conjunctivitis
Meaning of conjunctivitis: Conjunctivitis, or pinkeye, inflames the membrane covering the white of the eye and inner eyelids, producing redness that can stem from infection, allergy, or irritation.
Definition of conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin, clear membrane that lines the inside of the eyelids and covers the white part of the eye. The inflammation causes the affected blood vessels to become more visible, giving the eye a red or pink appearance, and is commonly called pinkeye.
Conjunctivitis has several distinct causes, including viral infection, bacterial infection, allergens such as pollen or pet dander, and irritants such as smoke or chlorine. Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are generally contagious and can spread easily through contact with eye secretions, while allergic and irritant conjunctivitis are not.
Because the underlying cause differs so widely, conjunctivitis can appear with a range of accompanying features, including watery or thick discharge, itching, or crusting of the eyelids, and identifying which of these causes is responsible generally guides how the condition is expected to run its course.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
The patient was diagnosed with viral conjunctivitis after presenting with redness and watery discharge in both eyes.
Good to know
Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are contagious and spread through contact with eye secretions, while allergic and irritant conjunctivitis are not, a distinction relevant to how the condition is expected to spread.
Word origin
Where “conjunctivitis” comes from
Formed from Latin coniungere, meaning to join together, the root of conjunctiva, combined with the Greek suffix -itis, meaning inflammation.