Unit 9: Red Eye
1: Bacterial Conjunctivitis
Source: EyeRounds.org. Contributor: William Charles Caccamise, Sr, MD, Retired Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.
Bacterial Conjunctivitis is common.
The most frequent causative pathogens are:
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
Symptoms
- Irritation & tearing
- Discharge
- Eyelids stuck together in morning
- Intermittent blurred vision
- Red eye
- Often starts in one eye and spreads to other.
Signs
- Mucopurulent discharge
- Lid erythema /oedema
- Diffuse conjunctival injection with or without papillae
- Tear film debris
Differential diagnosis
- Viral conjunctivitis
- Allergic conjunctivitis
- Blepharitis
Diagnosis
- Clinical
- Conjunctival swab and culture is possible, but not routinely required
Source: EyeRounds.org. Contributor: Andrew Doan, MD, PhD, University of Iowa.
Management
- Clean away discharge
- Wash hands and use separate towels from rest of family
- Broad spectrum topical antibiotics, usually Gutte chloramphenicol qds 1 week
