clinical features

Last reviewed 01/2018

The early stages:

  • characterised by papillary hypertrophy, the development of lymphoid follicles, a punctate keratitis and pannus formation
  • prominent featurs are pain, lacrimation and photophobia

Gradually:

  • the follicles become more numerous and spread onto the bulbar conjunctiva
  • there is progressive scarring of the upper lid, trichiasis and entropion
  • the lower lid is less frequently affected.
  • reinfection is common either by the original infective agent or due to a secondary bacterial infection. This contributes to the scarring, particularly of the cornea

Ultimately, blindness results.