Conjunctivitis

Background

• Number 1 cause of acute red eye

Diagnosis

• Rarely painful, more irritated
• Limbic sparing
• viral keratoconjucitivis assoc with URI and adeno
• watery viral/discharge bacterial/consider chlamydia

DDx

Viral Conjunctivitis

1. Treatment
   1. Artificial tears
   2. Cold compresses
   3. Consider topical antibiotics (e.g. erythromycin ophtho) if unable to differentiate from bacterial conjunctivitis
   4. Strict hand/general hygiene
   5. Follow up with ophtho if worsening or no improvement in 7 days

Chemical (Contact) Conjunctivitis

1. Topical Meds or Cosmetics
   1. irrigate, naphazoline drops, outpt for tx failure

See Caustic Keratoconjunctivitis

Chlamydia Conjunctivitis

1. PO erythromycin x 14D; CTX for gonorrhea

Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus

• HZV Conjunctivitis

See Also

• Conjunctivitis (Peds)
• Eye Algorithm (Main)

Source

• Mahmood AR, Narang AT. Diagnosis and management of the acute red eye. Emerg Med Clin N Am. 2008;26:35-55.