Dolor ocular. Estrategias diagnósticas, tratamiento y manejo en urgencias

Abstract

Eye pain is defined as pain in the eye itself, the orbit, or neighboring structures. It is one of the main reasons for emergency ophthalmologic consultations. Not all eye pain has its origin in the eyeball; indeed, these symptoms may be due to disease in the orbit or a neighboring structure. All patients who consult due to eye pain should have a full case history performed that is aimed at defining the pain's characteristics (manner of onset, intensity, location, radiation, circumstances that aggravate or attenuate it). Subsequently, a full ophthalmologic examination that includes visual acuity, an intrinsic and extrinsic ocular motility examination, examination of the anterior segment and ocular adnexa using a slit lamp, intraocular pressure, and an assessment of the eye fundus must be performed. The treatment of eye pain is mainly aimed at treating the underlying etiopathogenic mechanism, although many drugs allow for improving symptoms, such as oral analgesics or topical cycloplegic drugs.