The conjunctiva is a thin membrane that covers the inner surface of the eyelid and the white part of the eyeball (the sclera).
Inflammation of the conjunctiva is called conjunctivitis. It makes the white of the eye look red.
Images
References
Dutton JJ. Clinical anatomy of the eyelids. In: Yanoff M, Duker JS, eds. Ophthalmology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 12.1.
Folberg R. The eye. In: Kumar V, Abbas AK, Aster JC, eds. Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 29.
Review Date 11/4/2021
Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.