Differential Diagnosis for Left Eye Irritation
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Foreign body (e.g., eyelash or other small particle): The patient's symptoms started after rubbing her eye, and she has tried flushing it with no improvement, which suggests a foreign body could be the cause.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- Dry eye: As a contact lens wearer, even sporadically, the patient may be prone to dry eye, which could cause irritation.
- Allergic conjunctivitis: Although the patient doesn't report any associated symptoms like itching or redness, allergic conjunctivitis could still be a possibility, especially if she has allergies.
- Blepharitis: This is an inflammation of the eyelids that can cause irritation, and it's common in people who wear contact lenses.
- Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.)
- Corneal ulcer: Although the patient denies any visual changes or significant pain, a corneal ulcer could be a possibility, especially if she has a history of contact lens use, which increases the risk.
- Acute angle-closure glaucoma: This is a medical emergency that can cause eye pain, redness, and vision changes, but sometimes the symptoms can be subtle, so it's essential to consider it in the differential diagnosis.
- Endophthalmitis: This is a rare but serious infection of the inner eye that can occur in contact lens wearers, and it requires prompt treatment to prevent vision loss.
- Rare diagnoses
- Sjögren's syndrome: This is an autoimmune disorder that can cause dry eye and other symptoms, but it's relatively rare and would require further evaluation to diagnose.
- Episcleritis: This is an inflammation of the episclera, a thin layer of tissue on the white part of the eye, which can cause irritation and redness, but it's not as common as other causes of eye irritation.