What To Do For Red Eyes

Red Eye Causes And Treatment Tips

What is the cause of red eyes? "Red eyes" get their name from redness in the white part of the eyeball (the cornea) or sometimes the red tint that appears around the eyes from repeated touching and rubbing. Red eyes can also describe the problem of bloodshot eyes, which usually result from an injury, trauma or overuse of chemicals like alcohol.  

The most common cause of red eyes is often - though not always - the same for both the color of the eyeball or the skin around it: fatigue. This is why the popular term "red eye" describes long, overnight or intercontinental airline travel.

Many people get red eyes from contact lenses. We have a separate article dedicated from new types of contact lenses that decrease the possibility of dryness, which is one of the causes of red eyes. Click on dry eyes from contact lenses for more information.

Generally speaking, red eyes are caused by fatigue or illness are temporary and painless. They go away with time. But if red eyes appear suddenly and without apparent reason, it could be a symptom of a medical problem that requires quick attention. This is especially true with an eye infection known as pink eye or conjunctivitis (see below). If an eye becomes swollen and produces a discharge of any kind, especially if cold-like symptoms become are also present, it's time to see a doctor.

Other causes of red eyes Redness in the eyes appears because blood vessels near the surface of the eyes expand and dilate. The typical causes of such eye problems include:

Dry Eyes: often resulting from a condition in which the eyes don't produce enough tears for lubrication. See dry eyes.

Eye Trauma: the eyes need more blood to deal with injury, and the unusually high supply in the traumatized area becomes visible.

Red eyes from contact lenses: extended or prolonged contact lens use can sometimes make the eyes look red.

Use of Eye Drops: Some people use certain kinds of eye drops to reduce redness. When the effect of the eye drops wear off, blood vessels sometimes grow even larger than they were before. It's best to consult a doctor before self-medicating with eye drops.

Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma: a type of glaucoma that causes uncomfortable redness. This condition is serious and requires immediate medical attention.

Subconjunctival Hemmorage: a burst blood vessel which spreads blood under the conjunctiva. This eye problems is usually sudden and unexpected and may be caused by a hard sneeze or cough. Other causes include vomiting, injury, hypertension or diabetes.

Red eyes and infections As mentioned above, there are several types of eye infections that are among the causes of red eyes.

Pink eye or conjunctivitis: The eye problem known as pink eye results from inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva (the clear, protective covering of the front of the eye). It's usually the result of bacteria or viruses, but can also be caused by allergens, irritants or toxic substances.

Blepharitis: This is a chronic infection and inflammation of the eyelid and eyelashes.

Corneal ulcer or infection: Although the cornea has no blood vessels, surrounding blood vessels become larger when an ulcer or infection develops.

Uveitis: This is an inflammation of the eye's uvea (the pigmented middle of the three concentric layers that make up an eye). Uveitis requires prompt medical attention due to possible complications like uveitic glaucoma. Scarring of the retina can also occur. Symptoms include redness, pain, blurry vision, eye floaters and light sensitivity.

What to do for red eyes Treatment of redness depends on the cause, of course. Here are some possibilities. Once again, it's always a good idea to consult with a doctor before trying to treat yourself.

Artificial Tears: Artificial tears are eye lubricant drops lubricant that are appropriate for use with dry eyes.

Antihistamine and Vasoconstrictors: These are appropriate if redness is caused by allergies. Many effective antihistamines and vasoconstrictors are available over-the-counter at drug stores and grocery stores.

Cold Compresses: These help reduce the amount of dilation in the blood vessels of the eyes. A clean, wet washcloth works well, as do small bags of frozen peas or corn. Apply the compresses for 5-10 minutes several times a day.

If the red eyes and bloodshot appearance don't go away after several days of these treatments, a visit to the doctor is in order.

Click on what to do for red eyes to see a list of products designed for red eye relief.