Red eye – what’s causing it and how to find relief

Do you have a red or bloodshot eye? There are many possible causes of red eye, from allergies to infections. Find out self-care tips and when to see a doctor.

How does it feel to have red eye?

When to get emergency medical help for red eye

What are the causes?

Self-care tips

When to see a doctor and getting diagnosed

What’s the treatment for red eye? 

Preventing red eye 

Having a red eye can look worrying, but many causes are harmless. Find out what could be behind your symptoms, what treatments help, and when you should see a doctor 


Eye redness happens when tiny blood vessels on the surface of your eye (the sclera or “white” of the eye) become swollen or irritated, making your eye appear red, or bloodshot. It can affect 1 or both eyes and range from mild to severe.

You may notice redness all over your eye, or a single red patch if a small blood vessel bursts (called a subconjunctival hemorrhage). This can look dramatic but is usually painless and harmless.


## How does it feel to have red eye?
Red eye doesn’t always cause discomfort, but often it’s accompanied by other symptoms such as: 
- itching
- burning, or grittiness
- a feeling like something is in your eye
- eyes that feel sticky
- watery eyes or excessive tearing
- sensitivity to light (photophobia)
- blurred vision 
- changes to your eyelids, such as drooping, swelling, or twitching, or a lump on your eyelid.


Get help with this

## When to get emergency medical help for red eye
If you experience any of the following symptoms, go to your nearest emergency department (do not drive yourself).

- vision changes (for example seeing wavy lines)
- you have moderate to severe pain in the eye
- it’s difficult to look at light
- very dark red eyes 
- you have a bad headache and you feel like you want to vomit (nausea)
- you’ve injured your eye, something has pierced your eye, or something is stuck in your eye (like glass)
- 1 of your pupils is bigger than the other.

Get an urgent appointment with a doctor if you have pain with your red eye, or your eye is red and you wear contact lenses (to rule out infection). 


## What are the causes?
Red eye has many possible causes, from harmless to serious.
This may happen because the eyes have become irritated. Some of the common causes of eye redness or irritation are: 
- __dry eyes__ 
- __eye strain __
- __allergies__ – such as pollen, dust, or pet dander
- __environmental irritants__ – like smoke or chemicals
- __contact lens wear__ – especially if you don’t change them often enough
- __burst blood vessels__ (subconjunctival hemorrhage) – small red patches in the white part of your eye, which are caused by sneezing, coughing, or straining. 

Red eye can also be a sign of infection or inflammation, such as:
- __conjunctivitis (pink eye)__ – this is when the layer of tissue covering your eyeball (conjunctiva) becomes inflamed, and can be viral, bacterial, or allergic. As well as redness, it can cause itchy, watery, or sticky eyes  
- __blepharitis__ – inflammation of the eyelids that causes pain and itchiness
- __episcleritis__ – inflammation of the covering on the white part of your eye that may cause your eyes to water and be sensitive to light.  

In some cases the causes of red eye are more serious and put your sight at risk if they aren’t treated. These include:  

- __corneal ulcer__ – this is either caused by a bacterial or viral infection, where an open sore (ulcer) is formed on the outer layer of the eye. Bacterial infections can be caused by not wearing contact lenses correctly, while viral infection can occur when you have herpes simplex (cold sore virus). Other symptoms can include feeling like there’s something in your eye, discharge, sensitivity to light and blurred vision
- __scratched cornea (corneal abrasion)__– caused by a particle like grit or sand getting into the eye and scratching the surface (cornea), leading to pain and discomfort. This can be treated as an eye injury 
- __acute angle-closure glaucoma__ – a swift rise in pressure inside the eye, causing severe pain and vision loss 
- __anterior uveitis__ – inflammation of the anterior part of the eye (fluid filled space at the front of your eye) – usually painful, and can also cause blurred vision, eye watering, having smaller or larger pupils, and sensitivity to light 
- __scleritis__ – this when the white outer wall of the eye becomes inflamed and can cause severe pain. If you have a connective tissue disorder like rheumatoid arthritis you could be more at risk. 


## Self-care tips
If you don’t have any eye pain or vision changes, having red eye is not likely to be anything serious, and it might clear up in a few days by itself.  There are some things you can do at home to soothe your symptoms: 

- rest your eye 
- apply a cool compress to your eye when closed 
- don’t rub or touch your eyes. If you do need to make sure you do so with clean hands
- don’t wear contact lenses. 

Your pharmacist can also help you by recommending: 
- eye drops, such as artificial tears, to relieve irritation   
- antihistamines including eyedrops, to tackle allergies
- cleaning solutions
- decongestants. 

They’ll also be able to tell you if you need to speak to a doctor about your symptoms. 


## When to see a doctor and getting diagnosed
[Some symptoms need emergency medical help](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/symptoms/red-eye#getting-emergency-help), or you’ll need to see your doctor urgently. 

You should speak to your doctor if you have had a red eye for a few days and it hasn’t cleared up. They might refer you to an eye specialist if they can’t find the cause. 

Your healthcare professional will ask you about your medical history and will give you an eye examination to help find the cause plus check for any health conditions that could be causing it. 


## What’s the treatment for red eye? 
The medical treatment for red eye will depend on the cause. Most causes will clear up on their own with [self-care](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/symptoms/red-eye#selfcare). However sometimes you might need medical treatment and specialist investigation. 

If your eye redness is being caused by a bacterial infection, your doctor may prescribe you antibiotics. 

For other types of causes such as anterior uveitis or scleritis, your doctor may refer you urgently to an eye clinic. 

If your doctor suspects you of having an emergency condition that puts you at risk of losing your sight – like acute glaucoma, ulcers or an eye injury – you’ll be referred to an eye specialist (ophthalmologist). 


## Preventing red eye 
While it’s not always possible to avoid all the causes of red eye, you can reduce your risk of some of the causes, by: 
- practicing good hand and eye hygiene – wash your hands often and don’t touch your eyes unless you’ve washed your hands
- remove eye makeup before bed
- follow the correct instructions for using contact lenses – make sure they’re clean and don’t wear them for longer than recommended  
- give your eyes regular breaks when working at a computer
- get to know your allergy triggers and avoid them where possible – whether that’s dust, pollen or pet dander
- use a dehumidifier in your home if dampness and mold are irritating your eyes 
- avoid sharing towels, eye drops, or cosmetics. 


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References

Rosa Bowden

Jo Wheatley

Dr Emily Blount

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Do you have a red or bloodshot eye? There are many possible causes of red eye, from allergies to infections. Find out self-care tips and when to see a doctor. 