ophthalmia

inflammation of the eye, often including the conjunctiva

Ophthalmia

a predominantly noninfectious inflammation of the membranes of the eye. Inflammations may arise in the conjunctiva and the cornea under the action of certain types of radiation, for example, electricity, which causes electric ophthalmia in welders and cinematographers, and reflected light, which causes snow blindness in arctic explorers and mountain climbers who fail to use protective goggles. Inflammations also occur when foreign bodies enter the eye.

“Ophthalmia” also refers to sympathetic irritations of the eye, which arise in one eye with penetrating wounds of the other eye, and to metastatic ophthalmia—a purulent inflammation that originates in a distant inflammatory focus. Ophthalmia is treated by removing any foreign bodies or by eliminating the underlying cause of inflammation.

ophthalmia

[äf′thal·mē·ə] (medicine) Inflammation of the eye, especially involving the conjunctiva.

ophthalmia

[of-thal´me-ah] severe inflammation of the eye or of the conjunctiva or deeper structures of the eye.Egyptian ophthalmia trachoma.gonorrheal ophthalmia gonorrheal conjunctivitis.ophthalmia neonato´rum any hyperacute purulent conjunctivitis, such as conjunctivitis" >gonorrheal conjunctivitis, occurring during the first 10 days of life, usually contracted during birth from infected vaginal discharge of the mother. The term formerly referred only to gonorrheal conjunctivitis, but now other types are recognized. It is prevented by instilling silver nitrate or other medication in the eyes of the newborn, although in an occasional infant silver nitrate may cause iatrogenic ophthalmia. Called also neonatal conjunctivitis.phlyctenular ophthalmia phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis.sympathetic ophthalmia granulomatous inflammation of the uveal tract of the uninjured eye following a wound involving the uveal tract of the other eye, resulting in bilateral granulomatous inflammation of the entire uveal tract. Called also sympathetic uveitis.

oph·thal·mi·a

(of-thal'mē-ă), 1. Severe, often purulent, conjunctivitis. 2. Inflammation of the deeper structures of the eye. [G.]

ophthalmia

(ŏf-thăl′mē-ə, ŏp-)n. Inflammation of the eye, especially of the conjunctiva.

oph·thal·mi·a

(of-thal'mē-ă) 1. Severe, often purulent, conjunctivitis. 2. Inflammation of the deeper structures of the eye. [G.]

ophthalmia

An obsolescent term for any inflammatory eye disorder.

Ophthalmia

Inflammation of the eye. Usually severe and affecting the conjunctiva. Trachoma is sometimes called Egyptian ophthalmia.Mentioned in: Trachoma

ophthalmia

Severe inflammation of the eye, especially, but not exclusively, one involving the conjunctiva. See conjunctivitis.
ophthalmia neonatorum An acute conjunctivitis that occurs in the first month of life as a result of infection acquired in the birth canal. The most common causes are Chlamydia trachomatis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Staphylococcus aureus and herpes simplex virus. The eyelids are swollen and stuck together by purulent discharge. If the cause is gonococcal, loss of the eye is a real and immediate threat. A gonococcal infection develops within 2-4 days after birth, whereas a chlamydial infection normally appears 5-14 days after birth. Differential diagnosis is facilitated by laboratory tests (e.g. Gram staining of conjunctival scrapings). Management depends on the cause: systemic erythromycin and topical tetracycline for chlamydial infection, ceftriaxone or cefotaxime for gonococcal infection, and eye irrigation with saline solution. Syn. blennorrhoea neonatorum; gonococcal ophthalmia; neonatal conjunctivitis. See acute conjunctivitis; adult inclusion conjunctivitis.
sympathetic ophthalmia A rare, bilateral granulomatous inflammation of the uveal tract that usually follows perforation of one eye due to trauma, or more rarely intraocular surgery. The inflammation occurs first in the injured eye (called the exciting eye) and follows in the other eye (called the sympathetic eye). It usually occurs within 2 to 12 weeks, although some cases may appear later. The condition is believed to be a T-lymphocyte-mediated delayed hypersensitivity. Treatment usually involves enucleation of the exciting eye and high doses of systemic and topical corticosteroids in the sympathetic eye. Syn. sympathetic ophthalmitis. See enucleation; immunosuppressants; uveitis.

ophthalmia

oph·thal·mi·a

ophthalmia

oph•thal•mi•a

ophthalmia

ophthalmia

Ophthalmia

ophthalmia

ophthalmia

ophthalmia

oph·thal·mi·a

ophthalmia

oph·thal·mi·a

ophthalmia

Ophthalmia

ophthalmia

ophthalmia

Synonyms for ophthalmia

noun severe conjunctivitis

Synonyms

Related Words