Managing a child with an external ocular disease.

Children are affected by some common external diseases, including allergic conjunctivitis and blepharokeratoconjunctivitis. This workshop aims to familiarize readers with the clinical features of each along with common presentations and to discuss strategies for managing these conditions, with emphasis on newer drugs and therapies. The other group of external diseases that commonly present in children comprises persistent punctate erosions and persistent epithelial defects. Etiology is varied, and making the correct diagnosis requires a systematic approach with close inspection of the microenvironment of the eye. Common causes and treatment modalities will be discussed. Types of lubrication and how they may best be used also will be outlined. Copyright (c) 2010 American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.