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Red eye (primary care triage)

A Canadian clinical summary of red eye (primary care triage), with source-attributed priorities and explicit jurisdiction boundaries.

JurisdictionCanada
Source check2026-08-20
Clinical reviewiatroX editorial team · Clinical editorial review · reviewed 2026-08-20 · due 2027-08-20
AudienceHealthcare professionals practising in Canada
This is an iatroX educational summary of named Canada sources, not an official guideline. It does not replace the complete source documents, local policy, specialist advice or clinical judgement. British Columbia is used as an explicit Canadian implementation example, not as a national rule. Verify the equivalent pathway, formulary and escalation route in the patient’s province or territory.

British Columbia source: bounded use

Red and Painful Eye – Unilateral and Bilateral (Diagnosis and Treatment) supplies a Canadian implementation example for this summary. It must not be presented as the rule outside British Columbia.
sources for this section:ECBC red eye

Source-attributed clinical priorities

  • Check visual acuity, pain, photophobia, pupils, cornea, contact-lens use, trauma and discharge before labelling conjunctivitis.
  • Use fluorescein and pressure assessment when trained and indicated and avoid topical anesthetic dispensing.
  • Arrange urgent ophthalmic assessment for reduced vision, severe pain, corneal lesion, abnormal pupil, high pressure or penetrating injury.
  • Visual acuity is a vital sign for the red eye and should be documented before treatment.
sources for this section:ECBC red eye

Practical assessment and management workflow

1
Ask about pain, photophobia, vision, contact lenses, trauma, chemical exposure, discharge and surgery.
2
Examine pupils, pattern of injection, cornea and fluorescein staining and measure pressure only when safe and trained.
3
Treat simple conjunctival or lid disease only after urgent corneal, uveal and pressure causes are excluded.
4
Provide explicit follow-up and stop contact lenses until disease has resolved and equipment is addressed.
sources for this section:ECBC red eye

Safety, red flags and urgent escalation

  • Chemical exposure requires immediate prolonged irrigation before further history.
  • Reduced vision, severe pain, corneal opacity, irregular pupil or high pressure needs urgent ophthalmology.
  • Contact-lens-associated pain or epithelial defect is microbial keratitis until assessed.
sources for this section:ECBC red eye

Confirm the local pathway before acting

British Columbia is used as an explicit Canadian implementation example, not as a national rule. Verify the equivalent pathway, formulary and escalation route in the patient’s province or territory.
sources for this section:ECBC red eye

Source and implementation boundary

Read this educational summary with the linked source, current Canadian product information where medicines are involved, and the applicable provincial or territorial pathway. Local formularies, reporting duties, referral routes and service availability can differ.
sources for this section:ECBC red eye

Source documents

Use the linked source documents for complete recommendations, evidence grading, exclusions and implementation detail.

  1. Emergency Care BCRed and Painful Eye – Unilateral and Bilateral (Diagnosis and Treatment)Last reviewed 2022-12-29 · accessed 2026-08-20
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