Management and Treatment of Red Eyes in Primary Care

Red eyes are a common complaint in primary care settings, with a plethora of causes and implications. Some etiologies are benign and self-limiting, while others are sight threatening and require urgent referral to an ophthalmologist. Therefore, it is important for primary care physicians to be able to carry out a diligent eye exam, recognize the signs and symptoms of different types of red eye presentations, to initiate appropriate management and treatment and to refer to ophthalmology when needed.