Red Eye Flashcards
List some common causes of red eye?
Conjunctivitis, Foreign bodies, Corneal ulceration and Subconjunctival haemorrhage
List some uncommon causes of red eye?
Acute glaucoma, Acute iritis, Scleritis and Episcleritis
What causes of red eye are easily treated?
Episcleritis, Conjunctivitis and Conjunctival haemorrhage
What causes of red eye require urgent referral?
Acute glaucoma, Acute iritis, Corneal ulcers and Scleritis
What 4 examinations should take place at any red eye assessment?
Examine acuity and check against previous tests
Ask about pain or foreign body sensation
Pupils reflexes
Slit lamp to check cornea
What is episcleritis?
Inflammation of the episcleral, just below the conjunctiva.
Is episcleritis more common in men or women?
Women
What are the clinical features of episcleritis?
Acute onset and 50% bilateral
Red eye
Blue looking sclera below a focal cone shaped wedge of engorged blood vessels that will move under a cotton bud (unlike scleritis)
Dull ache and tender eye although classically not painful
Acuity normal
Watery and mild photophobia
How should episcleritis be investigated?
Cotton wool bud dipped in phenylephrine (or just drops) – this blanches the conjunctival and episcleral vessels but not the scleral. If eye redness improves than episcleritis likely.
How is episcleritis managed?
Symptomatic relief with artificial tears, and topical of systemic NSAIDs
What is scleritis?
Generalised inflammation of the actual sclera. Classified as anterior (90%) or posterior depending on the position of the inflammation in relation to the insertion of the extraocular recti muscles.
What are the risk factors for scleritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis
Granulomatosis
Polyangiitis
How does scleritis present?
Blood shot eye Constant severe dull ache that bores into the head Painful eye movements Can present with headache and photophobia Conjunctival oedema Scleral thinning Vasculitic changes Gradual decrease in vision
How is Scleritis managed?
Non necrotising anterior – NSAIDs and oral high dose steroids
Necrotising or posterior – immunosuppression usually cyclophosphamide, rituximab and prednisolone. Note this type can cause globe perforation. If this appears imminently call surgical on call.
What is uveitis?
The uvea is the pigmented part of the eye – the iris, ciliary body and choroid. Anterior = iris and ciliary body. Inflammation here is termed anterior uveitis. The posterior uvea includes the choroid and retina, inflammation here Is called posterior uveitis or choroiditis. Intermediate uveitis involves the posterior ciliary body and nearby retina and choroid. Pan uveitis involves all segments.
What is the major association of anterior uveitis
Anterior (or Iritis)
Associated with HLA-B27 and other conditions linked to HLA-B27. Ankylosing spondylitis, Sarcoids, Bechet’s, IBD, reactive arthritis, Herpes, TB syphilis and HIV.
Note NOT Rheumatoid Arthritis
What causes intermediate uveitis?
Intermediate
Multiple sclerosis, lymphoma and sarcoid
What causes posterior uveitis?
Posterior
Herpes simplex and zoster, toxoplasmosis, TB, CMV, endophthalmitis, lymphoma, sarcoidosis and Behcet’s.
How does anterior uveitis present?
Onset over hours to days
Red eye starting with conjunctival injection around the junction with the sclera
Increase lacrimation and epiphora (overflow)
Pupil initially small due to spasms, later irregular due to adhesions between iris and ciliary body (known as synechiae) which can obstruct aqueous outflow
Pain
Normal acuity that becomes impaired
Photophobia
Leukocytes in the anterior chamber under slit lamp – hypopyon