TOC  | D-Dx    

Red Eye Differential  -  REF: Outlines in Clinical Medicine on Physicians' Online 2001

1.  Conjunctivitis:
Viral (common): bilateral, watery discharge, spread by contact, self-limited
Bacterial (Less common): unilateral, purulent discharge, risk factors
Allergic: bilateral, itchy, watery discharge, swelling
Chemical/Irritative: history of insult
Sicca Syndrome

2.  Trauma

3.  Iritis,  Scleritis  or Episcleritis

4.  Corneal Abrasion/Ulcer: pain, tearing, decreased vision, fluorescein staning defect, Antibiotics eye drops Rx .
     Risk factors: contact lens wear, trauma, eyelid abnormality, etc.

5.  Orbital cellulitis: decrease vision, possible afferent pupillary defect, swollen periorbital tissue, proptosis, pain, often associated with sinusitis, decreased EOM

6.  Uveitis: Intraocular inflammatioin, decreased vision, cloudy anterior chamber witih cells, pain; etiology include autoimmune, trauma, post-surgery, idiopathic.

7.  Subconjunctival Hemorrhage:
     spontaneous, sometimes due to Valsalva, harmless, self-limited, normal vision, no pain or discharge

8.  Pterygium (degenerative condition):
     due to chronic sun exposure, relatively normal vision, no significant discharge; common in Hispanics.

9.  Periocular Abscess with conjunctivitis

10.  Acute Closed Angle Glaucoma: decreased visin, mid-dilated pupil with anisocoria, red conjuctiva & cloudy cornea, very high intraorbital pressure, palpably discernable, headache, eye pain, nausea, vomiting; immediate referral to ophthalmologist.

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