RT Book, Section
A1 Quinn, Anthony G.
A1 Gao, Zoe W.
A2 Kline, Mark W.
SR Print(0)
ID 1182926703
T1 Red Eye
T2 Rudolph's Pediatrics, 23e
YR 2018
FD 2018
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9781259588594
LK accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1182926703
RD 2024/04/16
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  eye  drops,  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  eye  drops,  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.