Red eye (by symptoms)
Caustic Contamination
Proptosis or Swelling
- Blepharitis
- Chalazion
- Stye (Hordeolum)
- Dacryocystitis
- inflammatory pseudotumor: retrobulbar inflammation
- (check intraocular pressure, work up for systemic disease, CT orbits, steroids and optho consult)
- Periorbital Cellulitis*
- Orbital Cellulitis
- Retrobulbar hematoma/abscess/emphysema
- orbital tumor*
- (check intraocular pressure, CT orbits, optho consult)
Unilateral Red/Painful
- Corneal Abrasion and Foreign Body
- Corneal Ulcer
- Foreign Body
- Trauma
- Endophthalmitis following prior surgery, with hypopyon or pus in anterior chamber
Less Common
- Periorbital cellulitis/orbital cellulitis
- Acute Glaucoma: corneal clouding
- Scleritis
- Uveitis (recurrent in AS): keratic precipitates
- photophobia, perilimbal injection
- Hyphema/Hypopyon
- Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus (look for concurrent skin findings)
- Thyroid disease
Severe Pain or FB Sensation
- keratitis*
- [rule out penetration, tetanus, topical antibiotics, optho referral]
- Keratoconjunctivitis
- Episcleritis
- Scleritis
- Anterior Uveitis*
- Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma
- Traumatic Hyphema
- Endophthalmitis*
Focal Redness or Bulbar Conjunctiva
- inflamed Pterygium
- scleral penetration**
- [pain relief, antiemetic, tetanus, admit optho]
- Subconjunctival Hematoma
Purulent Discharge
- bacterial Conjunctivitis*
Itching
- Allergic Conjunctivitis
Topical Meds or Cosmetics
- Chemical (Contact) Conjunctivitis
None of the Above
- Chlamydia Conjunctivitis
- Viral Conjunctivitis
See Also
Eye Algorithms
- Red eye
- Periorbital swelling
- Acute vision loss (noninflamed)
- Acute onset flashers and floaters
- Painful eyes with normal exam
- Neonatal eye problems