Autoimmune: Associated w/psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, Sjogrens, other
Risk Factors
Viral in particular is easily passed to others via close contact, sharing towels, poor hand hygiene
Symptoms
Bacterial: Acute onset, very red conjunctiva (more red than viral) with opaque d/c (copious and thicker compared w/viral); Eyelids may feel "glued shut" in morning; Irritated, but not usually itchy; Sometimes blurriness, but no significant visual changes; More often unilateral than bilateral; Neisseria causes hyper-acute findings, w/very large amounts of thick d/c
Viral: Acute redness of conjunctiva, with watery discharge (less red, less d/c compared w/bacterial); Sometimes URI sx; No visual change; Uni- or bilateral; Gritty sensation
Allergic: Itchy; Chronic watery d/c; No visual change; Typically bilateral; May have allergic nasal or pulmonary sx too
Physical Exam Findings
Bacterial: Diffuse redness of conjunctiva; Thick, opaque discharge
Viral: Often clear d/c; Diffuse redness of conjunctiva; Sometimes pre-auricular adenopathy