Manual
Red eye differential
The Red Eye
Red eye differential
Use pain, vision, pupil and cornea to triage.
| Condition | Pain | Vision | Key signs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conjunctivitis | Gritty | Normal | Diffuse injection, discharge, follicles/papillae |
| Subconj. hemorrhage | None | Normal | Flat bright-red patch |
| Episcleritis | Mild | Normal | Sectoral, blanches with phenylephrine |
| Scleritis | Severe, boring | ± ↓ | Violaceous, tender, no blanching |
| Keratitis | Moderate–severe | ↓ | Infiltrate, staining, photophobia |
| Anterior uveitis | Ache + photophobia | ± ↓ | Ciliary flush, cells/flare, small pupil |
| Acute angle closure | Severe + nausea | ↓↓ | Hazy cornea, mid-dilated pupil, IOP ↑↑ |
Red flags: reduced vision, severe pain, photophobia, abnormal pupil, corneal opacity/staining, contact lens wearer, recent surgery or trauma → same-day ophthalmology.
Educational summary — follow local protocols and current guidelines.