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Ency. home > Disease > V > Vernal conjunctivitis

Vernal conjunctivitis   

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Definition:

A seasonal inflammation of the outer lining of the eyes (conjunctivitis), thought to be of allergic origin.

Causes and Risks

Vernal conjunctivitis is thought to have an allergic basis and often there is a strong family history of allergies. It appears most often during the spring and summer.

The condition is characterized by itchy, watery eyes. Affected people may experience burning and discomfort when they are in bright light (photophobia). The underside of the eyelids may become roughened and covered with bumps and a whitish mucus, giving them a cobblestone appearance. Tissue around the cornea where the white of the eye and the cornea meet (limbus) may become roughened and inflamed. If this tissue extends onto the cornea, it may cause scarring and decreased vision.

Ency. home > Disease > V > Vernal conjunctivitis

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