The Mystery of Bloody Tears

A 52-year-old man presents with painless bloody tears (hemolacria). Explore the Differential Diagnosis, from common causes to the ultimate finding in this case.

Adverse reaction to systemic antibiotics


A 52-year-old man presented to the emergency department with painless, bloody tears from both eyes. The bleeding had begun spontaneously approximately 2 hours earlier, had lasted a few minutes, and had recurred just before presentation. He was taking captopril for mild hypertension, and his blood pressure was normal. The clinical examination revealed slight conjunctival hyperemia without periorbital or palpebral edema. The patient had normal vision and extraocular movements. Which one of the following is NOT a cause of hemolacria?

What is the most likely diagnosis?

Hemangioma
Infection
Adverse reaction to systemic antibiotics
Trauma to eye or surrounding structures
Retrograde epistaxis

Adverse reaction to systemic antibiotics, Conjunctival Hemangioma, Differential Diagnosis, Hemolacria, Ophthalmology

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