Skin and eyes.

Abstract

The skin covering the eyelids can be affected by whatever disorder and the dermatologist is the physician responsible for recognizing and treat such disorders. A skin disorder involving the skin of the eyelids unlikely affects simultaneously the cornea or other ocular structures, probably because there is a particular organ tropism and the skin of the eyelids belongs to the skin rather than to the eye. Two disorders characteristic of atopy are atopic dermatitis often localized on the eyelids and allergic conjunctivitis. However, these two disorders, although sometimes affecting the same subject, run an independent clinical course. Dermatitis is more precocious and spontaneously regress during summertime in most cases. Conjunctivitis starts later and worsens during summertime due to photo exposure. The same argument applies to recurrent herpes simplex. Although herpetic involvement of both the skin of the eyelid and the cornea is rather frequent, exceptionally the eyelid skin and cornea are simultaneously affected. (...)