conjunctivochalasis

Introduction

Excess folds of conjunctiva between the globe of the eye & the eyelid margin.

Pathology

• gradual thinning & stretching of the conjunctiva with age
• loss of adhesion between the conjunctiva and underlying sclera

Clinical manifestations

• dry eyes
• epiphora
• eye irritation, eye pain
• foreign body sensation
• smptoms often made worse by blinking

Diagnostic procedures

• ophthalmoscopy:
  • slit lamp examination reveals redundant conjunctival folds
    • folds can made more apparent by staining with fluorescin

Complications

• subconjunctival hemorrhage
• subconjunctival ulceration

Management

• artificial tears
• ophthalmic glucocorticoid (i.e. loteprednol)
• eye surgery
  • conjunctival resection with amniotic membrane transplant

More general terms

• conjunctival disease
• abnormal morphologic structure (malformation)