Eye redness

Eye redness is most often due to swollen or dilated blood vessels. This makes the surface of the eye look red or bloodshot.

Considerations

There are many causes of a red eye or eyes. Some are medical emergencies. Others are a cause for concern, but not an emergency. Many are nothing to worry about.

Eye redness is often less of a concern than eye pain or vision problems.

Causes

Bloodshot eyes appear red because the vessels at the surface of the white portion of the eye ( sclera ) become swollen. Vessels may swell due to:

Sclera

The sclera is the white outer coating of the eye. It is tough, fibrous tissue that extends from the cornea (the clear front section of the eye) to t...

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• Eye dryness
• Too much sun exposure
• Dust or other particles in the eye
• Allergies
• Infection
• Injury

Eye infections or inflammation can cause redness as well as possible itching, discharge, pain, or vision problems. These may be due to:

• Blepharitis : swelling along the edge of the eyelid.

  Blepharitis

  Blepharitis is inflamed, irritated, itchy, and reddened eyelids. It most often occurs where the eyelashes grow. Dandruff-like debris builds up at t...

  

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• Conjunctivitis : swelling or infection of the clear tissue that lines the eyelids and covers the surface of the eye (the conjunctiva). This is often referred to as "pink eye."

  Conjunctivitis

  The conjunctiva is a clear layer of tissue lining the eyelids and covering the white of the eye. Conjunctivitis occurs when the  conjunctiva becomes...

  

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• Corneal ulcers : sores on the cornea most often caused by a serious bacterial or viral infection.

  Corneal ulcers

  The cornea is the clear tissue at the front of the eye. A corneal ulcer is an open sore in the outer layer of the cornea. It is often caused by inf...

  

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• Uveitis : inflammation of the uvea, which includes the iris, ciliary body, and choroid. The cause is most often not known. It may be related to an autoimmune disorder, infection, or exposure to toxins. The type of uveitis that causes the worst red eye is called iritis, in which only the iris is inflamed.

  Uveitis

  Uveitis is swelling and irritation of the uvea. The uvea is the middle layer of the eye. The uvea provides most of the blood supply to the retina....

  

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Other potential causes of eye redness include:

• Colds or allergies .
• Acute glaucoma : a sudden increase in eye pressure that is extremely painful and causes serious visual problems. This is a medical emergency. The more common form of glaucoma is chronic and gradual.

  Glaucoma

  Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that can damage the optic nerve. This nerve sends the images you see to your brain. Most often, optic nerve da...

  

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• Corneal scratches: injuries caused by sand, dust, or overuse of contact lenses.

Sometimes, a bright red spot, called a subconjunctival hemorrhage, will appear on the white of the eye. This often happens after straining or coughing, which causes a broken blood vessel on the surface of the eye. Most often, there is no pain and your vision is normal. It is almost never a serious problem. Because the blood leaks into the conjunctiva, which is clear, you cannot wipe or rinse the blood away. Like a bruise, the red spot will go away within a week or two.

Home Care

Try to rest your eyes if redness is due to fatigue or eye strain. No other treatment is needed.

If you have eye pain or a vision problem, call your eye doctor right away.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Go to the hospital or call your local emergency number (such as 911) if:

• Your eye is red after a penetrating injury.
• You have a headache with blurred vision or confusion.
• You are seeing halos around lights.
• You have nausea and vomiting.

Call your health care provider if:

• Your eyes are red longer than 1 to 2 days.
• You have eye pain or vision changes.

  Eye pain

  Pain in the eye may be described as a burning, throbbing, aching, or stabbing sensation in or around the eye. It may also feel like you have a forei...

   

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• You take blood-thinning medicine, such as warfarin.
• You may have an object in your eye.
• You are very sensitive to light.
• You have a yellow or greenish discharge from one or both eyes.

What to Expect at Your Office Visit

Your provider will perform a physical exam, including an eye exam, and ask questions about your medical history. Questions may include:

• Are both of your eyes affected or just one?
• What part of the eye is affected?
• Do you wear contact lenses?
• Did the redness come on suddenly?
• Have you ever had eye redness before?
• Do you have eye pain? Does it get worse with movement of the eyes?
• Is your vision reduced?
• Do you have eye discharge, burning, or itching?
• Do you have other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or headache?

Your provider may need to wash your eyes with a saline solution and remove any foreign bodies in the eyes. You may be given eye drops to use at home.