19 Reasons For Having Red And Bloodshot Eyes
Red Eyes: What Causes Them
Bloodshot eyes are something many of us will experience at some point in our lives. The itching, drying, and soreness of our eyes make them extremely uncomfortable. Red eyes can be caused by numerous factors.
It is usually harmless to treat a red eye with over-the-counter medications or home remedies. You should see your eye doctor immediately if your red eye is accompanied by any of the following symptoms: pain, light sensitivity, swelling, or blurry vision.
DeCarlo Optometry will help you determine the cause of your red eyes and provide treatment. You can browse our website for testimonials to find out if our services suit your needs.
We all know that red eyes are usually a sign of tiredness. However, there are many other reasons for having bloodshot eyes. The following article will provide information on the common causes of this condition. There is also an overview of different types of eye drops available to help with the problem.
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What Is Red-Eye?
The most common symptoms of red-eye are eye pain, itchy eyes, discharge, swelling, and blurred vision. The symptoms of red-eye are often more severe than they are. For a medical diagnosis and proper treatment, an appointment with an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) should be made if eyes remain red for more than one week, or if vision is affected, or if pain occurs.
19 Bloodshot Eyes Causes
Red-eye can be caused by many different factors. In some cases, it is as simple as wearing contact lenses too long or staring at a computer screen for an extended period without taking a break.
There are many other causes of red-eye, including allergies, blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids), conjunctivitis (pink eye), dry eye, and eye injuries.
1. Allergies
The immune system reacts when an irritating substance (such as pollen, pet dander, dust, or certain chemicals found in makeup or contact lens solutions) gets into the body.
To combat allergy-causing allergens, the body releases histamine, which causes the blood vessels in the eyes to enlarge, resulting in red, watery, and itchy eyes.
2. Blepharitis (Inflamed Eyelid)
Redness and inflammation of the eyelid are common symptoms of this condition. There may also be redness, swelling, itchiness, sensitivity to light, and excessive tears along with swollen, red eyelids.
3. Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
Kids often suffer from conjunctivitis, which is one of the most common eye infections. Conjunctivitis is caused by an infection of the thin, transparent membrane that lines the eyelids and covers the white of the eye. Infected conjunctiva swells and becomes irritated, causing the eye to appear red or pink. There is often a sticky discharge from the eyelids, and eyelashes can stick together.
There are several types of pink eye. It is most likely that viral eye infections will resolve on their own without prescription medication. Bacterial infections may require antibiotic treatment. The two types of infections, especially viral diseases, are highly contagious and spread easily.
Children who are in close contact with others in school or daycare centers are most likely to contract pink eye. The infection must be diagnosed and treated by a doctor because some types of pink eye are contagious. Pediatricians and family physicians can diagnose and treat some eye infections.
4. Dry Eye
Dry eye occurs when the eyes do not produce enough tears or tears do not contain lipids. For eyes to be healthy and comfortable, they must have enough and well-functioning tears.
A stinging or burning sensation, lots of tears followed by periods of dryness, and discharge may be signs of dry eye. You may experience pain in your eyes, as well as redness. Dry eyes can affect both men and women, although they are more likely to affect women after menopause.
Getting older causes people to produce less of the lipid part of their tears, which puts them at risk for dry eyes. There may also be a side effect of taking certain medicines that causes dry eyes. Eye drops containing artificial tears can be initially used to moisten the eyes.
5. Eye Injury
When the eyes are damaged or injured, they become red and bloodshot. When blood vessels dilate in the eye, they allow more blood to reach the injured area, allowing the wound to heal faster. Red-eye is caused by these open blood vessels.
Abrasions to the cornea (scratches on its surface), puncture wounds, and chemical burns are some of the eye injuries. Eye injuries should be treated as a medical emergency and require immediate medical attention.
6. Glaucoma
There are usually no symptoms at the beginning of glaucoma because it usually develops slowly. Glaucoma can be sight-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Symptoms include painful, bright-red eyes, accompanied by halos around lights, vision loss, and nausea.
7. Allergic Conjunctivitis
A person can develop allergic conjunctivitis from an allergy or an irritant, such as dust, pollen, or animal dander. It can also be caused by contact lenses or lens solutions.
Furthermore, if contact lenses are worn for an extended period, conjunctivitis can occur because of irritation. As a result of allergies or irritations, conjunctivitis is not contagious. Doctors will conduct allergy tests if they suspect an allergy to determine the trigger.
A seasonal allergen, such as pollen, is the most common cause. In cases where a person knows that they are allergic or sensitive to pollen or another allergen, they should avoid being exposed to it as much as possible.
