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Shared Vision Education

Shared Vision Education

Article

Conjunctivitis (red eye)

15/05/2025

CPD hours

Optometrists: This activity may be logged as self-directed learning for 8min of your required CPD hours (dependent upon your personal learning plan).

GPs: This activity may qualify as self-directed learning for 8min of your required CPD hours (educational activities).

Note: The estimated completion time includes time spent reading this article and reviewing the images.

Conjunctivitis/red eye is a common presentation to primary care, including GPs. This flowchart can be used to help identify and triage patients with suspected conjunctivitis.

 

Conjunctivitis triage flowchart. This flowchart illustrates the conjunctivitis symptoms of pain, blurred vision and photophobia and when to refer to an ophthalmologist. It also indicates when a practitioner should evaluate for uveitis, acute glaucoma and keratitis Additional symptoms like gritty, itching, redness and discharge are included in later stages of the flow chart and are used to differentiate between the diagnosis of dry eye syndrome, viral conjunctivitis, allergic conjunctivitis and bacterial conjunctivitis.

*Starts unilaterally but may have spread to both eyes by the time they present to the clinic.

Preferred practice patterns for conjunctivitis

DIAGNOSIS TREATMENT EXTRA TESTS DURATION
Bacterial
  • Topical antibiotics
 Culture if gonococcal or chlamydial origin 2–5 days in mild-to-moderate cases
Viral
  • None except patient isolation
  • Artificial tears and/or oral analgesics may mitigate symptoms
  • Topical corticosteroids in severe cases
 PCR for confirmation 1–2 weeks
Allergic
  • Artificial tears
  • Cold compress
  • Topical antihistamines
 None 1–3 days

Adapted from: Varu DM, Rhee EK, Akpek EK et al.1

Bacterial conjunctivitis
Bacterial conjunctivitis
Viral conjunctivitis
Viral conjunctivitis

 

Download a PDF version of this article

References

  1. Varu DM, Rhee MK, Akpek EK, et al on behalf of American Academy of Ophthalmology Preferred Practice Pattern Cornea and External Disease Panel. Conjunctivitis Preferred Practice Pattern®. Ophthalmology. 2019 Jan;126(1):P94–P169.

This article is for educational and informational purposes only and may not be directly applicable to your individual patients.

Date last reviewed: 2025-05-20 | Date for next review: 2027-05-20

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