ophthalmia

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

ophthalmia
    n 1: severe conjunctivitis [syn: {ophthalmia}, {ophthalmitis}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Ophthalmia \Oph*thal"mi*a\ ([o^]f*th[a^]l"m[i^]*[.a]), n. [F.
   ophthalmie, L. ophthalmia, fr. Gr. 'ofqalmi`a, fr. 'ofqalmo`s
   the eye, akin to E. optic. See {Optic}.] (Med.)
   An inflammation of the membranes or coats of the eye or of
   the eyeball.

   Syn: ophthalmitis.
        [1913 Webster]