How to use Guide two: Red eye problems
Instruction
Read on to learn how to use Guide two: Red eye problems.
Guide two: Red eye problems
Guide two provides a step-by-step guide to managing people with red eye problems.
Guide two is selected when the person did not pass the eye health screen due to signs of a red eye problem.
Red eye problems
Red eye problems are any eye health problems that cause redness on or around the eye.
The person may also have other symptoms such as:
- Pain
- Discharge
- Itchiness and watering of the eye.
Question
Look at the image below. What signs of a red eye problem do you see?
Both eyes are red, and there is watery discharge from the person’s left eye.
Question
What are possible causes of a red eye problem?
Select two.
a and b are correct!
Red eye problems are commonly caused by eye infections or allergies.
c and d are incorrect.
Vision problems do not cause red eye problems.
Instruction
Look at Guide two: Red eye problems.
Step 1
Instruction
Check the distance vision result on the PEC Screen form. Select the appropriate result for the person and follow the instructions.
PENDING TABLE
Step 2
Instruction
Check if the person has itchiness, watering, discharge or pain with the red eye. Select the appropriate result for the person and follow the instructions.
PENDING TABLE
Tip
Lubricating eye drops are used to help dry and irritated eyes.
Question
Meet Zora
Zora is 42 years old. She is married and has four children. Zora and her family live in a rural village. Over the past week Zora has spent a lot of time outside harvesting crops.
Zora has developed very itchy, red and watery eyes over recent days. She visits her local health centre where the health worker completes a primary eye care screen. Zora:
- Passed the distance vision screen
- Did not pass the eye health screen – signs of a red eye problem
- Does not have any discharge or pain.
What action should the health worker take?
Select one.
c is correct!
The health worker should:
- Advise Zora to clean her eyelashes and lids often
- Advise Zora to remove allergen (it is likely that pollen from harvesting is the allergen causing Zora’s eye symptoms)
- Give allergy medication
- If Zora’s symptoms are the same or worse in 10 days refer to an eye health professional.
This is because Zora:
- Passed the distance vision screen (step 1)
- Has red eyes with itchiness and watering but no discharge and no pain (step 2).
Tip
Sometimes more than one result in a guide will be relevant.
When this is the case, take all actions based on the person’s results.
If one result suggests referral, and another suggests urgent referral, always refer based on the highest level of urgency.
Meet Kanchana
Kanchana is 26 years old and works as a train conductor at a station. Kanchana visited his local health centre with signs of a red eye problem. The health worker found that Kanchana has:
- Eye redness
- Discharge, and
- Moderate pain in the right eye.
Kanchana passed the distance vision screen.
The health worker:
- Cleaned Kanchana’s eyelashes and lids
- Provided a topical antibiotic for Kanchana’s right eye
- Gave him pain relief medication
- Referred him urgently to an eye health professional.
If Kanchana only had redness and discharge with no pain, the health worker would ask him to return after five days if his symptoms did not improve. However, because Kanchana has moderate eye pain, the health worker follows the more urgent referral advice and refers Kanchana to an eye health professional urgently.
Instruction
Work through the following topics to learn how to carry out the actions listed in Guide two: Red eye problems:
- How to clean eyelashes and lids
- How to provide a topical antibiotic
- How to give eye drops
- How to give pain or allergy medication.