Everyone experiences red eyes at some point. Mostly, the signs go away quickly rather than staying for a longer period of time. Prescriptions or over-the-counter eye drops can be used to treat red eyes. It is essential to find the reason behind the disease, as there are some infections that can also cause red eyes.
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When to see a doctor
Eye redness is most commonly a mild eye problem and you won’t have to visit an eye specialist. However, you should take the assistance of an eye doctor, if the problem persists and you start experiencing the following symptoms:
- Redness along with blurry vision
- Redness along with itching and pain
- A feeling of pressure in the eyes
- Extreme pressure in eyes
- A seasonal eye redness caused by an allergy
- Discharge from the eyes (green or yellow)
- Obscured vision or difficulty in seeing
- Chronic itch or dryness
Treatment
Usually, red eyes are a cosmetic problem. Eye drops can be used to treat slight irritation, exhaustion and occasional dry eyes with eye drops. If the eye redness is caused because of an underlying eye disorder, drops won’t be enough to treat the illness.
While over-the-counter eye drops are the most common solution for red eye treatment, you can also use prescription remedies to get rid of the eye disorder.
Causes
When the blood vessels in the eye bloat or swell, the eyes start appearing red and irritated. Sometimes, it may lead to a more severe redness when the blood vessels burst.
Red-Eye can be caused by several different reasons:
Dry eyes
When eyes are dry, the blood vessels can become irritated and inflamed. Some common causes of dry eyes include:
- Winter season
- People who have arthritis and diabetes
- Not getting enough sleep
- During pregnancy or menopause (because of hormonal changes)
- Extensive use of contact lenses
One can treat red eyes through over-the-counter remedies. However, if you experience them more often, talk to your eye physician about it.
Eye irritation
If you experience eye irritation, even a minor one, it can redden your eyes with inflammation. Some common reasons for eye irritation are:
- Frequent rubbing of eyes
- Allergy or infection
- Chlorinated water (mostly in swimming pools)
- Pollution
Infections
An array of infections harms the eye. An injury to the eye is prone to infection when bacteria or dirt enters the eye. Eye products such as mascara or lenses can also give you infections.
Some common eye infections include:
- Infected eyelash follicles
- Conjunctivitis
- Blepharitis
If you experience any of the below-mentioned symptoms, see an eye-specialist immediately:
- Green discharge from the eye
- Intense eye pain
- Difficulty opening your eyes
- Swelling
- Light sensitivity
Glaucoma
Glaucoma, which harms the optic nerve, can destroy vision if left untreated. Creating redness and pain — it increases the pressure in the eye.
Some signs of Glaucoma are struggling to see from sides, sudden changes in sight and tunnel vision. If you experience any of these symptoms, seek the help of an eye care professional.
Uveitis
Uveitis is an inflammation of Uvea — a pigment portion in the eye. It arouses intense redness in the iris and the outer part of the uvea. Uveitis should be taken seriously and if you experience sudden redness or pain in the centre of the eye, visit a doctor.
The long-term solution for constant red eyes
If you frequently get red eyes, there a few things you can do to prevent them:
- Change your Contact lenses: If you experience eye redness and you wear contact lenses, the eye problem might be due to the material of the lenses. There is a certain material in the eyewear which causes eye redness.
- Stay hydrated: If you are dehydrated, it can cause your eyes to be bloodshot. Drink adequate amount of water and stay hydrated
- Inflammatory Food: Like the rest of your body, your eyes need the right nutrients and vitamins to stay healthy. If you keep on getting red eyes, avoid consumption of inflammatory foods like fast food or processed food
- Environment: A harmful environment surrounded by air pollution can also affect your eyes and make them red
