Treatment of Conjunctival Adhesions

About the disease

Conjunctival adhesion is a condition, when fibrous bands form in the conjunctiva and conjunctiva becomes attached to an eye. Conjunctiva is a membrane located in the lining of an eye. When this membrane becomes inflamed or contracts an infection, an internal scar tissue can form. Such scar can also develop as a result of previous eye trauma. In some cases, conjunctival adhesions can develop as strong reaction to certain allergens. As a result, the conjunctiva can grow together with an eyeball either partially or fully. It becomes difficult for a person to move an eye properly, especially up and down.

Conjunctival adhesions usually manifest themselves in adhesion of conjunctiva to the eyeball and redness of an eye. If an adhesion is mild, the eye may be pink. The more serious the infection is, the deeper the redness is. If an eye is deep red, it is a clear manifestation of a severe infection. The biggest complication of conjunctival adhesion can be a subconjunctival hemorrhage, as conjunctiva is a vascular membrane, that`s why a person with this condition needs to undergo treatment as soon as possible to avoid complications.

Almost all cases of conjunctival adhesions are caused by different kinds of inflammation, which can occur after the surgery or trauma. Also, it may be the result of infections, which can develop after an accident and damage to the eye. If the discharge from the eye is watery, it is an indicator that the infection is viral. If the discharge is purulent, then there is a bacterial infection.  

Symptoms

• Red eye
• Adhesion of an eyelid to an eye
• Irritation
• Mild pain in the eye
• Discharges
• Itching
• Watering of the eye

Diagnosis

• During a general examination, an ophthalmologist will examine the conjunctiva and the whole eye to determine if inflammation has affected other structures as well.
• Fluorescein angiography is an imaging test used to examine the eye more closely. It can also determine if conjunctival adhesions resulted in scarring and if there is danger of an internal bleeding.
• Swab test is used if the discharge from an eye is purulent. Then, the discharge needs to be examined under the microscope to determine the nature of infection and inflammation.

Treatment

Surgical treatment is used to separate the adhesion. The adhesion between the eyelid and an eye is removed and a person can move the eye freely without experiencing any discomfort.

Authors: Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova, Dr. Sergey Pashchenko