What is "synechia"

Synechia \Syn*e"chi*a\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ?, fr. ? to hold together; sy`n with + ? to hold.] (Med.) A disease of the eye, in which the iris adheres to the cornea or to the capsule of the crystalline lens.

plural synechiae, "morbid union of parts, especially of the eye," 1842, medical Latin, from Greek synekheia "continuity," from synekhes "continuous," from syn "together" (see syn-) + ekhein "to hold" (see scheme (n.)).

n. (context medicine English) An eye condition in which the iris adheres either to the cornea (anterior synechia) or to the lens (posterior synechia).

n. adhesions between the iris and the lens or cornea resulting from trauma or eye surgery of as a complication of glaucoma or cataract; can lead to blindness

A synechia is an eye condition where the iris adheres to either the cornea (i.e. anterior synechia) or lens (i.e. posterior synechia). Synechiae can be caused by ocular trauma, iritis or iridocyclitis and may lead to certain types of glaucoma. It is sometimes visible on careful examination but usually more easily through an ophthalmoscope or slit-lamp.

Anterior synechia causes closed angle glaucoma, which means that the iris closes the drainage way of aqueous humour which in turn raises the intraocular pressure. Posterior synechia also cause glaucoma, but with a different mechanism. In posterior synechia, the iris adheres to the lens, blocking the flow of aqueous humor from the posterior chamber to the anterior chamber. This blocked drainage raises the intraocular pressure.

In medicine, synechia can refer to:

• Synechia (eye)
• Asherman's syndrome (uterine synechia)

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