The red eye in general practice: A clinical quiz

Abstract

Patients regularly present to general practitioners complaining of red eyes. Sometimes the aetiology is obvious and prescribing the correct treatment is straightforward whereas, in other cases, it can be extremely difficult to pinpoint the exact cause, and deciding on appropriate treatment becomes problematic. The following quiz cases will illustrate several causes of red eye and highlight clues in italics that should prove helpful in making the correct diagnosis.