- Red eye?
Why: a red eye suggests definite eye disease such as bacterial, viral or allergic conjunctivitis, herpes simplex infection, herpes zoster, corneal ulceration, keratitis, acute iritis, acute glaucoma or corneal foreign body. If nil eye redness may suggest migraine, meningitis, subarachnoid hemorrhage, trigeminal neuralgia, encephalitis or hay fever.
- Eye pain?
Why: a painful eye may suggest herpes simplex infection, corneal ulcer, acute iritis or acute glaucoma. Bacterial, viral or allergic conjunctivitis causes a gritty eye irritation.
- Visual loss?
Why: may suggest glaucoma, herpes simplex infection, iritis, corneal ulceration or retinitis.
- Eye discharge, and if so what is the nature of the eye discharge?
Why: e.g. purulent (pus-like) discharge usually indicates a bacterial infection; a clear watery or mucous discharge may suggest viral or allergic conjunctivitis; herpes simplex infection, corneal ulcer, acute iritis and acute glaucoma cause a reflex watering of the eye.
- Blurry vision?
Why: may suggest herpes simplex infection, corneal ulcer, acute iritis or acute glaucoma (haloes around lights).
- Itchy eye?
Why: may suggest allergic conjunctivitis or blepharitis.
- Fever?
Why: may suggest meningitis or encephalitis. Potentially any febrile illness may cause photophobia. Subarachnoid hemorrhage may cause a low grade fever.
- Headache?
Why: may suggest migraine, meningitis, encephalitis or subarachnoid hemorrhage. If headache is sudden and severe headache must consider possibility of subarachnoid hemorrhage.
- Seizures?
Why: may suggest meningitis or encephalitis.
- Unusual sensations in your eyes, such as flashing lights?
Why: may suggest migraine.
- Nausea or vomiting?
Why: may suggest migraine, meningitis, encephalitis, subarachnoid hemorrhage or acute glaucoma.
- Symptoms of bacterial conjunctivitis?
Why: e.g. pus-like discharge, sticking together of the eyelids in the morning, usually starts in one eye and spreads to the other eye, red eye.
- Symptoms of viral conjunctivitis?
Why: e.g. usually associated with upper respiratory tract infection, starts in one eye but crosses to the other eye within days, scant watery discharge, diffuse eye redness, enlarged neck lymph nodes.
- Symptoms of blepharitis?
Why: e.g. eyelids have burning, itching and red margins, eyelashes may have crusting and scales, discharge or stickiness especially in the morning. If present for years there may be loss of eyelashes or distortion (in-growing) of the eyelashes. There may be a Staphylococcal bacterial infection which can cause severe inflammation with pus-like discharge.
- Symptoms of Ocular shingles?
Why: e.g. pain, tingling and numbness around the eye may precede a blistering rash and eyelid swelling. Fifty percent of people have the eye itself affected with either corneal ulcers, episcleritis or iritis.
- Symptoms of trichinosis?
Why: e.g. 24 hrs after the ingestion of contaminated meat may develop vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and headache then may develop eyelid swelling, conjunctivitis, photophobia (dislike of eyes for light), fever, muscle pain and muscle spasm. Trichinosis is found predominantly in the USA and Europe.
- Symptoms of trachoma?
Why: e.g. watering eye, intense redness of the eye, scarring under the eyelids, ulcers on the surface of the eye, eyelid turn inwards and eyelashes scratch the surface of the eye. Trachoma is especially prevalent in outback areas and in aboriginal communities where hygiene may not be adequate.
- Symptoms of migraine headache?
Why: e.g. intense throbbing unilateral headache over the front or side of the head, may radiate to behind the eyes or back of head, lasts from 4-72 hours (average 6-8 hours), often the person wakes with the headache and it is relieved by sleep. It may be associated with nausea, vomiting, visual field loss or numbness on one side of face. In children it may be associated with abdominal pain.
- Symptoms of meningococcal meningitis and septicemia?
Why: e.g. may start with cough, headache, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and then progress to spiking fevers, chills, aching joints and muscles. Later drowsiness, hemorrhagic rash most commonly on trunk and extremities but can be anywhere, and low blood pressure. May have stiff neck and dislike for light.
- Symptoms of albinism?
Why: e.g. milky white skin, white hair, blue eyes, photophobia (dislike of light).
- Symptoms of measles?
Why: e.g. cough, runny nose and red eyes (conjunctivitis) for 2-4 days, then high fever with the appearance of a discrete and adjoining red rash first behind the ears and sequentially to the face, neck, trunk, upper limbs, buttocks and lower limbs over the next 3-4 days.
