Acute red eye | Flashcards
What are the 2 main categories of red eye?
- Haemorrhage
2. Congestion
What are the 2 types of haemorrhages that cause red eye?
- Sub-conjunctival
2. Retrobulbar
What are the 2 types of congestion that cause red eye?
- Localised
2. Generalised
What is a sub-conjunctival haemorrhage?
Under the conjunctiva -
Posterior edge of haemorrhage is visible. Not usually serious
Which is more serious: sub-conjunctival haemorrhage or retrobulbar?
Retrobulbar - can cause sudden, irreversible blindness
What are the 4 usual causes of haemorrhage in the eye?
- Trauma
- Head injury
- Bleeding disorders
- Iatrogenic
What are 3 important qs in the history to ask in a patient with sub-conjunctival haemorrhage?
- Hx of trauma
- On blood thinners?
- HTN?
What is the management of sub-conjunctival haemorrhage?
Nothing - it will go away by itself in 10 days
What is a retrobulbar haemorrhage?
A rare, rapidly progressive, sight-threatening emergency that results in an accumulation of blood in the retrobulbar space (behind the eyeball)
-Posterior edge of haemorrhage is not visible
What are the consequences on an untreated retrobulbar haemorrhage?
The blood accumulation can lead to an increased IOP that may result in stretching of the optic nerve and blockage of ocular perfusion leading to venous or arterial occlusive process
=emergency
What 3 examinations need to be done for retrobulbar haemorrhage?
- VA
- Intraocular pressure
- Full ophthalmologic exam incl ocular motility + pupil reflex
What are 5 other eye symptoms/signs that can occur with a retrobulbar haemorrhage?
- Proptosis
- Restricted movements
- Sluggish pupil reaction
- Reduced visual acuity (check VA)
- Nausea and vomiting
What is the immediate management of a patient with retrobulbar haemorrhage?
Urgent lateral canthotomy with cantholysis - crucial to decompress the orbit and relieve pressure to prevent compartment syndrome and permanent vision loss
In a red eye with localised congestion, what are the main 3 ddx?
- Episcleritis
- Scleritis
- Phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis
In a red eye with localised congestion, which is the most common cause?
Episcleritis
What is episcleritis? How serious is it?
A common, benign, self-limiting cause of red eye, due to inflammation of the episcleral tissues
What are 4 symptoms and signs of episcleritis?
1. Acute or gradual onset of localised eye redness, usually unilateral Some may have: 2. Discomfort/dull pain 3. Photophobia 4. Tenderness
What is scleritis?
Inflammation in the episcleral and scleral tissues with injection in both superficial and deep episcleral vessels. It may involve the cornea, adjacent episclera and the uvea and thus can be vision-threatening.
What are symptoms and signs of scleritis (6)?
- Violet-bluish hue of sclera
- Scleral oedema and dilation
- Severe pain that may involve the eye and orbit is usually present
- Pain is exacerbated by eye movements due to extraocular muscle insertions into sclera
- Pain may be worse and wake the patient while sleeping
- Pain may radiate to ear, scalp, face and jaw
What type of conditions is scleritis associated with?
Autoimmune disease e.g. RA
What is the treatment of scleritis?
NSAIDs and topic steroids
What is phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis?
Nodular inflammation of the cornea or conjunctiva that results from a hypersensitivity reaction to a foreign antigen
What is the clinical feature of phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis affecting the conjunctiva?
Mild-moderate irritation of the eye
What are the 2 clinical features of phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis affecting the cornea?
- More severe pain
2. Photophobia
What are 3 complications of phlyctenular nodules?
- Ulceration
- Scarring
- Mild to moderate vision loss
What is the treatment of phlyctenular nodules?
Topical steroids to decrease the inflammatory response
How can you differentiate between episcleritis and scleritis?
How does it work?
- 5-10% phenylephrine
- goes white with episcleritis
- stays red with scleritis
It blanches the superficial vessels by vasoconstriction but does not affect the deep vessels, so stays red in scleritis
If the congestion is generalised, what is the next thing you would find out (2)?
- Conjunctival redness
or - Circumcorneal (ciliary) congestion
What are 5 clinical features of circumcorneal congestion?
- Deeper vessels, anterior ciliary, dusky red
- More marked around the cornea
- Vessels do not move with the conjunctiva
- Vessels do not blanch with topical vasoconstrictors
- Blood flow is centrifugal, from limbus to fornix
What are the 3 most likely diagnoses of circumcorneal congestion?
- Keratitis
- Acute glaucoma
- Iridocyclitis or uveitis
What is the most likely diagnosis of forniceal conjunctival redness?
Conjunctivitis
What are the 3 causes of conjunctivitis?
- Allergic
- Viral
- Bacterial
What are the 2 main symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis?
- Itch
2. Burning
What is the main symptom of viral conjunctivitis?
Sore eye
What is the main symptom of bacterial conjunctivitis?
Very sore eye