Common eye disorders: six patients to refer.

Thorough ocular history taking and physical examination are essential to establish a diagnosis in patients presenting with eye conditions. Some conditions require ophthalmologic referral to avoid serious complications and even vision loss. These include corneal ulcers, retinal detachment, iritis, glaucoma, retinal artery occlusion, and endophthalmitis. Because primary open-angle glaucoma can have an insidious onset and cause irreversible damage, funduscopic examination should be a part of every complete physical examination.