Allergic conjunctivitis

Background

  • Chronic allergic conjunctivitis is also called vernal conjunctivitis

Clinical Features

  • Itching
  • Watery discharge
  • Injected and edematous conjunctiva
  • Papillae on inferior conjunctival fornix
  • Red, swollen eyelids

Differential Diagnosis

Conjunctivitis Types

Evaluation

Clinical diagnosis of conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis
Bacterial Viral Allergic
Bilateral 50% 25% Mostly
Discharge Mucopurulent Clear, Watery Cobblestoning, none
Redness Yes Yes Yes
Pruritis Rarely Rarely Yes
Additional Treatment: Antibiotics Treatment: Hygiene Seasonal

Management

  • Mild: avoid triggers, cool compresses x 15 minutes QID
  • Moderate: Histamine-blocking drops (e.g. olopatadine, pemirolast, or ketotifen)
  • Severe: referral to ophthalmology for possible steroid therapy

Disposition

  • Outpatient ophthalmology follow-up

See Also

References

  • Mahmood, Narang. Diagnosis and management of acute red eye. Emerg Med Clin N Am 2008;26