referral criteria from primary care - conjunctivitis
Last reviewed 06/2022
The majority of cases of conjunctivitis do not require investigation or referral. The following cases should be referred to an ophthalmologist:
- neonatal conjunctivitis
- chronic conjunctivitis
- if the conjunctivitis does not respond to the initial treatment (if there is no improvement in 7 to 10 days) (1)
- if there are corneal changes associated with the conjunctivitis
- conjunctivitis with blurring of vision or pain as opposed to discomfort, and
- sicca (i.e. dry eye syndromes)
If the conjunctivitis is a case of sexually-associated infection then it is essential to refer the patient and contacts to the genitourinary medicine department.
Reference:
- Leibowitz HM. The Red eye. NEJM 2000; 343:345.
- Prescribers' Journal 2000; 40 (2): 130-137.