ABSTRACT
Conjunctivitis can be due to bacteria, viruses, fungi, helminths, and protozoa. Noninfective forms are frequently caused by allergy, dry eye, or toxicity. Toxicity may be due to preservatives, (thiomersal, benzalkonium chloride), associated with eye drops or contact lens (CL) wear. Rarely it may be due to systemic medication (StevensJohnson syndrome) or circulating bacterial toxins, as in toxic shock syndrome due to Staphylococcus aureus (TSST-1) and Streptococcus pyogenes (exotoxin A).
