Diseases of the lids and lashes

Question 1

trachoma

Answer 1

bacterial infection (Chlamydia trachomatis)

• leading cause of infectious blindness in the world
• long-standing infection of the eyelids

2 phases: active then scarring (cicatricial) phase

Question 2

acquired distichiasis

Answer 2

extra row of lashs; transformation of cells of the meibomian gland to hair producing follicles

Question 3

causes of madarosis

Answer 3

• local disease (basal cell carcinoma; certain types of growths/cancers on the eye causing loss of lashes)
• systemic disorders (endocrine-related disorders)
• infections (eg. HIV, syphilis)
• skin related (eg. acne rosacea, contact and atopic dermatitis)
• trauma (eg. burns, radiation, eyelid tattooing

Question 4

causes of poliosis

Answer 4

ocular

• chronic anterior blepharisis
• sympathetic ophthalmia (autoimmune disease, where body is attacking melanin producing cells)
• uveitis

systemic
- Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome: autoimmune disease that attacks melanocytes, check for inflammation, vitiligo

Question 5

causes of trichomegaly

Answer 5

Floppy eyelid syndrome
Congenital and acquired blepharoptosis (low-lying upper lid margin)
Latanoprost-induced lash ptosis
- Treatment of glaucoma - optic neuropathy - way to treat is to drop the IOP

Question 6

Milia

Answer 6

“milk spots” (benign cysts)
May represent retention cysts; caused by occlusion of pilosebaceous follicle or sweat pores; also found in areas secondary to other skin conditions

Question 7

Comedones

Answer 7

Plug of sebaceous matter, capped with blackened mass of epithelial debris filling pilosebaceous opening
- Pores blocked up with matter with, overlying epithelium that has turned black

Question 8

layers of the skin

Answer 8

epidermis
- keratin(dead cells)
- Granular, squamous and basal layers of cells
dermis
- Connective tissue, blood vessels, nerves, immune cells etc

Question 9

Papilloma

Answer 9

Benign lesion but has no malignant potential - won’t spread to other areas