Red eyes occur when the tiny blood vessels on the white surface of your eyes dilate, changing the sclera (white portion of the eye) to become red or bloodshot. If this condition appears without causing any pain, it can be remedied or eased with a little home care. Red eye can be a sign of minor irritation, but it can also turn into a severe medical condition like an infection.
request an appointmentIt is important to seek eye care to determine the source of your red eyes and begin treating the condition. If you live in or around the Dublin and Tri-Valley area, contact our optometrists at Optometric Images to schedule an appointment. Let’s take a look at red eyes and how our eye doctors can help.
The Causes of Red Eye
Many causes of red eye are relatively harmless and usually disappear through the use of home-based solutions. The symptoms of red eye are exacerbated by different factors like being awake all night, reading in poor lighting, and a scratched eyeball. Some common causes include:
- Eye injuries
- Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
- Allergies
- Eyelid inflammation (Blepharitis)
- Contact lens complications
- Dry eyes (decreased tear production)
- Inflammation of the membrane shielding the white part of the eye
- Sub-conjunctival hemorrhage (broken blood vessels in the eye)
- Glaucoma
- Airborne fumes
- Overexposure to sunlight
- Corneal Hepatic infections
- The proliferation of foreign objects in the eye
- Inflammation of the middle layer of the eye
The Symptoms of Red Eyes
Red eye affects one or both eyes. Although sometimes red eye is harmless, it may include other symptoms that indicate a life-threatening condition that warrants immediate medical care. Red eye is associated with several symptoms, including:
- Sense of the foreign body in the eye
- Gritty feeling
- Bulging of the eyeball
- Dryness of the eye
- A burning sensation in the eyes
- Discharge from the eyes
- Irritation
- Pain in one or both eyes
- Watery eyes
- Sensitivity to light
- Blurry vision
Treatment for Red Eye
Our optometry team at Optometric Images can recommend various treatment options to treat red eyes, including:
Cold compresses technique: This involves constricting the blood vessels in the eyes. This constriction eases the redness and fluid retention around the eyes.
Artificial tears: The eye drops are formulated to restore moisture to dry and inflamed eyes.
Use of decongestants and antihistamines: These help with the itchiness and redness that are associated with allergies.
Visit Our Optometrists in the Dublin and Tri-Valley Area
Are you suffering from red eyes? Call our team at Optometric Images today at (925) 479-0400 or reach us through our website by using our online contact form.