Red eye syndrome

Abstract

One of the clinical problems that the doctor in an emergency faces daily is the red eye. Most cases are relatively benign and self-limiting; however, some conditions are associated with high morbidity and are potentially threatening to vision and may initially manifest as a red eye. The doctor must be attentive to look for the high risk factors in the clinical history and the examination, to determine those cases that can be treated in the emergency without the intervention of the ophthalmologist and others that must be evaluated by the specialist urgently because of the imminent danger of visual loss. The differential diagnosis of the red eye is extensive, however, the most frequent cases include: conjunctivitis of multiple etiology, subconjunctival hemorrhages, episcleritis, scleritis, anterior uveitis and acute angle-closure congestive
glaucoma, which is one of the most important emergencies in medicine.