How is the conjunctiva different than the sclera?
Some people confuse the conjunctiva for the white part of the eye, which is the sclera. The sclera is a tough, opaque, fibrous tissue. This connective tissue helps to maintain the shape of your eyeball, while the conjunctiva is a mucous membrane covering the outer part of your sclera.
How do you assess conjunctiva and sclera?
Method Of Exam Gently pull the lower eyelid downward and ask the patient to look upward. In doing so, you can better visualize the sclera and palpebral conjunctivae. Note the translucency and vascular pattern of both the scleral and palpebral conjunctivae and the color of the sclera.
How can you tell the difference between scleritis and Episcleritis?
Background
- Episcleritis is inflammation of the superficial, episcleral layer of the eye. It is relatively common, benign and self-limiting.
- Scleritis is inflammation involving the sclera. It is a severe ocular inflammation, often with ocular complications, which nearly always requires systemic treatment [1, 2].
Is the conjunctiva continuous with the sclera?
Conjunctiva is a fine, translucent mucous membrane that joins and covers the anterior surface of eyeball and posterior side of the eyelids. It covers the posterior surface of the lids and reflects to cover the anterior part of the sclera, then becomes continuous with the corneal epithelium.
What is conjunctiva sclera?
The conjunctiva is the membrane that lines the eyelid and loops back to cover the sclera (the tough white fiber layer covering the eye), right up to the edge of the cornea (the clear layer in front of the iris and pupil—see Structure and Function of the Eyes.
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 white conjunctiva mean?
The conjunctiva is the clear, thin membrane that covers part of the front surface of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelids. It has two segments: Bulbar conjunctiva. This portion of the conjunctiva covers the anterior part of the sclera (the “white” of the eye).
What is the conjunctiva?
What is sclera and Episclera?
The sclera is made up of three divisions: the episclera, loose connective tissue, immediately beneath the conjunctiva; sclera proper, the dense white tissue that gives the area its color; and the lamina fusca, the innermost zone made up of elastic fibers. There are a number of abnormalities associated with the sclera.
What causes pale conjunctiva?
Chronic anemia causes the skin and conjunctiva to appear abnormally pale because of reduced amounts of red-colored oxyhemoglobin that circulate in the dermal and subconjunctival capillaries and venules.
What’s the function of the conjunctiva?
The conjunctiva of the eye provides protection and lubrication of the eye by the production of mucus and tears. It prevents microbial entrance into the eye and plays a role in immune surveillance. It lines the inside of the eyelids and provides a covering to the sclera.