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Self-inflicted conjunctivitis can be reliably diagnosed
REHOVOT, Israel — Self-inflicted conjunctivitis can be reliably diagnosed by noting the characteristic clinical profile and can be effectively managed by addressing the underlying psychologic and social problems.
Russell Pokroy, MD, and Arie Marcovich, MD, evaluated 17 conscripted soldiers in the Israeli Defense Force with conjunctivitis. Where cases of suspected self-inflicted conjunctivitis existed, all medication aside from lubricant drops was stopped. Of the 17 cases, eight were of long duration (longer than 3 weeks) and nine were of a shorter duration. Ocular signs most indicative of self-inflicted conjunctivitis were purulent discharge purposely left on the lashes and periorbital skin, discharge more severe than in conjunctival hyperemia, less conjunctival chemosis than in hyperemia, mainly inferior conjunctival involvement and an uninvolved cornea.
The study is published in the April issue of Ophthalmology.