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CDHB

Clinical Conditions

Many conditions may require ophthalmology assessment. These include - acute red eye, acute visual loss, chronic visual loss, ophthalmic pain, diplopia, problems of eyelid position, eyelid lesions, trauma (including chemical burns), retained foreign body in the eyes, infection including intraocular pre-septal and orbital cellulitis and conjunctivitis.

Common Causes for Decreased Vision

• Sudden painless:
  • Retinal artery occlusion (pale retina), retinal vein occlusion, ischaemic optic neuropathy including giant cell arteritis, vitreous haemorrhage, retinal detachment.
• Painful:
  • Acute angle closure glaucoma, uveitis, optic neuritis (pain on eye movement).
• Gradual painless:
  • Cataract, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, open angle glaucoma, refractive error.
• Transient:
  • Amaurosis fugax, vertebrobasilar artery insufficiency, migraine, impending central retinal vein occlusion, giant cell arteritis.

Common Causes for Red Eye

Differential diagnoses:

• Eyelids:
  • Blepharitis, trichiasis, foreign bodies.
• Conjunctiva:
  • Conjunctivitis, subconjunctival haemorrhage, inflamed pterygium.
• Sclera/episclera:
  • Episcleritis, scleritis.
• Cornea:
  • Corneal ulcer, foreign bodies.
• Anterior chamber:
  • Iritis.

Topic Code: 3334