Abstract
Aim: Red eye, a frequent cause of presentations to ophthalmology
clinics, is an important indicator of ocular inflammation. Although the
prognosis is generally good and self-limiting, it is possible to
distinguish possible serious conditions and prevent important situations
such as blindness, with detailed examination and correct treatment
approach. The purpose of this study was to evaluate patients with red
eye presenting to the eye diseases clinic in terms of clinical and
sociodemographic characteristics. Material-method: The records of
patients presenting to the Şanlıurfa Harran University Hospital
Ophthalmology Clinic with red eye were investigated retrospectively.
Diseases causing red eye were classified according to the International
Classification of Diseases (ICD 10) coding system. Demographic
characteristics such as age and sex and clinical findings were examined.
Results: A total of 2625 patients, 1775 males (67.61%) and 850 females
(32.38%), who presented with red eyes, were evaluated. The incidence of
viral conjunctivitis, the most frequently observed condition in patients
presenting due to red eye, was 15.08% (n=396). The most common cause of
red eye resulting in decreased vision and increased intraocular pressure
(IOP) was acute angle closure glaucoma (AACG). The most common symptom
was stinging-burning (70.36%), and the most frequent finding was
follicular hyperplasia (74.17%). Five hundred and seventy-one (21.75%)
patients who applied to the clinic with red eye had previously applied
to a family physician and 289 patients (11.0%) to an emergency
physician. Conclusion: Although prognosis is usually good in red eye,
and the condition is self-limiting, the detection of serious conditions
through a detailed history, examination, and therapeutic approach can be
enhanced with early and appropriate intervention. In addition to family
physicians and emergency physicians, the first to examine patients with
red eye, important morbidities such as blindness can also be prevented
by increasing the awareness of ophthalmologists and cooperation between
these.