To highlight the growing global burden of noninfectious conjunctival hyperemia and call for clearer diagnostic pathways and management guidelines.
Key Findings:
Conjunctival hyperemia is increasingly driven by lifestyle factors such as digital eye strain, contact lens wear, and environmental pollution.
Dry eye disease (DED) and ocular allergy are leading causes of chronic redness, with DED affecting 5-50% and ocular allergy up to 40% of patients.
Traditional decongestants are limited by tachyphylaxis and rebound redness, while low-dose brimonidine 0.025% shows promise without these issues.
Patients seek relief for cosmetic reasons, influenced by social media and video conferencing trends.
There is a concerning trend of steroid self-medication in some regions, delaying proper management.
Interpretation:
The review underscores the need for dedicated management guidelines for noninfectious conjunctival hyperemia to address both clinical and aesthetic patient concerns.
Limitations:
Lack of long-term real-world data on the efficacy of low-dose brimonidine.
Variability in treatment patterns globally, often misaligned with guidelines.
Conclusion:
The demand for safe and effective redness control is expected to rise, necessitating the development of specific diagnosis and management guidelines for noninfectious conjunctival hyperemia.
