Is the conjunctiva the white of the eye?
The conjunctiva is the clear tissue that covers the white part of the eye and the inside of the eyelids.
What does pale conjunctiva mean?
An unhealthy pale appearance of the palpebral conjunctiva is a sign of anemia. Anemia is defined as a reduced count of circulating red blood cells and can occur through blood loss or pathways that hinder red blood cell production.
How do you describe conjunctiva?
The conjunctiva is a loose connective tissue that covers the surface of the eyeball (bulbar conjunctiva) and reflects back upon itself to form the inner layer of the eyelid (palpebral conjunctiva). This tissue firmly adheres to the sclera at the limbus, where it meets the cornea.
Why conjunctiva is translucent?
The conjunctiva is basically transparent because it is a thin organ, only composed of a narrow epithelium and a mostly equally thin connective tissue lamina propria with support structures like blood vessels, nerve fibers and defense cells.
What does conjunctival pallor look like?
Conjunctival pallor is present if there is loss of the normal redness of the anterior rim of the conjunctiva.
What is pink palpebral conjunctiva?
Pink eye (conjunctivitis) is an inflammation or infection of the transparent membrane (conjunctiva) that lines your eyelid and covers the white part of your eyeball. When small blood vessels in the conjunctiva become inflamed, they're more visible. This is what causes the whites of your eyes to appear reddish or pink.
Is conjunctiva transparent?
The conjunctiva is a thin, transparent, vascularized mucous membrane that covers the posterior surface of the eyelids, reflects forwards on the eye at the fornix, to cover the anterior sclera. Anatomically, the conjunctiva is composed of a bulbar and a palpebral component.
How would you describe the conjunctiva on a physical exam?
The conjunctiva on the eyeball should be equally white in both eyes. The conjunctiva lining the inner eyelid of the lower lid may be inspected by gently pulling down the lid with a finger. The conjunctiva lining the upper lid can only be observed by everting the upper lid as shown in Figure 114.1.
What are the three types of conjunctiva?
The conjunctiva can be divided into three regions: the palpebral or tarsal conjunctiva, the bulbar or ocular conjunctiva, and the conjunctival fornices. The palpebral conjunctiva is further divided into the marginal, tarsal, and orbital regions. The bulbar conjunctiva is divided into scleral and limbal parts.
What causes GREY sclera?
Senile scleral plaques: With age, the sclera can develop calcium deposits. These plaques may appear as gray spots at the 3 and 9 o'clock portions of your sclera. Only rarely can they erode through the conjunctival surface and cause irritation or infection.
What is white of eye?
Sclera: the white of your eye. Conjunctiva: a thin layer of tissue that covers the entire front of your eye, except for the cornea.
How thick is the conjunctiva?
33 micronsThe average thickness of the bulbar conjunctival membrane is 33 microns. Forms the junction between the bulbar and palpebral conjunctivas: It is loose and flexible, allowing the free movement of the lids and eyeball.
What are the conditions that affect the conjunctiva?
Because the surface of the eye is exposed, it is susceptible to many problems including infection, trauma, allergic reactions , and dryness. Following are common conjunctival disorders:
What are the three segments of the conjunctiva?
The conjunctiva is divided into three segments: the bulbar conjunctiva, the palpebral conjunctiva, and the fornix conjunctiva. The bulbar conjunctiva covers the anterior part of the sclera (the white of the eye). It does not cover the cornea. The palpebral conjunctiva covers the inner surface of the upper and lower eyelids.
What is a conjunctival lymphoma?
Conjunctival Lymphoma. A conjunctival lymphoma is a tumor that usually appears as a painless, salmon-pink, “fleshy” patch on the eye. 4 Conjunctival lymphomas are usually hidden behind the eyelids and are painless. They are typically discovered during a routine comprehensive eye exam.
What is the name of the malformation of the white part of the eye?
Conjunctival Hemangioma. A conjunctival hemangioma is a congenital malformation of a clump of blood vessels that develops on the white part of the eye. A conjunctival hemangioma is usually benign, but should be examined annually.
What is the condition where the conjunctiva becomes inflamed and swollen?
Sometimes the conjunctiva becomes inflamed and swollen. This condition is referred to as chemosis. Symptoms include watery eyes, excessive tearing, eye itchiness, and double or blurred vision. The following are some of the most common causes of chemosis: 8
Why is the conjunctiva important?
A healthy conjunctiva is necessary for the eye to function normally, as it helps to create a suitable environment for the cornea, which is responsible for focusing most of the light that enters the eye. It helps protect the eye by keeping out foreign objects and microorganisms. It also helps maintain the tear film.
Which conjunctiva is the junction between the bulbar and palpebral conjunctiva?
The bulbar and palpebral conjunctiva are both continuous, making it impossible to lose a contact lens behind your eye. The fornix conjunctiva forms the junction between the bulbar and palpebral conjunctivas. Its flexibility allowing the eyelids and eyeball to move freely.
