Brian Young Jan 6, 2010:

"Ophævet" probably should have been simply "hævet", which would mean swollen. "Ophævet" does normally mean stopped or cancelled, and does not sound right at all in this context.
I think that "betændt" means "infected or inflamed", while "(op)hævet" means swollen. "nærmest" means "probably or most likely, or even obviously", in this context. "nærmest"= nearest. It has a degree of uncertainty about it, and would have been eliminated from the text during a thorough proofreading, which obviously has not taken place.

Christine Andersen Jan 6, 2010:

I understand it as meaning seriously ´red´ I understand this as meaning that the whites of the eyes are ´red´, to use another term, i.e. they are not just dry and irritated, but possibly even infected.

´Ophævet´ is used for hot, red, uncomfortable, though I would not expect it used of eyes... except perhaps to indicate the uncomfortable sensation. The use of ´nærmest betændt´ would indicate that the condition is serious or really painful.

Gyldendal does give ´inflamed´ for betændt, but also gives septic, infected, suppurating.

´Nærmest betændt´ intensifies or supplements ´ophævet´.

Brian Young Jan 6, 2010:

"nærmest betændt" does not necessarily mean "rather inflamed" The expression "nærmest" is used very often, in this case closer to "probably". It is an overworked expression, typical of the tendency for Danes to use more words than necessary. It could probably just have been left out, in this instance.

Christine Andersen Jan 6, 2010:

distinction between ophævet and betændt If both expressions are used, I would still use ´inflamed´ for ophævet, and use an expression such as infected or septic for ´betændt´.

ebell (asker) Jan 6, 2010:

inflamed The text goes on to say that the eyes are 'nærmest betændt', which I have translated as 'rather inflamed' so don't want to use it for 'ophævet'