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Eye redness

• Overview
• Treatment

Alternative Names:

Bloodshot eyes; Red eyes; Scleral injection; Conjunctival injection

Home Care:

For fatigue or eyestrain, try to rest your eyes. No treatment is necessary.

If you have conjunctivitis:

• Avoid touching the infected eye and then rubbing the other eye -- the infection can spread from one eye to the other.
• Apply cool or warm compresses throughout the day.
• Over-the-counter homeopathic eye drops may provide relief.
• Do not use eye makeup or wear contact lenses until the infection has cleared. Throw away items like these that you used in your infected eye.
• Wash your hands frequently.

If you have blepharitis:

• Apply warm compresses to your eyes for 5 minutes. Do this at least 2 times per day.
• Using a cotton swab, gently rub a solution of warm water and no-tears baby shampoo along your eyelid, where the lash meets the lid. Do this in the morning and before you go to bed.

Call your health care provider if:

Go to the hospital or call 911 if:

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

Call your doctor if:

• Your eyes are red longer than 1-2 days.
• You have eye pain or vision changes.
• You take blood thinning medication, like 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 health care provider's office:

Your doctor will take your medical history and perform a physical examination which will include a detailed eye exam.

To help diagnose the cause of the problem, your doctor will ask medical history questions, such as:

• Are both of your eyes affected? If only one eye, which one?
• What part of the eye is affected -- the white part, or elsewhere?
• Did the redness come on suddenly?
• Have you ever had eye redness before?
• Do you have eye pain? Does it get worse after movement of the eyes?
• Do you have other symptoms like eye discharge, burning or itching? Nausea or vomiting? A headache?

The eyes may need irrigation with normal saline solution, and any foreign bodies will need to be removed. Eye drops may be prescribed.

Prevention:

To prevent conjunctivitis:

• DO NOT share anything that has touched the eye of someone with this contagious condition -- like pillowcases, sheets, towels, or eyeliner.
• Wash your hands right away if you have come in contact with someone with conjunctivitis.
• Wash out any chemicals or objects from your eye immediately.

References:

Greenberg MF. The red eye in childhood. Pediatr Clin North Am . 2003; 50(1): 105-124.

Pasternak A, Irish B. Ophthalmologic infections in primary care. Clin Fam Pract . 2004; 6(1): 19.

Rodriguez JO. Prevention and treatment of common eye injuries in sports. Am Fam Physician . 2003; 67(7): 1481-1488.

• Review Date: 11/14/2005
• Reviewed By: Edward B. Feinberg, MD, MPH, Professor and Chair, Department of Ophthalmology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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