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severe conjunctivitis

severe conjunctivitis

Suppurative inflammation of the tissues of the internal structures of the eye; not all layers of the uvea are affected. Fungi, necrosis of intraocular tumors, and retained intraocular foreign bodies often cause a purulent endophthalmitis.

Inflammation of the eye or eyeball. Also, ophthalmitis.

Inflammation of the eye. Conjunctivitis.

Three great varieties of ophthalmia, independently of the acute and chronic (which conditions occur in all inflammations,) may be reckoned :-the Ophthalmia membranarum, O. purulenta, and O. tarsi. The first is characterized by the general symptoms of ophthalmia ;-pain and rednesss of the eye or its appendages; with intolerance of light, and unusual flow of tears; the inflammation being seated chiefly in the coats of the eyeball. It is the Hymenophthalmia, Ophthalmia taraxis seu humida seu vera seu chemosis, Conjunctivitis, Inflammatio conjunctivae, Symphymenitis, Syndesmitis, Catarrhal ophthalmia, Ophthalmo-conjunctivitis, Epiphora (Galen), Conjunctival or Lachrymose Ophthalmia, Taraxis (Paulus of Aegina), Chemosis (Aetius), (F.) Conjonctivite, Inflammation de la conjonctive. In the second,-Ophthalmia purulenta seu puriformis, Bleunophthalmia, Blepharoblenorrhoea, Opthalmoblennorrhoea, Blennorrhoea oculi-the internal surface of the palpebrae associates in the inflammation of the eye-ball; and there is a copious secretion of a purulent fluid. An epidemic and contagious[?] variety of this is the Aegyptian Ophthalmia, O. epidemica seu purulenta epidemica seu contagiosa seu catarrhalis bellica seu bellica seu Asiatica seu purulenta contagiosa, Blennorrhaea Oculi Aegyptiaca, Loemophthalmia, Conjunctivitis puro-mucosa contagiosa seu Aegyptiaca, Blepharotis glandularis contagiosa, Adenitis palpebrarum contagiosa, Suppurative ophtalmia, Epidemic contagious ophthalmia-called Egyptian, from its prevalence in Egypt during the British Expedition under Sir Ralph Abercrombie. The inflammation is rapid and destructive; granulations shoot from the tunica conjunctiva, and occasionally there is intolerable pain, often succeeded by delirium. In new-born children, a species of purulent ophthalmia, O. purulenta infantum seu uconatorum, Blepharophthalmia seu Lippitudo seu Blennorrhoea Oculi seu Ophthalmo-blennorrhoea seu Blephara-blennorrhoea seu Blepharo-pyorrhoea seu Pyophthalmia, Psorophthalmia neonatorum, Adenosyuchitonitis, (F.) Ophthalmie puriforme des nouveau-nes, in which the palpebrae are florid and peculiarly tumid, is by no means uncommon. It seems to be caused by acrid discharges from the mother applied to the eye of the infant during its exit; or to the stimulus of the light, when the child first opens its eyes. A severe form of purulent ophthalmia-Hyperconjonctivite (Piorry)-is produced by the application of gonorrhoeal matter to the eye. It is the Ophthalmia gonorrhoica, Blennorrhoea oculi gonorrhoica, Gonorrhoblepharrhoea, Conjunctivitis blennorrhagica seu gonorrhoica, Gonorrhoeal Ophthalmia, (F.) Ophthalmie blennorrhagique, Conjonctivite Blennorrhagique. Ophthalmia is likewise modified by the condition of the constitution, and hence we have strumous, variolous, and other inflammations of the conjuctiva. The third variety-the Ophthalmia tarsi seu glutinosa, Blepharophthalmia, Blepharotis, Ble pharotitis, Blepharitis, Blepharandenitis, Psorophthalmia, Oculi palpebrarum scabies pruriginosa, Adenophthalmia-is seated chiefly in the tarsus; the sebaceous crypts secreting a viscid and acrid fluid, that glues and ulcerates its edges, and irritates the eye. The different forms of inflammation of the conjunctiva are thus classed by M. Desmarres. Conjunctivitis, when slight, requires little treatment: the antiphlogistic regimen-and, particularly, avoiding exposure to light,-being all that is necessary. When more severe, along with this, general and local blood-letting, especially by leeches to the side of the septum narium, must be employed so as to make a decided impression on the system; with nauseating doses of antimony, purgatives, blisters (at some distance from the organ), refrigerants; and astringents, cold or warm, according to circumstances, to the eye. In Purulent Ophthalmy, these measures must be still more actively employed, otherwise disorganization will speedily follow :-the granulations, which form on the adnata of the eyelids may be removed with the scissors, and the sore be touched with a solution of alum. Ophthalmia Tarsi must be treated on general principles, when severe. It usually, however, requires merely the antiphlogistic regimen, with the occasional use, especially at night, of a slightly stimulating ointment, such as the unguentum hydrargyri nitrico-oxydi, considerably reduced with lard. The ointment prevents the eyelids from being glued together during the night, and thus obviates the irritation caused by attempts at separating them.

Severe inflammation of the eye.

Any inflammation of the eye or of the conjunctiva. [Gr.]