What is the color of the sclera?
Color of Your Sclera Is a Cue for Your Health, Attractiveness and Age. Sclera is the tough outer coat of the eyeball. If you consider the surface anatomy of the eye, sclera is the white part of the eyeball. The white part actually is a combination of two layers – sclera is covered anteriorly with conjunctiva which is largely transparent.
How to keep your eyes healthy?
Since your eyes are an important part of your face and perception of your overall attractiveness depends a lot on your face, keep your eyes always healthy. Protect them from ultraviolet rays and prevent ocular injuries with appropriate glasses. If you have any eye problems, consult your ophthalmologist without delay.
Why is my sclera white?
This is the result of years of damage caused by infection, allergy and environmental toxins and degeneration. Chronic allergies, autoimmune diseases and infections may impart reddish ...
What is the conjunctiva?
Conjunctiva. The upper half of a sagittal section through the front of the eyeball. (Label for 'Conjunctiva' visible at center-left) Horizontal section of the eyeball. (Conjunctiva labeled at upper left) The conjunctiva is a tissue that lines the inside of the eyelids and covers the sclera (the white of the eye ).
Which conjunctiva covers the eyeball?
Palpebral or tarsal conjunctiva. Lines the eyelids. Bulbar or ocular conjunctiva. Covers the eyeball, over the anterior sclera: This region of the conjunctiva is tightly bound to the underlying sclera by Tenon's capsule and moves with the eyeball movements.
What is the bulbar conjunctival microvasculature?
The bulbar conjunctival microvasculature contains arterioles, meta-arterioles, venules, capillaries, and communicating vessels. Vessel morphology varies greatly between subjects and even between regions of the individual eyes. In some subjects, arterioles and venules can be seen to run parallel with each other.
How many microns are a bulbar conjunctival vessel?
Paired arterioles are generally smaller than corresponding venules. The average bulbar conjunctival vessel has been reported to be 15.1 microns, which reflects the high number of small capillaries, which are typically <10 microns in diameter.
What is the best way to image the bulbar conjunctival microvessel?
The bulbar conjunctival microvessels are typically imaged with a high-magnification slit lamp with green filters. With such high-magnification imaging systems, it is possible to see groups of individual red blood cells flowing in vivo. Fundus cameras may also be used for low-magnification wide field-of-view imaging of the bulbar conjunctival microvasculature. Modified fundus cameras have been used to measure conjunctival blood flow and to measure blood oxygen saturation. Fluorescein angiography has been used to study the blood flow of the bulbar conjunctiva and to differentiate the bulbar conjunctival and episcleral microcirculation.
What is the condition called when the conjunctiva folds?
With age, the conjunctiva can stretch and loosen from the underlying sclera, leading to the formation of conjunctival folds, a condition known as conjunctivochalasis. The conjunctiva can be affected by tumors which can be benign, pre-malignant or malignant.
Where does the blood supply to the bulbar conjunctiva come from?
Blood supply. Blood to the bulbar conjunctiva is primarily derived from the ophthalmic artery. The blood supply to the palpebral conjunctiva (the eyelid) is derived from the external carotid artery.
Overview
Structure
Function
Clinical significance
The conjunctiva is a tissue that lines the inside of the eyelids and covers the sclera (the white of the eye). It is composed of non-keratinized, stratified squamous epithelium with goblet cells, stratified columnar epithelium and stratified cuboidal epithelium (depending on the zone). The conjunctiva is highly vascularised, with many microvessels easily accessible for imaging studies.
Bulbar conjunctival microvasculature
The conjunctiva is typically divided into three parts:
Blood to the bulbar conjunctiva is primarily derived from the ophthalmic artery. The blood supply to the palpebral conjunctiva (the eyelid) is derived from the external carotid artery. However, the circulations of the bulbar conjunctiva and palpebral conjunctiva are linked, so both bulbar conjunctival and palpebral conjunctival vessels are supplied by both the ophthalmic artery and t…
See also
The conjunctiva helps lubricate the eye by producing mucus and tears, although a smaller volume of tears than the lacrimal gland. It also contributes to immune surveillance and helps to prevent the entrance of microbes into the eye.
Additional images
Disorders of the conjunctiva and cornea are common sources of eye complaints, in particular because the surface of the eye is exposed to various external influences and is especially susceptible to trauma, infections, chemical irritation, allergic reactions, and dryness.
• The conjunctival microvascular hemodynamics are affected by diabetic retinopathy (DR), hence can be useful for DR diagnosis and monitoring, and discriminating stages of DR.
External links
The bulbar conjunctival microvasculature contains arterioles, meta-arterioles, venules, capillaries, and communicating vessels. Vessel morphology varies greatly between subjects and even between regions of the individual eyes. In some subjects, arterioles and venules can be seen to run parallel with each other. Paired arterioles are generally smaller than corresponding venules. The average bulbar conjunctival vessel has been reported to be 15.1 microns, which reflects the …