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Red Eye: What You Need to Know About Conjunctival and Corneal Problems

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Red eye is a common symptom that can have various causes and presentations. It can range from mild and self-limiting to severe and sight threatening. Therefore, it is important for health care providers to be able to recognise and manage the different causes of red eye, and to refer appropriately when needed.

Red Eye

In this article, we will focus on two categories of red eye causes: conjunctival causes and corneal conditions.

Conjunctival causes

The conjunctiva is the thin membrane that covers the white part of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelids. It can become inflamed or infected by various agents, leading to conjunctivitis, which is also known as pink eye.

Conjunctivitis can be caused by:

Conjunctivitis is usually diagnosed by history and examination. Treatment depends on the cause and severity of the condition. Viral conjunctivitis is usually self-limiting and requires supportive care, such as artificial tears, cold compresses, or antihistamines. Bacterial conjunctivitis may require topical antibiotics, such as chloramphenicol or fusidic acid. Allergic conjunctivitis may respond to topical antihistamines, mast cell stabilisers, or corticosteroids. Irritant conjunctivitis may improve by avoiding or removing the offending agent and using lubricating drops.

Conjunctivitis is usually benign and does not affect vision. However, some complications that may warrant referral include:

Corneal conditions

The cornea is the transparent layer that covers the front of the eye. It can be damaged by various factors, leading to corneal abrasion (scratch), ulcer (infection), erosion (recurrent abrasion), dystrophy (degeneration), or keratitis (inflammation).

Corneal conditions can be caused by:

Corneal conditions are usually diagnosed by history and examination. Treatment depends on the cause and severity of the condition. Traumatic corneal abrasions may require topical antibiotics, analgesics, or cycloplegics. Infectious corneal ulcers may require topical or systemic antimicrobials. Inflammatory corneal erosions may require topical lubricants, corticosteroids, or immunosuppressants. Degenerative corneal dystrophies may require surgical interventions, such as corneal transplantation or cross-linking.

Corneal conditions can affect vision and cause complications, such as:

Therefore, some indications for referral include:

In conclusion, conjunctival causes and corneal conditions are two common categories of red eye causes that health care providers should be familiar with. They can have different causes, symptoms, treatments, and complications. It is important to recognise and manage them appropriately and to refer when needed.

If your staff are interested in learning more about the common causes of red eye and how to manage them effectively, you may want to consider commissioning our in-house virtual Minor Ailments: ear and eye conditions for the primary care practitioners course. This course is designed to help staff enhance their knowledge and skills in assessing and treating minor ear and eye problems in primary care settings. 

They will learn about the anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the ear and eye, the common presentations and differential diagnoses of ear and eye conditions, the evidence-based management and referral criteria for ear and eye problems. The course is delivered by experienced clinicians and educators and is suitable for nurses, pharmacists, paramedics, physician associates, and other health care professionals who work in primary care settings. 

If you are interested in a more extensive in-depth minor ailments course that covers a range of minor illness presentations, check out our virtual RCN accredited Minor Ailments Essentials course. This can be provided in-house or smaller groups of staff can apply on one of our scheduled events. 

References:

Article information

Written by: Practitioner Development UK
Reviewed by: Dr Debra Sharu, Practitioner Development UK
Last reviewed and updated: 15 May 2026

Medical disclaimer: This article is for general educational information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Red eye can have many different causes and should be assessed by an appropriately qualified healthcare professional where symptoms are severe, persistent, recurrent, worsening or associated with pain, light sensitivity, reduced vision, trauma, contact lens use, discharge, swelling around the eye or suspected corneal involvement. Urgent medical advice should be sought if there is sudden vision loss, severe eye pain, chemical injury, suspected infection inside the eye, or concern about sight-threatening disease.



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