A 60-year-old man with a history of rheumatoid arthritis presents with bilateral eye redness, pain, and photophobia. He denies any discharge. What could be the cause?
Given his history of rheumatoid arthritis, this patient's symptoms could be indicative of episcleritis or scleritis, inflammatory conditions that are more common in people with autoimmune diseases. However, dry eye syndrome, which can present with redness and discomfort, is also common in this population. The patient should be referred to an ophthalmologist for further evaluation.