Red Eye

What is red eye?

When the whites of your eyes appear red, or bloodshot, that means the blood vessels near the surface of your eyes are inflamed. Red eye can look like a series of squiggly pink lines, or you may appear to have patches of red in the whites of your eyes.

Though you may find red eye alarming or feel self-conscious about the way it looks, red eye is not necessarily a cause for concern, especially if it’s your only symptom. However, red eye can often accompany other symptoms, including:

• Irritation
• Sensitivity to light
• Watery eyes
• Pus or discharge
• Itchiness
• Burning or stinging sensation
• A gritty feeling, like something is stuck in your eye
• Blurred vision

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Wayne H. Martin, MD if you have discomfort or changes to your vision in addition to red eye.

What causes red eye?

Red eye has many causes, which can range from benign to serious. Conditions that commonly cause red eye include:

Allergies

Airborne allergens, such as pollen, dust, and pet dander, can cause itching, burning and watery eyes alongside nasal symptoms, such as congestion and sneezing.

Dry eyes

Your eyes may not be producing enough tears to lubricate your eyes, which can make your eyes red and irritated. If you have untreated chronic dry eyes, you can develop lasting eye damage.

Conjunctivitis

Also known as pink eye, conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the inside of your eyelids and the whites of your eyes. Viral conjunctivitis is highly contagious and can also cause watery eyes, itchiness, sensitivity to light, and other symptoms.

You may also get red eye if you smoke, aren’t getting enough sleep, or have trouble with your contact lenses.

For most people, red eye only happens occasionally and goes away quickly. However, red eye sometimes has a serious cause, including traumatic eye injuries, infections, glaucoma, and ulcers on the cornea.

How is red eye treated?

Though over-the-counter anti-redness drops can help with irritation and the appearance of red eye, these medications are not a long-term solution for chronic red eye. In fact, if you use anti-redness drops too often, you may become dependent on them and experience more severe red eye when the drops wear off.

Effective long-term treatment and prevention of red eye requires addressing the underlying cause. For example, your doctor may have you try different contact lenses or manage your allergies by prescribing medication and helping you avoid exposure to allergens.

To diagnose the cause of your red eye, book an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Wayne H. Martin, MD today.