Home | General Information | E-Resources | E-Consultation | E-Learning | Site Map | ORBIS | Feedback
Home > E-Resources Home > QUESTION OF THE WEEK Home > Answers: 2010 Series Home > July 6, 2010
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
VIDEO LIBRARY
OPHTHALMOLOGY BOOKS & MANUALS
Nursing Education
Clinical Challenges
The Ophthalmology Minute
Eye Care Equipment
Ask a Professor
mLearning
ORBIS Program Features
FREE ONLINE JOURNALS
OPHTHALMOLOGY LINKS
I Have a Question

Print ViewPrint this Page
Answers: 2010 Series : July 6, 2010
December 28, 2010  |  December 21, 2010  |  December 14, 2010  |  December 7, 2010  |  November 30, 2010  |  November 23, 2010  |  November 16, 2010  |  November 9, 2010  |  November 2, 2010  |  October 26, 2010  |  October 19, 2010  |  October 12, 2010  |  October 5, 2010  |  September 28, 2010  |  September 21, 2010  |  September 14, 2010  |  September 7, 2010  |  August 31, 2010  |  August 24, 2010  |  August 17, 2010  |  August 10, 2010  |  August 3, 2010  |  July 27, 2010  |  July 20, 2010  |  July 13, 2010  |  July 6, 2010  |  June 29, 2010  |  June 22, 2010  |  June 15, 2010  |  June 8, 2010  |  June 1, 2010  |  May 25, 2010  |  May 18, 2010  |  May 11, 2010  |  May 4, 2010  |  April 27, 2010  |  April 20, 2010  |  April 13, 2010  |  April 6, 2010  |  March 30, 2010  |  March 23, 2010  |  March 16, 2010  |  March 9, 2010  |  March 2, 2010  |  February 23, 2010  |  February 16, 2010  |  February 9, 2010  |  February 2, 2010  |  January 26, 2010  |  January 19, 2010  |  January 12, 2010  |  January 5, 2010

To see views enlarged, click on the individual pictures...




An 11-year-old female presents with the complaint of a foreign body sensation in both eyes for about one month. She has been using antihistamine and steroid drops. The appearance of her lower tarsal conjunctiva is as shown in the pictures above. Her vision is 6/6 in both eyes. Careful evaluation of the lower tarsus reveals multiple avascular, oval, pale elevations, some as large as 2 mm.

1. The tarsal lesions are most likely to be:

b -- follicles

These lesions are most likely follicles. Follicles are described as avascular oval elevations 0.2 to 2 mm in diameter that are flesh colored and partially translucent. Blood vessels never travel up the center of the structure. A follicle is a lymphocytic response. Drusen are seen in the optic nerve and hordeola are infections of the lash follicles (external) or meibomian glands (internal).

2. The most important differential feature in determining the identity of these structures on the tarsus is:

c -- lack of central vascular core

The key to the differential between a papilla and a follicle is that the papilla has a central vascular core and the follicle does not; although small vessels may sweep over the top of a follicle.

3. These tarsal lesions can be seen in:

e -- all of the above

Causes of acute follicular conjunctivitis lasting three weeks or less:
  • Adenovirus
  • Herpes simplex
  • Enterovirus 70
  • Coxsackie A24

  • Causes of chronic follicular conjunctivitis:
  • Chlamydia trachoma
  • Inclusion conjunctivitis
  • Chlamydia zoonose
  • Molluscum contagiosum
  • Parinaud’s oculoglandular syndrome
  • Moraxella
  • Hemophilus
  • Streptococcus
  • Staphylococcal blepharitis
  • Lyme conjunctivitis
  • Papillary conjunctivitis is usually due to an allergic response such as seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (hay fever) which is mild, self-limiting and episodic or the more serious and prolonged vernal conjunctivitis that begins between 5 and 10 years of age, usually in males and lasting up to 10 years. Giant papillary conjunctivitis can be seen as a reaction to soft contact lens wear.