TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Chapter 588. Red Eye A1 - Quinn, Anthony G. A2 - Rudolph, Colin D. A2 - Rudolph, Abraham M. A2 - Lister, George E. A2 - First, Lewis R. A2 - Gershon, Anne A. PY - 2011 T2 - Rudolph's Pediatrics, 22e AB - For the pediatrician, a child with a red eye can be a significant challenge; the key decision is whether to refer to a pediatric ophthalmologist. The diagnosis is often reasonably clear after a careful history has been obtained. The examination may be challenging without the availability of an accurate visual acuity test for each eye, appropriate diagnostic eyedrops, microscopic examination, and the distraction devices that pediatric ophthalmologists often use. Making an incorrect diagnosis in a child with a red eye can result in vision loss, and inappropriate treatment can have vision-threatening side effects. The pediatrician is occasionally tempted to treat a red eye with steroid eyedrops, but this should only be prescribed by a physician able to do a complete eye examination and measure intraocular pressure. Therefore, in practice, steroids should not be prescribed by pediatricians or family physicians.1,2 SN - PB - The McGraw-Hill Companies CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/03/28 UR - accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=7060074 ER -