3 - CONJUNCTIVA SCLERA AND CORNEA

Abstract

Bilateral red eyes from infection or allergy are common and relatively harmless. However, a unilateral red eye requires careful ocular examination as the common causes are acute glaucoma, acute iritis, keratitis, or a foreign body. Acute bacterial conjunctivitis is a common cause of bilateral red eyes. The sensation of grittiness or of having a foreign body in the eyes is due to the rubbing of the inflamed palpebral conjunctiva against the cornea. Viral conjunctivitis presents with bilateral watering red eyes. The discharge is less than that in bacterial conjunctivitis. Allergic conjunctivitis presents with intense itchiness, in addition to watering red eyes. Chronic nonspecific conjunctivitis is a condition presenting with a multitude of symptoms, which include a sensation of dryness, discomfort, irritation, burning, redness, and sometimes watering and pain as well. A unilateral red eye is a potentially dangerous condition. It may be due to serious ocular conditions such as acute closed-angle glaucoma, iritis, keratitis, corneal ulcer, or a foreign body. This is a tiny, cream-colored, slightly raised opaque lesion on the conjunctiva, usually on the nasal side of the cornea but sometimes on the temporal side.