Anatomy of Eyelids

Eyelid Function and Structure

• Thin, mobile folds that cover the eyeball anteriorly
• Provide protection from excessive light or injury
• Maintain lubrication by distributing tears over the surface of the eyeball

Eyelid Anatomy

• Divided into upper and lower portions
• Meet at the medial and lateral canthi of the eye
• The opening between the two eyelids is called the palpebral aperture or opening

Viruses and the Eye

• Viruses typically affect the front part of the eye, while infection of the back part is rare.

Types of Viruses

• Adenoviruses:
  • Cause two types of inflammation: epidemic keratoconjunctivitis and pharyngeal conjunctivitis.
  • Symptoms include itchy eyes, feeling of a foreign body inside the eye, redness of the conjunctiva, and adhesion of the eyelids.
  • Treatment involves using povidone iodine at a concentration of 0.8%.

Herpes Simplex Virus

• Symptoms:
  • Cold sores and facial blisters that may appear after a cold or fever.
• Types:
  • First type: Affects the face, lips, and eyes.
  • Second type: Genital, affecting the genitals.
• Characteristics:
  • Typically affects only one eye.
• Treatment:
  • Topical antivirals such as edoxuridine, vidarabine, and trifluoridine.