history and examination

Last reviewed 01/2018

History:

  • when did the symptoms begin?
  • was there a precipitant: pollen? dust? trauma?
  • is the eye sore or itchy?
  • is there a discharge?

Examination:

  • is there a site of marked conjunctival injection - if the injection is most marked around the cornea, this suggests a corneal ulcer. Conjunctivitis usually has peripheral conjunctival injection.

Other features of the examination include:

  • testing visual acuity
  • assessing pupillary reactions
  • fundoscopy
  • testing the red reflex
  • eversion of the eyelid to look for foreign body or pus
  • usually by ophthalmologist - staining of cornea with fluoresceine to demonstrate corneal ulcer