This document provides a differential diagnosis for red eye and lists the most common causes. It discusses four important causes in more detail: acute adenoviral conjunctivitis, acute bacterial corneal ulcer/keratitis, acute anterior uveitis, and acute congestive glaucoma. For each cause, it outlines characteristics of vision, eyelid swelling, discharge, congestion, cornea appearance, anterior chamber reaction, pupil appearance, intraocular pressure, and whether referral is required.
4. disease Acute
conjunctivitis
Acute
keratitis/ulcer
Acute anterior
uveitis
Acute
congestive
glaucoma
vision Normal Normal/
reduced
reduced Grossly
reduced
lids swollen swollen swollen swollen
discharge Purulent/Muco
purulent
Purulent /
watery
watery watery
congestion Conjunctival Circum-corneal Circum-corneal Circum-corneal
cornea clear opacity Clear KPs hazy
AC normal normal normal Very shallow
Reaction in AC none Cell flare
hypopyon +-
Cells flare
hypopyon +++
Cells flare +
pupil normal normal Irregular
miosed
sluggish
Mid dilated
oval non
reacting
IOP normal normal Normal soft
raised
Markedly
raised
referral Not required required required required
5. Congestion Conjunctival Ciliary (circum-corneal)
Location More in fornicies Around corneal and fades
towards fornicies
Color Bright red Deep red
Mobility mobile Deep non mobile
Phenylephrine test blanching Non blanching
Clinical significance Extra ocular inflammation Intraocular inflammation
Serious Non serious serious
Referral Not required mandatory