CHAPTER XI. 



SYMPATHETIC OPHTHALMIA. 



Sympathetic Ophthalmia. — Supposed to be due to a 

 pre-existing inflammatory condition of tlie other eye. At 

 its inception there is some photophobia, some injection 

 and laclirymation. With the ophthalmoscope will lind 

 opacities floating in the vitreous. Pain in the ciliary 

 region, especially is it painful to touch. The hazi- 

 ness of the aqueous will be from the exudation from 

 the ciliary processes. Occlusion of the pupil is a 

 common accompaniment. Tension will be increased 

 and loss of sight will be complete. The causes which 

 are responsible for many such cases are injury, trauma, 

 especially in the danger zone, i. e., the ciliary region ; 

 an operation for cataract with the incision too far 

 back of the corneo-scleral margin, for instance; 

 previous inflammations, followed by or i-esulting in 

 atrophy, etc. The period of danger, /. e., when one 

 eye may sympathetically suffer from another, is vari- 

 ously estimated at from two weeks to any period. 

 The most frequent period is from one to two months- 

 The method and means of transmission is as yet an 

 open question, and space forbids entering into the many 

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