CHAPTER 123 ■ OPHTHALMIC EMERGENCIES DEBORAH SCHONFELD, BRUCE M SCHNALL GOALS OF EMERGENCY CARE A wide variety of pediatric ocular complaints are first seen by clinicians in the emergency room A number of acute disorders such as ocular infections and exposures of a toxic nature require the immediate diagnostic workup and management that is best carried out in the emergency department (ED) While many problems can, and should be, managed by the ED clinician alone, others may require immediate or expedited ophthalmologic evaluation The ED clinician must be capable of conducting an ophthalmic history and physical examination to accurately assess ocular complaints This chapter discusses the approach to ophthalmic emergencies commonly seen in the ED Ocular trauma (including injuries to the globe, cornea, and eyelids) is discussed in Chapter 114 Ocular Trauma The approach to several other common eye complaints is outlined in the related chapters mentioned below KEY POINTS The pediatric eye examination can be challenging and often requires an age-adjusted approach It is critical to distinguish periorbital cellulitis from the much more serious orbital cellulitis Patient age and associated symptoms can often help the clinician differentiate between different types of conjunctivitis Copious ocular irrigation immediately following caustic exposure to the eye can be vision-saving RELATED CHAPTERS