keratoconjunctivitis sicca


keratoconjunctivitis

 [ker″ah-to-kon-junk″tĭ-vi´tis] inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva.epidemic keratoconjunctivitis a highly infectious form, commonly with regional lymph node involvement, occurring in epidemics; an adenovirus has been repeatedly isolated from affected patients.phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis a form marked by formation of a phlyctenule (small lesion) at the corneal limbus.keratoconjunctivitis sic´ca a condition marked by hyperemia of the conjunctiva, thickening and drying of the corneal epithelium, and itching and burning of the eye. Called also dry eye.

ker·a·to·con·junc·ti·vi·tis sic·ca

keratoconjunctivitis associated with decreased tears.
See also: Sjögren syndrome. Synonym(s): dry eye syndrome, keratitis sicca
Dryness of eyes, often due to decreased tear secretion, which occurs in Sjögren syndrome, autoimmune disorders—systemic lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, sarcoidosis—amyloidosis, hypothyroidism, vitamin A deficiency, and in periorbital lymphoproliferative disorders

ker·a·to·con·junc·ti·vi·tis sic·ca

(ker'ă-tō-kŏn-jŭngk'ti-vī'tis sik'ă) A chronic mucopurulent conjunctivitis, sometimes leading to corneal ulceration and scarring, due to deficit of the aqueous component of tears.
Synonym(s): dry eye syndrome.

keratoconjunctivitis sicca

Dry eye. A state of inadequate wetting and lubrication of the cornea as a result of defective tear production. This results from damage to the tear glands by the same AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE process that causes RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, SJOGREN'S SYNDROME, systemic lupus erythematosus and other related conditions. Dry eye is common in all these disorders. There is constant discomfort, foreign-body sensation and sometimes pain and the condition may progress to infection and ulceration of the cornea. Treatment is by the regular use of artificial tears.

ker·a·to·con·junc·ti·vi·tis sic·ca

(ker'ă-tō-kŏn-jŭngk'ti-vī'tis sik'ă) A chronic mucopurulent conjunctivitis, sometimes leading to corneal ulceration and scarring.
Synonym(s): dry eye syndrome.