Diagnostic approach Red eye (medicine)

1 diagnostic approach

1.1 visual acuity
1.2 ciliary flush
1.3 corneal abnormalities
1.4 pupillary abnormalities
1.5 abnormal intraocular pressure
1.6 severe pain

diagnostic approach

hyphaema - showing blood filling anterior chamber, causing horizontal fluid level.

particular signs , symptoms may indicate cause serious , requires immediate attention.

six such signs are:

reduced visual acuity
ciliary flush (circumcorneal injection)
corneal abnormalities including edema or opacities ( corneal haze )
corneal staining
abnormal pupil size
abnormal intraocular pressure

the useful smaller pupil in red eye none red eye , sensitivity bright lights.

visual acuity

a reduction in visual acuity in red eye indicative of serious ocular disease, such keratitis, iridocyclitis, , glaucoma, , never occurs in simple conjunctivitis without accompanying corneal involvement.

ciliary flush

ciliary flush present in eyes corneal inflammation, iridocyclitis or acute glaucoma, though not simple conjunctivitis. ciliary flush ring of red or violet spreading out around cornea of eye.

corneal abnormalities

the cornea requires transparent transmit light retina. because of injury, infection or inflammation, area of opacity may develop can seen penlight or ophthalmoscope. in rare instances, opacity congenital. in some, there family history of corneal growth disorders may progressive age. more commonly, misuse of contact lenses may precipitating factor. whichever, potentially serious , necessitates urgent treatment , corneal opacities fourth leading cause of blindness. opacities may keratic, is, due deposition of inflammatory cells, hazy, corneal edema, or may localized in case of corneal ulcer or keratitis.

corneal epithelial disruptions may detected fluorescein staining of eye, , careful observation cobalt-blue light. corneal epithelial disruptions stain green, represents injury of corneal epithelium. these types of disruptions may due corneal inflammations or physical trauma cornea, such foreign body.

pupillary abnormalities

in eye iridocyclitis, (inflammation of both iris , ciliary body), involved pupil smaller uninvolved, due reflex muscle spasm of sphincter muscle of iris. generally, conjunctivitis not affect pupils. acute angle-closure glaucoma, pupil fixed in mid-position, oval, , responds sluggishly light, if @ all.

shallow anterior chamber depth may indicate predisposition 1 form of glaucoma (narrow angle) requires slit-lamp examination or other special techniques determine it. in presence of red eye , shallow anterior chamber may indicate acute glaucoma, requires immediate attention.

abnormal intraocular pressure

intraocular pressure should measured part of routine eye examination. elevated iridocyclitis or acute-closure glaucoma, not relatively benign conditions. in iritis , traumatic perforating ocular injuries, intraocular pressure low.

severe pain

those conjunctivitis may report mild irritation or scratchiness, never extreme pain, indicator of more serious disease such keratitis, corneal ulceration, iridocyclitis, or acute glaucoma.