[Viral Conjunctivitis: Findings, Therapy, and Prophylaxis]. / Virale Bindehautentzündungen: Befunde, Therapie und Prophylaxe.

Viral conjunctivitis is one of the most common acute eye diseases. The fall and winter months are known to be the main season for viral infections which is also reflected in the ophthalmological outpatient clinics. Viral conjunctivitis is often accompanied by symptoms of the upper and lower respiratory tract, fever, chills, arthralgia or skin lesions. The spectrum of pathogens comprises DNA viruses such as Adeno-, Herpes simplex and Molluscum contagiosum as well as RNA viruses. Symptoms caused by pandemic pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2 and mpox viruses can also cause ocular manifestation. Viral conjunctivitis is often self-limiting leaving no residual symptoms, however an ophthalmologist should be consulted if there are inflammatory symptoms of the anterior eye accompanied by visual disturbance. It is particularly important to recognize the affection of corneal or even intraocular structures early to initiate an adequate and effective therapy. Affection of the cornea, vitreus or retina can result in temporary or permanent impairment of the field of vision and visual acuity. The diagnosis is usually made without further tests on the basis of the typical clinical presentation. Rapid tests or PCR diagnostics are also available for confirmation. In most patients the treatment is symptomatically with artificial tears and antibiotic eye drops in cases accompanied by secondary bacterial infections, not prophylactically. If the cornea or other ocular structures are affected by certain viruses, local as well as systemic virostatic therapy is initiated. The most important prophylactic measure is meticulous and consistent hygiene.

[Evisceration, enucleation and exenteration-Indications, techniques, and postoperative care]. / Eviszeration, Enukleation, Exenteration ­ Indikationen, Techniken und postoperative Nachsorge.

Various surgical techniques are available for the extirpation of an eye, depending on the underlying disease. Typical indications encompass tumors, inflammatory and infectious processes, glaucoma, trauma as well as congenital malformations. Surgical procedures include evisceration (resection of the intraocular space with preservation of the sclera), enucleation (extirpation of the entire eyeball including sclera and cornea) and exenteration (resection of the complete orbital soft tissue). The early detection of postoperatively manifesting complications, such as implant extrusion, conjunctivitis, postenucleation socket syndrome as well as the development of enophthalmus or ptosis, is of particular relevance in the context of postoperative care regarding functional, esthetic and social outcome. Special attention must be paid to ensuring a complication-free rehabilitation process, including the supply of a suitable, precisely fitting prosthesis or epithesis. This ensures the patient's psychosocial reintegration, in which an integrated interdisciplinary cooperation with ocularists and psychologists is essential. The latter play a particularly important role, as the psychological stress resulting from the procedure is often associated with a considerable reduction in the quality of life.