| Disease | Injury | Nutrition | Poison |
| Special Topic | Surgery | Symptoms | Test |
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| Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention |
Vernal conjunctivitis |
| Definition: |
A seasonal inflammation of the outer lining of the eyes (conjunctivitis), thought to be of allergic origin. |
| Causes, incidence, and risk factors: |
Vernal conjunctivitis is thought to be caused by allergic reactions. Often, it occurs in people with a strong family history of allergies. It is most common 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. |
Reviewed By: Raymond S. Douglas, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Ophthalmology, Universtiy of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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