[Emergencies in ophthalmology]

Abstract

Acute vision loss, a painful eye, or a red/pink eye are typical symptoms of an ophthalmic emergency. Ascertain a thorough medical history concerning type, duration, and location of visual loss to point out the etiology of the disease. With simple diagnostic tools the differential diagnosis can be narrowed down even by non-ophthalmologists. This first differential diagnosis shows how urgent the patient has to be referred to an ophthalmologist.

Keywords: Akutes Winkelblockglaukom; Anteriore ischämische Optikusneuropathie; Erosio cornea; Netzhautablösung; Ulcus cornea; acute anle-closure glaucoma; anterior optic neuropathy; corneal erosion; corneal ulcer; détachement de la rétine; glaucome aigu à angle étroit; neuropathie ophtalmique antérieure; retinal detachment; ulcère de la cornée; érosion de la cornée.