INFLAMMATIONS OF CONJUNCTIVA

Inflammation of the conjunctiva (conjunctivitis) is classically defined as conjunctival hyperaemia associated with a discharge which may be watery,mucoid, mucopurulent or purulent.

Etiological classification

1. Infective conjunctivitis: bacterial, chlamydial, viral, fungal, rickettsial, spirochaetal, protozoal, parasitic etc.
2. Allergic conjunctivitis.
3. Irritative conjunctivitis.
4. Keratoconjunctivitis associated with diseases of
skin and mucous membrane.
5. Traumatic conjunctivitis.
6. Keratoconjunctivitis of unknown etiology.

Clinical classification

Depending upon clinical presentation, conjunctivitis can be classified as follows:

1. Acute catarrhal or mucopurulent conjunctivitis.

2. Acute purulent conjunctivitis

3. Serous conjunctivitis

4. Chronic simple conjunctivitis

5. Angular conjunctivitis

6. Membranous conjunctivitis

7. Pseudomembranous conjunctivitis

8. Papillary conjunctivitis

9. Follicular conjunctivitis

10. Ophthalmia neonatorum

11. Granulomatous conjunctivitis

12. Ulcerative conjunctivitis

13. Cicatrising conjunctivitis

To describe different types of conjunctivitis, a mixed approach has been adopted, i.e., some varieties of conjunctivitis are described by their etiological names and others by their clinical names. Only common varieties of clinical interest are described here.