Key Takeaways
- Redness can be caused by many factors, so getting an eye exam is an important step to determining what may be wrong.
- Environmental irritants can dry out your eyes quickly, and allergies can also cause redness.
- There are medical conditions that cause redness that can require prompt evaluation by an eye care professional.
- Overusing redness drops can sometimes contribute to the problem instead of helping.
- There is targeted therapy to help bring longer-lasting visual comfort.
If your eyes always feel red and irritated, you’re probably wondering what could be causing it. Maybe you’ve even tried a few at-home treatments or redness-relief eye drops, but nothing seems to work. The redness you see can happen when tiny blood vessels on your eye surface expand and fill with blood, and our team at Cherry Creek Eye Physicians and Surgeons can help you figure out what may be going on.
Your eyes can look red for a few reasons, including environmental triggers, allergies, or underlying medical conditions that can irritate the sensitive tissues. If you’ve been dealing with redness for a little while, it’s a good idea to book a comprehensive eye exam to figure out what may be going on and protect your vision.
Common Causes of Bloodshot Eyes
Daily habits and environmental settings play a major role in your visual comfort. You might notice your eyes look a little red after a long day at the office or a windy afternoon outside. Environmental irritants such as wind and smoke, along with prolonged screen use, can disrupt your natural tear film and contribute to redness.
If you find that the redness gets worse or begins after you use screens, try the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This can help rest your eyes and may help you feel more comfortable by the end of the day.
Seasonal Allergies
Trees, weeds, and flowers release tiny particles into the air, sometimes year-round, but often during spring and fall. These seasonal changes can trigger allergic reactions that cause red, itchy eyes, tearing, and a runny nose.
If you notice this, don’t rub your eyes. Try allergy eye drops, or close your windows on high-pollen days. Keeping your bedding and pillows clean from pet dander can also help reduce allergic reactions.
Dry Eye
A healthy tear film coats your eye surface evenly to maintain clear, comfortable vision. But if your tear film is disrupted, it can lead to red, scratchy, and gritty eyes, almost like there’s a grain of sand stuck in them.
Dry eye is usually caused by a combination of factors, and treatment depends on the underlying cause. An eye doctor can recommend therapies that help improve comfort and support a healthier tear film. If you’ve been trying to manage dry eye symptoms on your own, our team can evaluate your specific symptoms and recommend a treatment plan tailored to you.
Medical Conditions Behind Eye Redness
Sometimes, red eyes can point to a specific health issue rather than dryness or an allergy. If you’re concerned about your symptoms, it’s a good idea to come see our team so we can assess your eyes and make a proper diagnosis.
Contagious Pink Eye
Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin, transparent membrane that covers the white of the eye and lines the inside of the eyelids. There are a few types of conjunctivitis, but viral or bacterial conjunctivitis is contagious and requires careful hygiene to prevent transmission between family members.
If you notice these symptoms, schedule an eye exam to determine whether your conjunctivitis is viral, bacterial, or caused by allergies so you can receive the most appropriate care:
- Gritty, red eyes
- Thick green discharge forms crusts on your eyelashes (more common with bacterial)
- You notice clear, watery discharge coming from your eyes (more common with viral)
- Sensitivity to light
If this sounds familiar, avoid touching your eyes and wash your hands frequently to help reduce the spread of infection.
Broken Blood Vessels
A subconjunctival hemorrhage is the medical term for a burst blood vessel in the eye. This can happen after coughing, sneezing, heavy lifting, rubbing the eye, minor trauma, or sometimes for no obvious reason. This issue may look alarming, but it rarely affects your ability to see clearly.
Generally, the blood vessels will clear on their own within a few weeks, but if it persists or is accompanied by vision changes or severe pain, seek prompt eye care.
Signs You Should Seek Emergency Eye Care
You should never ignore severe symptoms that accompany red eyes. Certain changes may indicate deeper problems that need immediate attention from an eye doctor.
Pain and Vision Changes
There are signs that it may be time to seek prompt eye care. These can include:
- Persistent or severe pain or discomfort
- Intense, persistent inflammation
- Blurry or haloed vision
- A sudden new flash of floaters or spots
- Any changes in vision
- Intense sensitivity to bright light
These symptoms can be associated with serious eye conditions such as corneal ulcers, acute glaucoma, severe inflammation, or retinal problems, so prompt eye care is important for preserving your sight.
Reasons Redness Stays Constant
You might wonder why the redness never seems to fade away despite trying home care, and there are a few potential causes to be aware of.
Rebound Effect from Redness Relief Drops
Some people with redness might reach for over-the-counter “redness relief” eye drops to reduce the look of redness in their eyes. While it may seem like you’re helping, these products can cause rebound redness, where the blood vessels become dilated again after the medication wears off, making the eyes appear even redder over time.
This can happen because redness drops temporarily restrict your surface blood vessels, but they expand larger when the drops wear off. Some people notice the redness seems to have worsened, so they put more drops in, creating an unintended cycle. If you use redness drops, it may be a good idea to talk to your eye doctor about other options.
Unresolved Long-Term Issues
Your home environment and personal health history can impact your overall eye health and comfort. Here are a few potential causes of redness that doesn’t seem to fade:
- Certain autoimmune conditions can contribute to inflammation on your eye’s surface
- Persistent dry air in your home can contribute to dry eye
- Wearing the wrong contact lenses or practicing improper contact lens care can increase your risk of eye irritation
Professional Solutions
Our eye care team can assess your eyes and recommend a clear path moving forward. This could look like offering you a heated eye mask, preservative-free eye drops for dry eye care, or tips on proper eyelid hygiene.
In some cases, our team may recommend more targeted therapies for longer-lasting relief, such as intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy. This in-office treatment uses carefully controlled pulses of light to reduce inflammation around the eyelids and improve the function of the oil-producing meibomian glands, helping support a healthier tear film.
Schedule Your Visit Today
If you’ve been experiencing red, uncomfortable eyes, our team at Cherry Creek Eye Physicians and Surgeons wants you to know that you don’t have to manage this alone. We can assess your symptoms and help you find longer-lasting relief. Book your appointment today.
