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In brief Primary care physicians often see disorders of the eye that are broadly termed a 'red eye.' Fortunately, most causes of a red eye are non-vision-threatening, and once the vision-threatening causes have been ruled out, the condition can usually be successfully treated in the primary care setting. A thorough medical and ocular history and ophthalmic examination will help physicians accurately diagnose such conditions as blepharitis, dacryocystitis, and conjunctivitis. Establishing the etiology will then direct effective treatment.

In brief The "red eye" is one of the most common presentations of eye disease. There are numerous causes of a red eye; fortunately most patients maintain good visual acuity and have an excellent prognosis. By taking a thorough medical and ocular history and performing an ophthalmic examination, physicians can identify the vision-threatening causes, such as cellulitis, corneal ulcer, and acute glaucoma. Once the cause has been determined-and if it is vision threatening-physicians should refer patients to an ophthalmologist for definitive treatment.