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Chemosis

Swelling of the conjunctiva

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Chemosis is the swelling (or edema) of the conjunctiva (the lining of the white of the eye). The term derives from , meaning , due to the swollen conjunctiva resembling it, and , meaning . The swelling is due to the oozing of exudate from abnormally permeable capillaries. In general, chemosis is a nonspecific sign of eye irritation. The outer surface covering appears to have fluid in it. The conjunctiva becomes swollen and gelatinous in appearance. Often, the eye area swells so much that the eyes become difficult or impossible to close fully. Sometimes, it may also appear as if the iris has moved slightly backwards from the white part of the eye, due to the builup of fluid in the conjunctiva. The iris is not covered by the conjunctiva, and so it appears to be moved slightly inwards.

Presentation

Causes

alt text — An eye with a swollen region of the conjunctiva (front view).

An eye with a swollen region of the conjunctiva (mirror, side view).

It is usually caused by allergies or viral infections, often inciting excessive eye rubbing. Chemosis is also included in the Chandler Classification system of orbital infections.

If chemosis has occurred due to excessive rubbing of the eye, the first aid to be given is a cold water wash for eyes.

Other causes of chemosis include:

Superior vena cava obstruction, accompanied by facial oedema
Hyperthyroidism, associated with exophthalmos, periorbital puffiness, lid retraction, and lid lag
Cavernous sinus thrombosis, associated with infection of the paranasal sinuses, proptosis, periorbital oedema, retinal haemorrhages, papilledema, extraocular movement abnormalities, and trigeminal nerve sensory loss
Carotid-cavernous fistula – classic triad of chemosis, pulsatile proptosis, and ocular bruit
Cluster headache
Trichinellosis
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
Angioedema
Acute glaucoma
Panophthalmitis
Orbital cellulitis
Gonorrheal conjunctivitis
Dacryocystitis
Spitting cobra venom to the eye
Exposure to chemical agents such as phenacyl chloride, pepper spray, or "mace spray"
Urticaria
Trauma, including surgical trauma
Keratitis
infection
Rhabdomyosarcoma of the orbit

Diagnosis

An eye doctor may most often diagnose chemosis by doing a physical examination of the affected area. They can also ask questions about the severity and length of other symptoms.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause of the chemosis.

References

"Chemosis - Definition".
[https://www.medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003038.htm MedlinePlus Health Information from the National Library of Medicine]
[http://www.pediatriconcall.com/fordoctor/imagegallery/GetPrint.aspx?id=164 Narang, G.S., Pahwa, J.S. Pediatric Oncall Child Health Care. Fungating orbital mass Question. 8 Feb 2011]

Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

eye-diseases inflammations disorders-of-conjunctiva

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