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Contact conjunctivitis: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
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Large capillary conjunctivitis
The disease is an inflammatory reaction of the conjunctiva of the upper eye, which has been in contact with a foreign body for a long period of time. The occurrence of large-capillary conjunctivitis is possible under the following conditions: wearing contact lenses (hard and soft), using ocular prostheses, the presence of sutures after cataract extraction or keratoplasty, tightening scleral buckles.
Patients complain of itching and mucous discharge. In severe cases, ptosis may occur. Large papillae are grouped over the entire surface of the conjunctiva of the upper eyelids.
Symptoms of large capillary conjunctivitis
The symptoms of large-capillary conjunctivitis are very similar to the manifestations of the conjunctival form of spring catarrh, but there are significant differences between them. First of all, large-capillary conjunctivitis develops at any age and necessarily with the presence of remaining sutures or wearing contact lenses. Complaints of itching and discharge with large-capillary conjunctivitis are less pronounced, the limbus and cornea are usually not involved in the process. All symptoms of large-capillary conjunctivitis quickly disappear after removal of the foreign body. Patients with large-capillary conjunctivitis do not necessarily have a history of allergic diseases and do not experience seasonal exacerbations.
Treatment of large-capillary conjunctivitis
In the treatment of large-capillary conjunctivitis, the removal of the foreign body is of primary importance. Alomid or Lecromin is instilled 2 times a day until the symptoms disappear completely. Wearing new contact lenses is possible only after the inflammatory phenomena have completely disappeared.
To prevent large-capillary conjunctivitis, systematic care of contact lenses and prostheses is necessary.
Allergic conjunctivitis when wearing contact lenses
It is believed that most patients who wear contact lenses will at some point experience an allergic reaction of the conjunctiva: eye irritation, photophobia, discomfort when inserting the lens. During examination, one can detect small follicles, small or large papillae on the conjunctiva of the upper eyelids, hyperemia of the mucous membrane, edema and point erosions of the cornea.
Treatment. It is necessary to stop wearing contact lenses. Prescribe instillation of eye drops of necrolin or plomid 2 times a day. In case of acute reaction, use allergoftal or persalerg 2 times a day.
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