ABSTRACT
Soreness or redness of eye is a common presentation in primary care. These symptoms suggest inflammation, the commonest cause of which is infective conjunctivitis, but there are important alternative diagnoses (including viral infection, allergy or an inflammatory disease) which may be local to the eye or linked to systemic inflammation. Some eye conditions, particularly those affecting vision, need urgent referral to ophthalmology; we cover the red flags and how to distinguish them from symptoms and signs of common, less serious eye problems such as blepharitis, dry eyes, cysts or subconjunctival haemorrhage.
