Evaluation of red eye

Last reviewed: 12 Sep 2024
Last updated: 22 Apr 2022

Summary

Differentials

Common

  • Trichiasis
  • Entropion
  • Ectropion
  • Blepharitis
  • Dry eye
  • Corneal ulcer (bacterial, viral, or fungal)
  • Contact lens-related red eye
  • Herpes zoster ophthalmicus
  • Corneal foreign body
  • Corneal abrasion
  • Keratitis
  • Subtarsal conjunctival foreign body
  • Allergic conjunctivitis
  • Bacterial conjunctivitis
  • Viral conjunctivitis
  • Nontraumatic subconjunctival hemorrhage
Full details

Uncommon

  • Angle-closure glaucoma
  • Chlamydial conjunctivitis
  • Neonatal conjunctivitis
  • Penetrating ocular trauma
  • Chemical trauma
  • Episcleritis
  • Scleritis
  • Anterior uveitis
Full details

Contributors

Authors

Jonathan Smith, FRCOphth, MRCP

Consultant Ophthalmologist

Sunderland Eye Infirmary

Sunderland

UK

Disclosures

JS declares that he has received travel and meeting costs from Novartis and Bayer.

Philip Severn, FRCOphth, MRCP

Consultant Ophthalmologist

James Cook University Hospital

Middlesbrough

UK

Disclosures

PS declares that he has served on the advisory boards of and received travel grants from Bayer and Novartis. He has also received travel grants from Allergan.

Lucy Clarke, MRCS, FRCOphth

Consultant in Ophthalmology

Royal Victoria Infirmary

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

UK

Disclosures

LC declares that she has no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Michael P. Ehrenhaus, MD

Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Cornea External Disease and Refractive Surgery Local Director

Long Island College Hospital Eye Center

Brooklyn

NY

Disclosures

MPE declares that he has no competing interests.

Usha Chakravarthy, MBBS, FRCS, PhD

Professor of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences

Centre for Vision Science

Queen's University Belfast

Belfast

UK

Disclosures

UC declares that she has no competing interests.

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