Conjunctivitis, blepharitis and orbital cellulitis
Infective conjunctivitis by cause, blepharitis and lid lumps, separating preseptal from orbital cellulitis, and the eye infections physicians meet in bacteraemia, candidaemia, HIV and syphilis.
Tier 1Condition
Written with AI assistance and fact-checked against the sources below. For exam study, not clinical decisions. How notes are made
At a glance
- This note covers infections of the conjunctiva, lids and orbit, plus the eye infections that complicate systemic disease. The broader red eye work-up (angle closure, keratitis, uveitis, scleritis) is in the acute red eye note.
- Most conjunctivitis is viral and self-limiting. Hyperacute purulent discharge means gonococcus.
- Blepharitis is chronic and managed with lid hygiene, not repeated antibiotics.
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Sources
- Therapeutic Guidelines: Ophthalmology (conjunctivitis, eyelid disorders, periorbital and orbital cellulitis)AU/NZTherapeutic Guidelines Limited (eTG complete), current eTG edition (topic version not verified)
- Therapeutic Guidelines: Antibiotic. Eye infectionsAU/NZTherapeutic Guidelines Limited (eTG complete), current eTG edition (topic version not verified)
- Cheung AY, Choi DS, Ahmad S et al. Conjunctivitis Preferred Practice Pattern. Ophthalmology 2024;131(4):P134-P204American Academy of Ophthalmology, 2024
- Lin A, Ahmad S, Amescua G et al. Blepharitis Preferred Practice Pattern. Ophthalmology 2024;131(4):P50-P86American Academy of Ophthalmology, 2024
- Australian STI Management Guidelines for Use in Primary Care: SyphilisAU/NZAustralasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM), 2026 (page dated 13 October 2026)
- Australian STI Management Guidelines for Use in Primary Care: Gonorrhoea and ChlamydiaAU/NZAustralasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM), 2026
- Pappas PG, Kauffman CA, Andes DR et al. Clinical practice guideline for the management of candidiasis: 2016 update by the IDSA. Clin Infect Dis 2016;62(4):e1-e50Infectious Diseases Society of America, 2016
- Cornely OA, Sprute R, Bassetti M et al. Global guideline for the diagnosis and management of candidiasis: an initiative of the ECMM in cooperation with ISHAM and ASM. Lancet Infect Dis 2025;25(5):e280-e293ECMM, ISHAM and ASM, 2025
- CDNA National Guidelines for the Public Health Management of TrachomaAU/NZCommunicable Diseases Network Australia, Australian Government Department of Health
- Last updated
- 14 November 2026
What changed
- 14 November 2026 Personal emails, About story and Australian-style copy