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Presentation type	E-poster
Title	Diagnosis and treatment of ligneous conjunctivitis in a 3-month-old infant.

Purpose	To report a case of unilateral ligneous conjunctivitis mimicking preseptal cellulitis and successfully treated with commercially-available heparin-containing artificial tears.
Methods	Case report with review of the literature
Results	A 3-month-old girl was referred to our tertiary hospital because of acute, worsening eyelid swelling despite topical and intravenous antibiotics. During examination under general anesthesia, the swelling was found to originate from the conjunctiva, particularly the superior and inferior fornix. Multiple, wood-like fibrinous pseudomembranes were evident, consistent with ligneous conjunctivitis. After removal of the pseudomembranes covering the visual axis, topical treatment was initiated: topical antibiotics, low-dose topical steroids and frequent instillation of heparin-containing artificial tears (Hyloparin®). Histopathologic examination confirmed the predominance of fibrin within the pseudomembranes. The corneal epithelium re-epithelialised during the following days and the conjunctival lesions gradually subsided over the ensuing weeks whilst continuing heparin-containing artificial tears.
Conclusion	Ligneous conjunctivitis is a rare form of pseudomembranous conjunctivitis, which may mimic preseptal cellulitis. Examination under general anesthesia is of particular value in the pediatric population. Heparin-containing artificial tears (Hyloparin®) are an effective and easy first-line treatment option in this condition.
Conflict of interest	No

Authors 1

Last name	MERLEVEDE
Initials	V
Department	Department of Ophthalmology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
City	Ghent

Authors 2

Last name	ROELS
Initials	D
Department	Department of Ophthalmology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
City	Ghent

Authors 3

Last name	KREPS
Initials	E
Department	Department of Ophthalmology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
City	Ghent