31. Conjunctival degenerations.

Question 1

what is pinguecula ?

Answer 1

Harmless grayish yellow thickening of the conjunctival epithelium in the palpebral fissure

Question 2

what is the aetiology of pinguecula ?

Answer 2

hyaline degeneration of the subepithelial collagen tissue- -Advanced age and exposure to sun, wind, and dust

Question 3

diagnosis of pinguecula

Answer 3

grayish yellow thickening at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock on the limbus.

base of the triangular thickening parallel to limbus of cornea and tip directed towards the angle of eye

Question 4

what is pterygium ?

Answer 4

triangular fold of conjuctiva , grows from medial portion of palpebral fissure towards cornea

Question 5

how is pterygium different from pinguecula?

Answer 5

histological the same
however pterygium can grow on cornea gradually towards the centre

progression is the result of disorder in the bowman capsule layer of the cornea - providing necessary growth substrate for pterygium

Question 6

signs and symptoms of pterygium?

Answer 6

only produces symptoms when head threatens the centre of cornea - cause corneal astygamtism

scarred conjuctival tissue -occulor motility impaired - pateint experience double vision

Question 7

treatment for pterygium?

Answer 7

only if symptomatic - surgery

pterygia tend to reoccur -replace diseases bowmans layer of the cornea - keratoplasty

Question 8

what is the cause for subconjuctival haemorrhages ?

Answer 8

conjuctival laceration 
spontaneously in eederly - arteriosclerosis 
coughing
sneezing 
hypertension

Question 9

what is calcareous infiltration ?

Answer 9

white concrements on the palpebral conjuctiva - leads to foriegn body sensation in the eye

Question 10

what are the concrements in calcareous infiltration ?

Answer 10

calcified goblet cells , accessory conjunctival and lacrimal glands , meibomian glands - insufficient drainage of secretion

Question 11

treatment for calcareous infiltration ?

Answer 11

removed by scalpel under topical anaesthesia

Question 12

what is the desiccation of the conjuctiva called ?

Answer 12

conjuctival xerosis

Question 13

what is the cause of conjunctival xerosis?

Answer 13

vit a deficiency - keratinisation of the superficial epithelial cell
degeneration of goblet cells
keratinised epithelial cells die and are swept into palpebral fissure by blinking - accumulate and create WHITE BITOT SPOTS

Question 14

what is a complication f conjunctival xerosis ?

Answer 14

bacteria frequently proliferate

Question 15

what is the treatement for conjunctival xerosis?

Answer 15

vit a

Question 16

what are the conjunctival degenerations ?

Answer 16

pinguecula
pterygium
subconjuctival hemorrhage 
calcareous infiltratin
conjuctival xerosis