DIRECT OPHTHALMOSCOPY VERSUS SLIT LAMP BIOMICROSCOPY IN DIAGNOSIS OF THE ACUTE RED EYE

The causes of red eye range from trivial to life-threatening, and many general practitioners are uncertain of their ability to diagnose them with the aid of an ophthalmoscope. We tested the hypothesis that, in the assessment of a patient with red eye, a doctor using a slit lamp b iomicroscope would not differ in diagnostic accuracy from a doctor usi ng a direct ophthalmoscope. A cross-over study was conducted in 98 pat ients newly attending an eye casualty department. 71% of diagnoses agr eed exactly, and all potentially sight-threatening lesions were either diagnosed correctly or managed appropriately by doctors using an opht halmoscope. We conclude that the initial diagnosis and management of p atients with an acute red eye is not prejudiced by the lack of a slit lamp biomicroscope.