The conjunctiva Flashcards
What is the conjunctiva
The conjunctiva is a thin vascular mucous membrane that completely lines the inner surface of the eyelids, the inner and outer surfaces of the nictitans, and the anterior sclera
It is reflected at the dorsal and ventral fornices, creating the conjunctival sacs
What is the role of the conjunctiva
The conjunctiva forms a protective barrier from the external environment and contains goblet cells which secrete mucins which are important constituents of the preocular tear film
What are the most commonly isolated commensal organisms from the conjunctiva
Nonhemolytic streptococci
Staphylococcus epidermidis
What is an ocular dermoid
An ocular dermoid is a congenital island of normal haired skin present in an abnormal location
Dermoids are typically situated at the lateral canthus or on the lateral limbus involving the conjunctiva and cornea
Dermoids are more common in the Birman and Burmese, in which they may be inherited
What is the treatment for ocular dermoids
The treatment of choice is surgical removal with conjunctival resection, along with superficial lamellar keratectomy if the cornea is also involved
What is a symblepharon
Symblepharon is the adhesion of the bulbar, palpebral or nictitans conjunctiva either to itself or to the cornea
- it is most often a sequel to feline herpesvirus-1 infection
Explain why surgical management of symblepharon is extremely challenging
It is extremely challenging as the conjunctival adhesions to the cornea tend to reform following their removal
- this is because the limbal stem cells, which are essential for normal corneal epithelial formation, are destroyed during the initial inflammatory process
What are the classical clinical signs of conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is very common in cats
Clinical signs always include hyperemia, but may also include:
- ocular discharge (serous, mucoid, mucopurulent, purulent)
- chemosis
- thickening or ulceration
- subconjunctival hemorrhage
- foolicle formation
What are the two most frequent causes for infectious conjunctivitis
FHV-1
Chlamydophila felis
