ABSTRACT
This chapter presents information or guidance regarding ophthalmology for use by medical, scientific or health-care professionals. A red eye may be obvious, but eye pain can be misleading. Although the acute red eye is a common complaint and often entirely benign, it can also represent an acute ocular emergency which requires rapid evaluation and treatment in order to preserve vision. It is therefore important to be able to identify the serious diagnoses so that the appropriate action can be taken, if needed, to prevent permanent damage to vision. An instant change in vision is more likely to be due to vascular occlusion. A horizontal defect suggests a retinal vascular cause, whereas a vertical defect suggests a neuro-ophthalmic problem. Blurring and haloes around lights may occur due to corneal oedema. Risk factors of glaucoma include Afro-Caribbean ethnicity, diabetes, advanced age, myopia and family history.
