Red Eye? Why?

Do you get red eyes sometimes? This happens when the blood vessels in your eyes get irritated or swollen. There are many different potential causes of red eye, aside from them just being the after effects of a late night. A local Marysville, WA vet lists some of them below.

Causes

Red eyes can be caused by many different things. These range from environmental concerns, such as dry eye and dust, to sun exposure and colds. Red eyes can also happen because of infections, allergic reactions, and lack of sleep. Other potential causes include blepharitis, which is an inflammation of the eyelash follicle; conjunctivitis; corneal ulcers; and uveitis. There’s more! Other possibilities include marijuana use, trauma, styes, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Concern

Most of the time, eye redness isn’t a cause for concern. However, it can be an indication of some serious issues. You should contact your doctor if the redness is accompanied by changes in your vision, eye pain, halos, blurred vision, increased light sensitivity, and/or discharge in one or both eyes. If you take medications that thin your blood, such as Coumadin, you’ll also want to reach out to your eye doctor. Symptoms that last longer than a week are also cause for concern, as are red eyes that are accompanied by nausea and/or vomiting. Contact your optometrist right away if you have any of these symptoms.

Prevention

There are a few things you can do to decrease the likelihood of you developing red eyes. If you wear makeup, always take it off at night. Contact wearers should also clean their lenses regularly. Try to avoid—or at least limit—activities that can cause eye strain. A good air filter may also help. Ask your eye doctor for more information.

Treatment

Eye drops are often helpful in treating red eyes, though if the redness is caused by an underlying condition, the treatment may be far more involved than that. Keep in mind that you really shouldn’t just grab the first OTC drops that look good. Some drops are only meant for occasional use. And, if the drops you use aren’t the right kind for your specific issue, they could make things worse. Contact your eye doctor, and find out exactly what types of eye drops you should use.

Do you have questions or concerns about red eyes? Contact us, your Marysville, WA eye care center, today!