eye disorder

1. Ismail Magaji Sunusi
Conjuctivitis 28/08/2018
Page | 1
Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis or Acute Haemorrhagic Conjunctivitis (AHC), also nicknamed as
“Apollo 11 disease” is the Inflammation of the conjunctiva of sudden onset. It is the most
common ocular disease worldwide.
The Human Eye
The human eye is the organ which gives us the sense of sight, allowing us to observe
and learn more about the surrounding world than we do with any of the other four senses. We
use our eyes in almost every activity we perform, whether reading, working, watching
television, writing a letter, driving a car, and in countless other ways.
The eye allows us to see and interpret the shapes, colors, and dimensions of objects in
the world by processing the light they reflect or emit.
The average newborn’s eyeball is about 18 millimeters in diameter, from front to back
(axial length). In an infant, the eye grows slightly to a length of approximately 19½ millimeters.
The eye continues to grow, gradually, to a length of about 24-25 millimeters, or about 1 inch,
in adulthood. A ping-pong ball is about 1½ inch in diameter, which makes the average adult
eyeball about 2/3 the size of a ping-pong ball.
The eyeball is set in a protective cone-shaped cavity in the skull called the “orbit” or
“socket.” This bony orbit also enlarges as the eye grows.
Among the most important anatomical components are the cornea, conjunctiva, iris, crystalline
lens, aqueous and vitreous humor, retina, macula, optic nerve, and extraocular muscles.

2. Ismail Magaji Sunusi
Conjuctivitis 28/08/2018
Page | 2
Bacterial conjunctivitis; red eye, purulent discharge in one eye then spread to another
eye
Management; topical antibiotic eye drops and general hygiene
Viral conjunctivitis; its highly contagious, can be hospital acquired, can affect both
eye, associated with cough and cold
Management; self-limiting
Allergic conjuctivitis; associated with itchy eye, clear discharge
Management; topical antihistamin, vasoconstrictor eye drops, oral antihistamin
Clinical Manifestation/Patho-physiology
The conjunctiva is a loose connective tissue that covers the surface of the eyeball
(bulbar conjunctiva) and reflects back upon itself to form the inner layer of the eyelid (palpebral
conjunctiva). The conjunctiva firmly adheres to the sclera at the limbus, where it meets the
cornea
The accessory lacrimal glands, along with goblet cells, are contained within the
conjunctiva and are responsible for keeping the eye lubricated. As with any mucous membrane,
infectious/allergic agents may adhere to the conjunctiva, thus overwhelming normal defence
mechanisms and producing clinical symptoms of redness, discharge, irritation, and possibly
conjunctivitis
Bacterial
Viral
Allergic

3. Ismail Magaji Sunusi
Conjuctivitis 28/08/2018
Page | 3
photophobia. Viral aetiologies are more common than bacterial, and incidence of viral
conjunctivitis increases in the late fall and early spring.
The inflammatory response is characterized by a pink appearance (hence the term “pink
eye”) due to sub-conjunctiva blood vessel haemorrhages, complain of foreign body/sand
sensation, scratching or burning sensation, itching and photophobia. The infection usually
starts in one eye and then spreads to the other eye by hand contact.
Diagnosis
Conjunctivitis usually is diagnosed by history and physical examination. Lab tests
typically are reserved for patients that do not improve in 48-72 hours despite treatment. Lab
studies include the following: Gram stain & Culture and sensitivity
Sign and symptoms
Defend on the type. Acute Haemmorrhagic Conjunctivitis is normally recognized by
the affected individual upon waking. The eyelids stick together requiring great effort in
separating them. Intense whitish mucopurulent discharge is observed throughout the day with
the eye having a reddish hue. There is pain which is worse upon looking up or at light. Other
symptoms include sore eyes, feeling of grittiness or burning, redness, watery discharge,
swelling of eyelids.
Rate of Infection
AHC has a very fast rate of infection. Upon affecting one eye, the condition is known
to infect the other eye in a short while (maximum three days). As an infected person goes
around his house or work, the conditions spreads. This is because the things that the individual
touches normally become sources of infection. As such it is advised that once infected, the
individual should keep a high level of hygiene so that the rate of infection can be regulated.
Prognosis
The forecast of the disease in terms of its resolution is very good. Though self-
limiting the condition can resolve faster if antibiotics are administered onto the
eye. Topical doses of most ophthalmic medication are effective in treating the condition.

4. Ismail Magaji Sunusi
Conjuctivitis 28/08/2018
Page | 4
References
Yanoff M, Cameron D. Diseases of the visual system. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D,
eds.Goldman's Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap
431.
Rubenstein JB, Virasch V. Conjunctivitis: infectious and noninfectious. In: Yanoff M, Duker
JS, eds. Ophthalmology. 3rd ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier; 2008:chap 4.6.
Rubenstein JB, Virasch V. Allergic conjunctivitis. In: Yanoff M, Duker JS,
eds.Ophthalmology. 3rd ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier; 2008:chap 4.7.
Wright JL, Wightman JM. Red and painful eye. In: Marx JA, ed. Rosen's Emergency
Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Mosby Elsevier;
2009:chap 32.
Wright JL, Wightman JM. Red and painful eye. In: Marx JA, ed. Rosen’s Emergency
Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier;
2009:chap 32.
Rubenstein JB, Virasch V. Conjunctivitis: Infectious and noninfectious. In: Yanoff M, Duker
JS, eds. Ophthalmology. 3rd ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby Elsevier; 2008:chap 4.6.
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