Editing Keratoconjunctivitis

{{Short description|Inflammation of parts of the eye}}{{About|inflammation commonly associated with infections|irritation of the eyes due to dryness (keratoconjunctivitis sicca)|Dry eye syndrome}}{{Infobox medical condition (new)
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'''Keratoconjunctivitis''' is a term used to describe [[inflammation]] of both the [[cornea]] (the clear, front part of the eye) and the [[conjunctiva]] (the thin, transparent membrane covering the white part of the eye and lining the inside of the eyelids). This condition can have various causes, and its presentation may vary depending on the underlying factors.

When only the [[cornea]] is inflamed, it is called ''[[keratitis]]''; when only the [[conjunctiva]] is inflamed, it is called ''[[conjunctivitis]]''.
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==Causes==
There are several potential causes of the inflammation:
* [[Keratoconjunctivitis sicca]] is used when the inflammation is due to dryness. ("Sicca" means "dryness" in medical contexts.) It occurs with 20% of rheumatoid arthritis patients.
* The term "[[vernal keratoconjunctivitis]]" (VKC) is used to refer to keratoconjunctivitis occurring in [[Spring (season)|spring]], and is usually considered to be due to [[allergen]]s.
* "Atopic keratoconjunctivitis" is one manifestation of [[atopy]].
* "[[Adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis]], also known as epidemic keratoconjunctivitis, is caused by an [[adenovirus]] infection.
* "[[Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis]]" (IBK) is a disease affecting cattle caused by the bacteria ''[[Moraxella bovis]]''.
* "Pink eye in sheep and goat" is another infectious keratoconjunctivitis of [[veterinary]] concern, mostly caused by ''[[Chlamydia pecorum|Chlamydophila pecorum]].''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/30500.htm|title=Merck Veterinary Manual|access-date=2013-01-15|archive-date=2016-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304195332/http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm%2Fbc%2F30500.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* "[[Superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis]]" is thought to be caused by mechanical trauma.
* "Keratoconjunctivitis photoelectrica" ([[arc eye]]) means inflammation caused by photoelectric UV light. It is a type of [[ultraviolet keratitis]]. Such UV exposure can be caused by arc [[welding]] without wearing protective eye glass, or by high altitude exposure from sunlight reflected from snow ("[[snow blindness]]"). The inflammation will only appear after about 6 to 12 hours. It can be treated by rest, as the inflammation usually heals after 24–48 hours.  Proper eye protection should be worn to prevent keratoconjunctivitis photoelectrica.

=== Viral keratoconjunctivitis ===
Keratoconjunctivitis is frequently caused by viral infections in and around the eyes. A particularly common cause of this is the [[herpes simplex virus]]. In some people, the infection may become [[Chronic condition|chronic]] and keratoconjunctivitis may present during flare-ups of variable frequency. Over time, these can result in the corneas becoming progressively more opaque, leading to [[blindness]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Riedel |first=Stefan |title=Jawetz, Melnick, & Adelberg's Medical Microbiology |publisher=McGraw Hill |year=2019 |edition=28th |location=New York |language=English |chapter=Chapter 33: Herpesviruses}}</ref>

== References ==
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== External links ==
{{Medical resources
|   ICD10       = H16.2
|   ICD9        = {{ICD9|370.40}}
}}
{{wiktionary}}
* [http://www.emedicine.com/oph/topic102.htm eMedicine – on Atopic keratoconjunctivitis]
* [http://www.emedicine.com/oph/topic677.htm eMedicine – on Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis]

{{Eye pathology}}
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[[Category:Inflammations]]
[[Category:Disorders of sclera and cornea]]
[[Category:Disorders of conjunctiva]]


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