conjunctiva

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conjunctiva

anatomy

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Last updated

June 17, 2026

Quick Summary

The conjunctiva is a thin mucous membrane that lines the inner surface of the eyelids and covers the anterior part of the eyeball, excluding the cornea. This membrane helps attach the eyeball to the orbit and lids, allowing for eye movement. The conjunctiva's warm, moist environment can be susceptible to infections from bacteria and viruses, leading to conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye. Symptoms of conjunctivitis include redness, itching, a gritty sensation, and discharge. It can be caused by infections, allergies, chemical burns, or mechanical injury.1234

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infectious disease
The conjunctiva, which covers the front of the eye, may be penetrated by viruses that cause a local inflammation of the eye or that pass into the bloodstream and cause a severe general disease, such as smallpox. Infectious agents can enter the body through the genital…
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The conjunctiva, which covers the front of the eye, may be penetrated by viruses that cause a local inflammation of the eye or that pass into the bloodstream and cause a severe general disease, such as smallpox. Infectious agents can enter the body through the genital…
Read More

keratitis
…inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva due to failure to secrete sufficient tears, which in turn can stem from immune disorders or diseases that infiltrate the lacrimal, or tear, gland. The condition is called Sjögren’s syndrome when the dry eye is associated with certain systemic disorders. In exposure keratitis the…
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…inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva due to failure to secrete sufficient tears, which in turn can stem from immune disorders or diseases that infiltrate the lacrimal, or tear, gland. The condition is called Sjögren’s syndrome when the dry eye is associated with certain systemic disorders. In exposure keratitis the…
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trachoma
trachomatis, the conjunctiva becomes thickened and roughened, and deformation may result. Extension of inflammation to the cornea occurs in varying degrees; resultant scarring can lead to corneal opacity and blindness.
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trachomatis, the conjunctiva becomes thickened and roughened, and deformation may result. Extension of inflammation to the cornea occurs in varying degrees; resultant scarring can lead to corneal opacity and blindness.
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