Pink Eye is another word for "conjunctivitis",
which is defined below:
The term conjunctivitis refers
to inflammation of the conjunctiva of
the eye. It is also sometimes known as Pink
Eye - another term meaning
the same as conjunctivitis.
(Recall that the suffix -itis
usually indicates "inflammation" of the preceding anatomical part of
the body, in this case the choroid.)
Conjunctivitis can cause the conjunctiva to become
inflammed, red and swollen. It is often also associated with the production
of a watery or pus-containing discharge from the conjunctiva. This
is generally uncomfortable and inconvenient but is not necessarily
painful.
Conjunctivitis may be caused by a range of factors
such as bacteria or viruses (in which case spreading to the other eye
usually occurs quickly), or the presence of chemical or physical irritants.
Allergic conjunctivitis (also known as "vernal conjunctivitis")
is inflammation of the cornea - normally as a result of a specific
allergen, e.g. pollen, dust, or animal fibers.
This section includes short definitions of clinical terms that refer to
disorders of the visual system. For definitions of other terms in this
category, choose from the list to the left.
Other related pages include the diagram
of the eye, definitions
of parts of the eye, and the section about clinical
procedures used to investigate the eye and visual system.
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