis, vernal keratoconjunctivitis, phlyctenular. Rarely, but sometimes very seriously, there may be parasitic, mycotic conjunctivitis. Granulomatous conjunctivitis—TB, syphilis, sarcoidosis, may be present. Fibrosing conjunctivitis in autoimmune bullous diseases—pemphigus, and non-autoimmune in: trachoma, diphtheria, streptococcus. Conjunctival degenerations are pinguecula, pterygium. Conjunctival tumors are non-pigmented, pigmented, benign—nevus, precancerous—Bowen’s tumor, malignant tumors, melanoma, carcinoma, lymphoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma.