Red eye: the role of primary care.

COMMUNITY EYE HEALTH JOURNAL | VOL 18 NO. 53 | MARCH 2005 69 One of the most common eye problems to present to health workers is acute red eye(s). Approximately 40% of all outpatients seen in Bawku, Ghana, and in ten district hospitals in Pakistan, present with red eyes (Figure 1). While the more serious causes of red eye need prompt recognition and management by an eye specialist, in many cases red eye can be managed at the first point of health care (primary level). If primary health care workers are able to differentiate the various causes of red eye and provide primary level treatment, there are two important advantages: