A method for red-eye detection in an acquired digital image comprises acquiring a first image and analyzing the first acquired image to provide characteristics indicative of image quality. The process then determines if one or more corrective processes can be beneficially applied to the first acquired image according to the characteristics. Any such corrective processes are then applied to the first acquired image. Red-eye defects are then detected in a second acquired image using the corrected first acquired image. Defect detection can comprise applying one or more, or a chain of two or more, red-eye filters to the first acquired image. In this case, prior to the detecting step, it is determined if the red-eye filter or red eye filter chain can be adapted in accordance with the characteristics. The red-eye filter may be adapted accordingly.