General Medical Information

Red Eye

Jean Edwards Holt

The otolaryngologist–head and neck surgeon occasionally encounters a patient with a red eye, possibly in conjunction with another disease or after treatment. The condition causing the red eye often is a simple disorder, such as blepharitis or infectious conjunctivitis, that resolves spontaneously or is easily managed by the physician. In some instances, however, the condition causing the red eye is a more serious disorder, such as intraocular inflammation or acute glaucoma. A patient with one of these vision-threatening conditions needs the immediate attention of an ophthalmologist. The primary physician must be able to differentiate minor irritation and a serious eye disease. Red eye can be caused by infection, inflammation, or allergic reaction of the eyelid, adnexal structures, or intraocular tissues. Other important causes are acute glaucoma, trauma, and various systemic diseases.