1.what is conjunctiva?

Conjunctiva is a mucous membrane which lines the posterior(back) surface of eyelids and the anterior(front) surface of the eyeball.

2.what is conjunctivitis?

It refers to the inflammation of the conjunctiva due to any cause .

3. what is acute mucopurulent conjunctivitis?

It refers to the acute inflammation of the conjunctiva characterised by a mucopurulent discharge.Its aetiology is mainly a bacterial infection(commonly known as madras eye).

4.what are the causative organisms?

Staphylococcus,streptococcus,pneumococcus are the most common causative organisms.The condition may also accompany exanthems like measles and scarlet fever.

5.How does the patient present to the ophthalmologist?

Patients complain of:

1. ocular discomfort and foreign body sensation.
2. mild photopobia(difficulty to tolerate bright light).
3. difficulty in opening the eyes after waking up in the morning hours due to sticking together of the lid margins.
4. slight blurring of vision due to the mucous flakes obstructing the passage of light.

6.what are the signs of AMP?

1. conjuctival congestion(fiery red eye).
2. swelling of the conjunctiva(chemosis).
3. petechial hemorrhages are seen when the conjuctivitis is due to pneumococcus.
4. flakes of mucopus are seen in the lid margins.
5. cilia are matted together with yellow crusts .

7.what is the treatment for AMP?

1. topical antibiotics to control the infection{chloramphenicol( 1%)}.
2. irrigation of the conjunctival sac with sterile warm saline once or twice a day(excessive washing should be avoided as it might reduce the lysozyme content of the tear and may delay healing).
3. dark goggles to prevent photophobia.

the condition generally has a self limiting course and will resolve in 15 days.Some cases will go into a less intense form called chronic catarrhal conjuctivitis.