Acute red eye Flashcards
What is bacterial conjunctivitis?
Inflammation of the conjunctiva (Outer layer of the eye, surrounding sclera) caused by bacterial infection
What is the most common cause of acute red eye?
Conjunctivitis
What are some causes of bacterial conjunctivitis in neonates?
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Neisseria gonorrhoea
- Chlamydia trachomatis
What are some bacterial causes of conjunctivitis in children and adults?
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Haemophilus influenza (Especially in children)
How does bacterial conjunctivitis present?
- Inflammation (swelling, redness, pain, heat)
- Gritty irritation/itchiness
- Morning crusting
- Copious mucopurulent yellow discharge
- Does not cause pain, photophobia or reduced visual acuity
- Abrupt onset
- Spreads to both eyes within 48 hours
- Papillae
How is bacterial conjunctivitis investigated?
If suspect infective aetiology, swab for culture - bacterial, chlamydial, viral
How should bacterial conjunctivitis be managed initially?
Topical broad spectrum antibiotic - Chloramphenicol
Treats most bacteria except pseudomonas
How is bacterial conjunctivitis managed if unresponsive to topical broad spectrum antibiotics?
Staph. aureus - Fusidic acid
Coliforms and pseudomonas - Gentamicin
What is viral conjunctivitis?
Inflammation of the conjunctiva (Outer layer of the eye, surrounding sclera) caused by viral infection
What are some causes of viral conjunctivitis?
- Adenovirus (most common)
- Herpes simplex
- Herpes zoster
How does viral conjunctivitis present?
- Inflammation (Swelling, redness, pain, heat)
- Gritty irritation/itchiness
- Does not cause pain, photophobia or reduced visual acuity
- Sudden onset, rapidly progressive
- Typically bilateral, often manifests in one eye before spreading to the other
- Some patients will have associated URT - dry cough, sore throat and blocked nose
How does adenovirus conjunctivitis present?
Watery discharge
How does herpes simplex conjunctivitis present?
Cutaneous vesicles develop on the eyelids and on the skin around the eyes
How does herpes-zoster conjunctivitis present?
Shingles rash
What is shown?
Viral conjunctivitis - Adenovirus
What is shown?
Viral conjunctivitis - Herpes simplex
What is shown?
Herpes-Zoster (Shingles)
How is viral conjunctivitis investigated?
If suspect infective aetiology, swab for culture - bacterial, chlamydial, viral
How is adenovirus conjunctivitis managed?
Lubrication, cold compress (self-limiting)
How is herpes (Zoster or Simplex) managed?
Antivirals e.g. ganciclovir
What is a possible complication of herpes simplex conjunctivitis?
Dendritic ulcer (50% of patients)
How will chlamydial conjunctivitis present?
- Often chronic history unresponsive to treatments
- Suspect in bilateral conjunctivitis in YAs
- May or may not have symptoms of urethritis, vaginitis
How can chlamydial conjunctivitis be passed?
From mother to newborn
How is chlamydial conjunctivitis managed?
- Topical oxytetracycline
- Adults may need oral azithromycin for genital chlamydia infection
- Need contact tracing
What is a possible complication of chlamydial conjunctivitis?
Subtarsal scarring
What are some causes of allergic conjunctivitis?
Most cases seasonal as a result of pollen allergy, can occur due to allergens e.g. animal dander
How does allergic conjunctivitis present?
- Watery, itchy eyes
- Bilateral and symmetrical ocular involvement with global injection and chemosis
How is allergic conjunctivitis managed?
- Avoid triggers
- Cool compresses, oral/topical antihistamines for symptomatic relief
- Once control achieved - maintenance with a mast cell stabiliser (e.g. sodium cromoglycate)
What is scleritis?
Full thickness inflammation of the sclera; more serious than episcleritis
What are some associations with scleritis?
Autoimmune conditions - RA, SLE, IBD, Sarcoidosis, GPA
Surgery
Infection
How will scleritis present?
- Severe pain that progresses over several days
- Pain with eye movement
- Photophobia
- Eye watering
- Reduced visual acuity
- Abnormal pupil reaction to light
- Tenderness to palpation of the eye
What is shown?
Scleritis
How is scleritis managed?
- Oral NSAIDs
- Oral steroids + steroid sparing agents
What is the episclera?
The thin vascular sheet which lies between the conjunctiva and sclera
What is episcleritis?
Inflammation of the episclera; more superficial and less severe than scleritis
What causes episcleritis?
- Idiopathic (Usually therefore self-limiting)
- Systemic disease - IBD, RA, Sarcoidosis
How does episcleritis present?
- Typically not painful but there can be mild pain
- Segmental redness (rather than diffuse). There is usually a patch of redness in the lateral sclera.
- Foreign body sensation
- Dilated episcleral vessels
- Watering of eye
- No discharge
What is shown?
Episcleritis
How is episcleritis managed?
Self limiting - lubricants and cold compresses, topical NSAIDs, mild steroids
What is keratitis?
Inflammation of the cornea
What is a hypopiyn?
A hypopyon is an aggregation of inflammatory cells within the anterior chamber resulting in visible ‘sediment’ in front of the eye inferiorly
What is shown?
Hypopyon
What is shown?
Hypopyon
What types of organism can cause bacterial keratitis?
Both gram +ve and -ve bacteria
How does bacterial keratitis present?
- Photophobia
- Severe ocular pain and associated foreign body sensation
- Hypopyon
- Usually associated with other corneal pathology or contact lens wearing
What investigations are required in bacterial keratitis?
- Examination - anaethetics if photophobic, fluorescein, corneal reflex
- Corneal scrape for gram stain and culture
- In acanthamoeba ketatitis also culture contact lens
How is bacterial keratitis managed?
- Patient needs to be admitted for hourly antibiotic drops, patients require daily review
- Ofloxin - treats most gram negatives
- Gentamicin and cefuroxime - treats most gram positive and gram negative organisms
What is adenovirus keratitis?
Inflammation of the cornea caused by adenovirus
How does adenovirus keratitis present?
- Bilateral inflammation
- Following URTI or conjunctivitis
- May affect vision
What is shown?
Adenoviral keratitis
How is adenovirus keratitis managed?
- Normally self-limiting
- Can require steroids if chronic
What are some causes of viral keratitis?
Adenovirus
Herpes-Simplex virus