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Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis An inflammation of the thin transparent tissue layer within the eye containing blood vessels. The conjunctiva covers the outer surface of the eyeball, starting at the limbus (edge of the cornea) and extends backward to form a recess under each lid before coming forward and covering the inside surface of each eyelid. It contains mucous secreting cells that allow the eye to move smoothly in various directions. It also helps lubricate the cornea during blinking. A contagious and treatable condition.
RELATED TERMS--------------------------------------
Inflammation
A reaction to an injury to the body - by infection, chemicals or physical agents. The symptoms can be - depending on the location of the injury- redness, swelling, heat and pain. The purpose of the inflammation is to dilute and destroy the agent causing the inflammation. To do this, the immune system starts a cascade of actions that causes active cells to gather at the affected location. It is these cells and fluids that cause the redness, swelling, heat and pain.
Tissue
Biological tissue is a group of cells that perform a similar function.The study of tissues is known as histology, or, in connection with disease, histopathology.The classical tools for studying the tissues are the wax block, the tissue stain, and the optical microscope, though developments in electron microscopy, immunofluorescence, and frozen sections have all added to the sum of knowledge in the last couple of decades.
Blood
The life-maintaining fluid which is made up of plasma, red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes), and platelets; blood circulates through the body's heart, arteries, veins, and capillaries; it carries away waste matter and carbon dioxide, and brings nourishment, electrolytes, hormones, vitamins, antibodies, heat, and oxygen to the tissues.
Conjunctiva
The membrane lining the eyelids and covering the eyeball.
Limbus
Margin, or border. The margin of the cornea where it contacts the sclera.
Eyelid
The lid or cover of the eye, a movable fold of skin and muscle that can be closed over the eyeball or opened at will. Each eye has an upper and a lower lid. An eyelid is also called a palpebra.
Mucous
Adj. Relating to or resembling mucus.
Cornea
The front part of the eye that acts as a window for the entrance of light rays. It is attached to the other outer coat of the eye, the sclera; the white part of the eye. The cornea provides a significant amount of focusing power for the eye (the rest is provided by the lens). Because it has many nerve fibers, an injury or foreign body causes significant pain and discomfort.
Contagious
Easily transmitted by direct or indirect contact.
Condition
The term "condition" has a number of biomedical meanings including the following: 1.An unhealthy state, such as in "this is a progressive condition." 2.A state of fitness, such as "getting into condition." 3.Something that is essential to the occurrence of something else; essentially a "precondition." 4.As a verb: to cause a change in something so that a response that was previously associated with a certain stimulus becomes associated with another stimulus; to condition a person, as in behavioral conditioning.
SIMILAR TERMS--------------------------------------
Conjoined twin
Identical (monozygotic) twins that did not separate fully from one another but are still partially united. Due to the incomplete division of one fertilized ovum.
Conjugated linoleic acid
(CLA) A supplement that has been promoted as an aid to weight loss and muscle building and as a deterrent to heart disease, diabetes and cancer. CLA is an unsaturated fatty acid in the milk and meat of cows, sheep and goats. CLA occurs in about 20 different chemical configurations called isomers, each tending to have different effects on the body. Knowledge of the benefits and risks of CLA is generally considered to be too rudimentary to warrant its use as a dietary supplement.
Conjunctiva
The membrane lining the eyelids and covering the eyeball.
Conjunctival
Pertaining to the conjunctiva, the clear moist membrane that covers the inner surfaces of the eyelids and the front of eyeball.
Conjunctival fornix
The fornix of the conjunctivae refers to loose arching folds connecting the conjunctival membrane lining the inside of the eyelid with the conjunctival membrane covering the eyeball.
Conjunctivitis, allergic
Inflammation of the whites of the eyes (the conjunctivae) with itching and redness of the eyes and tearing, due to allergy. Frequently accompanies hay fever.
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Choroiditis
An inflammation of the back of the eye involving the choroid and retina. It may be due to a number of different diseases, which affect the body such as toxoplasmosis, histoplasmosis, sarcoidosis, tuberculosis and syphilis.
Coloboma
A congenital (born with) problem with the eye that is related to a maldevelopment or underdevelopment of a part of the eye. It may involve the eyelid, or interior part of the eye (involving the choroid and occasionally the optic nerve). No treatment is available.
Cone
One of the two light receiving retinal cells (the other is the rod) that is responsible for daylight vision (e.g., color vision, high visual acuity, bright light vision). The area of the retina that provides central or reading vision, known as the fovea, contains only cones.
Cone Dystrophy
Also sometimes referred to as cone degeneration. The cones of the eye degenerate over time leading to visual acuity between 20/50 and 20/200 – legal blindness. There may be a progressive vision loss, abnormal color vision and photophobia. No treatment is available, except for dark sunglasses for the photophobia. Patients with cone dystrophies and cone degenerations benefit for rehabilitation services.
Cone Rod Degeneration
Also called cone-rod dystrophy. Leads to a loss of visual acuity between 20/25 to 20/400 – legal blindness. First there is a loss of cone photoreceptors followed by a loss of rod photoreceptors. Visual fields may be restricted, abnormal color vision and photophobia. No treatment is available.
Conjunctivitis
Cornea
The front part of the eye that acts as a window for the entrance of light rays. It is attached to the other outer coat of the eye, the sclera; the white part of the eye. The cornea provides a significant amount of focusing power for the eye (the rest is provided by the lens). Because it has many nerve fibers, an injury or foreign body causes significant pain and discomfort.
Cortical Blindness
A person with cortical blindness will have normal eyes and normal optic nerves but, nevertheless, will not be able to see. The cause of the blindness is with the cortex or surface of the brain that contains 32 or more sites for visual information processing. More recently, the preferred term for such individuals is cortical visual impairment, because many people will not be totally blind but will exhibit unusual visual losses; for example, they may be blind to stationary objects but be able to see moving objects.
Cover Test
A test for a muscle imbalance. While the person is looking at a distant object, one eye is covered and then uncovered (cover-uncover). This is repeated on the other eye. Finally it is performed on both eyes, covering one then the other (alternate-cover). If one or both eyes shift during this test, there is a problem with alignment of the eyes. The misalignment with the eyes often cannot be seen with both eyes opened.
Cipro IV
Cipro I.V. (ciprofloxacin) is one of the most prescribed fluoroquinolone antibiotics.
Cupping of the optic disc
A depression of the optic nerve where the optic nerve leaves the eye. In glaucoma, the cup may be enlarged indicating damage to the nerves leading from the eye to the brain.
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