Management and Treatment of Red Eyes in Primary Care

Authors

  • Jamie Bhamra, MD University of Calgary, Division of Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, Calgary, AB
  • Antoine Sylvestre-Bouchard, MD Section of Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Calgary

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58931/cpct.2024.2231

Abstract

Red eyes are a common complaint in primary care settings, with a plethora of causes and implications. Some etiologies are benign and self-limiting, while others are sight threatening and require urgent referral to an ophthalmologist. Therefore, it is important for primary care physicians to be able to carry out a diligent eye exam, recognize the signs and symptoms of different types of red eye presentations, to initiate appropriate management and treatment and to refer to ophthalmology when needed.

Author Biographies

Jamie Bhamra, MD, University of Calgary, Division of Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, Calgary, AB

Dr. Jamie Bhamra is an ophthalmologist with advanced training in cataract and corneal surgery, including refractive surgery, corneal cross-linking, external disease, ocular surface disease, and dry eye. Originally from Fernie, British Columbia, Calgary was an easy choice to pursue his post-secondary training. He completed his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Calgary. Post-graduate training in ophthalmology was completed in Canada and the United States. Ophthalmology residency training was at the prestigious University of Ottawa Eye Institute. Dr. Bhamra was fortunate to obtain his fellowship at the world-renowned Proctor Foundation and University of California, San Francisco. His subspecialty training includes cornea, external disease, refractive surgery, and uveitis.

Antoine Sylvestre-Bouchard, MD, Section of Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Calgary

Dr. Antoine Sylvestre-Bouchard serves as the chief ophthalmology resident at the University of Calgary. He holds an MD-MSc from the University de Montréal, where he conducted research on the biocompatibility of a novel corneal biosynthetic implant designed to replace allografts in complex inflammatory diseases. Previously, he held the position of Research Director, and he currently serves as the Communications Director for the Council of Canadian Ophthalmology Residents. On top of medical education, advanced anterior segment surgery and visual rehabilitation, he is highly invested in the application of AI and VR in vision health.

References

Cronau H, Kankanala RR, Mauger T. Diagnosis and management of red eye in primary care. Am Fam Physician. 2010 Jan 15;81(2):137–4.

Wirbelauer C. Management of the red eye for the primary care physician. Am J Med. 2006;119(4):302–6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2005.07.065

Alattas OA, Hamdi AA, Mudarba FMM, et al. Red eye diagnosis and management in primary health care. Arch Pharm Pract [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2024 Apr 17];10(3).

Kilduff C, Lois C. Red eyes and red-flags: improving ophthalmic assessment and referral in primary care. BMJ Open Qual. 2016;5(1):u211608-w4680. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjquality.u211608.w4680

Frings A, Geerling G, Schargus M. Red eye: A guide for non-specialists. Dtsch Ärztebl Int. 2017;114(17):302. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3238/arztebl.2017.0302

Singh RB, Liu L, Anchouche S, et al. Ocular redness – I: Etiology, pathogenesis, and assessment of conjunctival hyperemia. Ocul Surf. 2021 Jul;21:134–44. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtos.2021.05.003

Gilani CJ, Yang A, Yonkers M, et al. Differentiating urgent and emergent causes of acute red eye for the emergency physician. West J Emerg Med. 2017 Apr;18(3):509–17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5811/westjem.2016.12.31798

Gervasio K, Peck T, editors. The Wills Eye Manual: Office and Emergency Room Diagnosis and Treatment of Eye Disease. 8th edition. Wolters Kluwer Health; 2021. 1350 p.

Feder R, Berdy G, Iuorno J, et al. 2022-2023 Basic and clinical science course (BCSC): External Disease and Cornea. Vol. 8. American Academy of Ophthalmology; 2022.

Naradzay J, Barish RA. Approach to ophthalmologic emergencies. Med Clin. 2006 Mar 1;90(2):305–28. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mcna.2005.11.009

Evans DD, Hoyt KS. Ophthalmologic emergencies: assessment and management. Adv Emerg Nurs J. 2023 Dec;45(4):E9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/TME.0000000000000490

Shah SM, Khanna CL. Ophthalmic emergencies for the clinician. Mayo Clin Proc. 2020 May 1;95(5):1050–8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2020.03.018

Azari AA, Barney NP. Conjunctivitis: a systematic review of diagnosis and treatment. JAMA. 2013 Oct 23;310(16):1721–30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2013.280318

Bunya VY, López Montero MC, Prakalapakorn G. Conjunctivitis - EyeWiki [Internet]. [cited 2024 Apr 22]. Available from: https://eyewiki.aao.org/Conjunctivitis

Cheung AY, Choi DS, Ahmad S, et al. Conjunctivitis preferred practice pattern. Ophthalmology. 2024 Apr 1;131(4):P134–204. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2023.12.037

Golden MI, Meyer JJ, Patel BC. Dry Eye Syndrome. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 [cited 2024 Apr 23]. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470411/

Clayton Janine A. Dry Eye. N Engl J Med. 2018 Jun 7;378(23):2212–23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra1407936

Amescua G, Ahmad S, Cheung A , et al. Dry Eye Syndrome Preferred Practice Pattern®. Ophthalmology. 2024 Apr 1;131(4):P1–49. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2023.12.041

Fowler BT, Johnson J, Chang V, et al. Blepharitis - EyeWiki [Internet]. [cited 2024 Apr 24]. Available from: https://eyewiki.aao.org/Blepharitis

Amescua G, Akpek EK, Farid M, et al. Blepharitis Preferred Practice Pattern®. Ophthalmology. 2019 Jan 1;126(1):P56–93. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2018.10.019

Doshi R, Noohani T. Subconjunctival hemorrhage. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 [cited 2024 Apr 24]. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551666/

Tarlan B, Kiratli H. Subconjunctival hemorrhage: risk factors and potential indicators. Clin Ophthalmol Auckl NZ. 2013;7:1163–70. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S35062

Subconjunctival Hemorrhage - EyeWiki [Internet]. [cited 2024 Apr 24]. Available from: https://eyewiki.aao.org/Subconjunctival_Hemorrhage

Jabs DA, Mudun A, Dunn JP, et al. Episcleritis and scleritis: clinical features and treatment results. Am J Ophthalmol. 2000 Oct 1;130(4):469–76. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-9394(00)00710-8

Sen HN, Albini TA, Burkholder BM, et al. 2022-2023 Basic and clinical science course (BCSC): uveitis and ocular inflammation. Vol. 9. American Academy of Ophthalmology; 2022.

Downloads

Published

2024-09-09

How to Cite

1.
Bhamra J, Sylvestre-Bouchard A. Management and Treatment of Red Eyes in Primary Care. Can Prim Care Today [Internet]. 2024 Sep. 9 [cited 2024 Dec. 21];2(2):26–33. Available from: https://canadianprimarycaretoday.com/article/view/2-2-bhamra_et_al

Issue

Volume 2, Issue 2, Summer 2024

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2024 Canadian Primary Care Today

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.