ophthalmia

American  

[of-thal-mee-uh, op-] / ɒfˈθæl mi ə, ɒp- /

noun

1. inflammation of the eye, especially of its membranes or external structures.

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ophthalmia British  

/ ɒfˈθælmɪə /

noun

1. inflammation of the eye, often including the conjunctiva

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Other Word Forms

• ophthalmiac noun

Etymology

Origin of ophthalmia

1350–1400; < Late Latin < Greek ophthalmía, equivalent to ophthalm ( ós ) eye + -ia -ia; replacing Middle English obtalmia < Medieval Latin, Late Latin as above

Example Sentences

While there, she accidentally contracted conjunctivitis from an infant with gonorrhea ophthalmia and subsequently lost an eye after a long and painful convalescence.

From Washington Post • Feb. 4, 2021

Many states, realizing this, have legally outlawed ophthalmia neonatorum, making prophylactic treatment of the eyes of newborns compulsory, supplying prophylactic outfits through health departments.

From Time Magazine Archive

Hard it is to look at a Gothic building without a romanticizing ophthalmia, harder still to consider a Gothic personage.

From Time Magazine Archive

“Bernard! How can you?” the passage of an old woman with ophthalmia and a disease of the skin distracted her from her indignation.

From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley

Epidemics of typhus are not unknown, as well as ophthalmia.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 4 "Diameter" to "Dinarchus" by Various