Red flag symptoms requiring Ophthalmology consultation include:
Reduction of visual acuity
Ciliary flush: A pattern of injection in which the redness is most pronounced in a ring at the limbus (the limbus is the transition zone between the cornea and the sclera)
Photophobia
Severe foreign body sensation that prevents the patient from keeping the eye open
Cornea opacity
Fixed pupil
Severe headache with nausea
Contact lens wearers
| Indication for Therapy | Usual Causative Organisms | Antimicrobial Regimens |
|---|---|---|
| Bacterial Conjunctivitis | Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus spp., Moraxella catarrhalis | Polysporin 1-2 drops to affected eye(s) QID |
| tobramycin 0.3% 1-2 drops to affected eye(2) QID | ||
| moxifloxacin 0.5% 1 drop to affected eye(s) TID |
Guideline for the treatment and management of acute bacterial conjunctivitis in children and adults. University of Texas, School of Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner Program. Austin (TX): University of Texas, School of Nursing; 2005. Available at: http://www.guideline.gov/browse/archive.aspx?type=2
Sheikh A, Hurwitz A. Antibiotics versus placebo for acute bacterial conjunctivitis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2006. Available at: http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab001211.html.
Anti-infective Guidelines for Community-acquired Infections. Anti-infective Review Panel. 2013 Edition.