8. Corneal Ulcers
As the name suggests, corneal ulcers are open sores on the cornea that are caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. Other factors that increase risk include scratches, burns, dry eyes syndrome, and problems with the eyelids.
Wearing contact lenses can slightly damage the eye’s outer cells as they rub against the surface. The damage could allow pathogens to penetrate the eye.
The following symptoms may occur:
- Red eyes
- Pain or soreness
- Sensitivity to light
- Mild-to-severe eye discharge
- Reduced vision
9. Subconjunctival Hemorrhage
A conjunctival capillary is also composed of numerous blood vessels. A rupture of these vessels can cause blood to leak into the area between the conjunctiva and the white of the eye.
A small amount of blood builds up under the conjunctiva when this happens. It is called a subconjunctival hemorrhage when small amounts of blood accumulate under the conjunctiva. Bright red spots appear on the white of the eye as a result of minor bleeding under the outer membrane.
10. Crying
Red eyes are likely to occur if you have been crying. The redness will disappear on its own, but if you don’t want anyone to know you’ve cried, you can use eye drops to get rid of it.
11. Lack Of Sleep
The amount of sleep you need each night depends on your age range, although seven to nine hours is the recommended amount. One of the many side effects of waking up before you have finished your sleep cycle can be red bloodshot eyes.
12. Computer Vision Syndrome
The amount of time we spend staring at screens has increased. All that screen time may lead to eye strain, commonly known as “computer vision syndrome.” Looking at other screens, like TVs, phones, and tablets may result in red eyes as well.
Red-eyes caused by computer vision syndrome occur as a result of inadequate moisture in the eyes. If you blink, you replenish moisture, but if you stare at a screen or computer screen, you blink 66% less often.
Try blinking more often when using a computer or looking at a screen to prevent red eye caused by computer vision syndrome. You can also use artificial tears over-the-counter.
13. Having Colds Or The Flu
Red eyes are not a coincidence when you have colds or the flu. There is more of a tendency for our eyes to be affected when we are sick. Coughing and sneezing constantly affect our eyes’ blood vessels, causing redness.
14. Smoking
Now and then, we are continually reminded of the harmful effects of smoking, specifically lung diseases. Did you know that smoking can also affect your eyes? As a result of constant smoking, our eyes become irritated, making them more susceptible to serious eye conditions and infections. There are many reasons to stop smoking, and this should be one of them.
15. Trauma
You can expect your eyes to appear red for a while after suffering an eye injury or another type of trauma. There is nothing abnormal about that, as blood vessels open up in response to an increase in blood flow. Your eyes will become red until the healing process is complete.
16. Environmental Factors
The cause of red eyes is pollution, unpleasant weather changes, and airborne particles. Several environmental conditions cause the eyes to become reddened, such as smoke, wind, dust, and excessive sunlight exposure.
17. Uveitis
A condition in which the middle layer of the eyeball, the uvea, is inflamed. Symptoms of this condition can occur suddenly and get worse very quickly. This condition can cause:
- Redness
- Pain
- Blurry vision
- Floaters
- Light sensitivity
A form of steroids will likely be prescribed by your healthcare provider to help reduce swelling. In addition to treating the symptoms of uveitis, they may also treat the underlying cause.
18. Frequent Use of Eye Drops
When you wake up with red eyes, do you reach for eye drops? Frequent use of “get the red out” eye drops can result in “rebound dilation” of the blood vessels in the eyes, causing the eyes to appear even redder.
19. Contact Lens Wear
Contact lenses can irritate the eyes, causing them to turn red. Contact lenses may irritate the eyes for several reasons, including:
- Poor fit
- Leaving them in for too long
- Traumatic removal
- Damaged contact lenses
- Hygiene issues
A bacterial infection can sometimes result from contact lens complications. An infection can threaten a person’s vision when it occurs at the corner of the eye.
Red Eyes Treatment
There are a variety of remedies for red eyes. Symptoms often can be relieved with rest, cool compresses, lightly massaging the eyelids, gently washing the eyelids, and/or over-the-counter eye drops. Another option is to recommend and prescribe antibiotics, eye drops, or ointments.
This article covers the most common causes of red and bloodshot eyes. Be sure to see your doctor if you are experiencing any other symptoms or have questions about what could be causing these issues.
If you’re reading this because you suspect something might be wrong with your eye health, make an appointment soon! We hope this information has been helpful for everyone who reads it.
We’ve done our best to provide a comprehensive list so that you can recognize their issues and seek help as fast as possible. Now go out there and do some good in the world by helping others find relief from their ocular concerns by sharing this blog!
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