The Red Eye, The Swollen Eye, And Acute Vision Loss

Handling Non-Traumatic Eye Disorders In The ED

Alteveer, Janet G. MD, FACEP
McCans, Kathryn M. MD, FAAP
Hemphill, Robin R. MD
Knoop, Capt. Kevin J. MD, MS, FACEP
Sacchetti, Alfred MD, FACEP

Authors
Janet G. Alteveer, MD, FACEP Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School-Camden, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Camden, NJ.
Kathryn M. McCans, MD, FAAP Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School-Camden, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Camden, NJ.
Peer Reviewers
Robin R. Hemphill, MD Associate Residency Director, Department of Emergency Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN.
Capt. Kevin J. Knoop, MD, MS, FACEP Program Director, Emergency Medicine Residency, Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, VA.
Alfred Sacchetti, MD, FACEP Associate Director Emergency Medicine, Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center, Camden, NJ.

Emergency Medicine Practice 4(6):p 1-26, June 2002.

1:15 a.m.: A 55-year-old woman arrives in the ED complaining of headache and vomiting. She felt fine when she went to bed but woke with a horrible frontal headache and retching. She has never had a headache like this before and has no significant past medical history. Although a quick neurologic exam is normal, you think, “I'll get a head CT, and then I suppose I'll have to tap her.” Before she leaves the department, the nurse cheerily asks, “Why is her eye so red?”

1:18 a.m.: Cancel CT.