Ophthalmia
in pathology, a term used to indicate the structural changes produced by proliferation and catarrhal inflammation, going on to the formation of pus in the mucous membrane of the eye, exhibiting various forms, catarrhal, fant), gonorrheal, strumous, or scrofulous, and chronic. The chief symptoms are redness of the eye, chemosis, or swelling, discharge of fluid and pus, intolerance of light, and frequently, in severe cases, spasmodic closure of the eyelids.
When the cornea is involved, destruction of the eye and permanent loss of sightas in diphtheria and smallpox, or from sand, etc., as among the troops and natives in Egypt especially is a common result. Treatment of the discharge by caustics and astringents is imperatively called for.