Common causes and treatments for red, bloodshot eyes

Nothing startles, quite like the feeling of looking in a mirror and finding a pair of red, bloodshot eyes, looking back at you. The most frustrating part is when you haven’t particularly done any strenuous activity to cause that redness. The good news is that in most cases, the cause of red or irritated eyes is harmless and can be treated relatively easily.

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) there are four main causes of red eyes.

Dry Eyes
When your eyes are dry, it’s natural for them to become red or inflamed. This happens for a variety of reasons, such as prolonged computer use. When you stare at a computer screen, you tend to blink less often, since we are focused on the screen.

Allergies
Anyone who suffers through pollen season can tell you that your sinuses aren’t the only thing affected by allergies. Red, swollen, itchy eyes are also a common side effect.

Infection
Bacterial and viral infections are both contagious and you should probably visit an eye doctor. Viral infections often clear on their own, whereas bacterial infections generally require antibiotics.

A broken blood vessel
Caused by things like extreme straining, coughing or rubbing of the eyes, a broken blood vessel can sometimes be scary-looking and its official name (subconjunctival hemorrhage) doesn’t make it sound any better.  On the bright side, it’s essentially just a bruise on the white of your eye that will clear up on its own over a couple of weeks.

How to treat red eyes

Eye Drops
As a treatment for dry eye, you can use one of many over the counter (OTC) eye drops. When making your selection, OTC eye drops that do not contain preservatives tend to be gentler than those that do. If you regularly use eye drops that “promise to get the red out,” rebound redness can occur as a result of stopping use.

Allergy Medications
Taking a daily allergy medicine can help reduce the occurrence of red eyes, especially when taken at the time you are experiencing the seasonal allergies.

Eye Wash
If you’ve got irritants causing your eyes to become red, or you’re experiencing eyelid inflammation as a result of blepharitis, a good eye wash can be a great relief.

You brush your teeth every night, right? Why not wash your eyelids and lashes too. This can help keep bacteria and irritants from causing your eyes to become red.

Take note of things that may be triggering your eyes to become red and avoid those irritants in the future.  Some common triggers include pet dander, pollen, smoke, dust and chlorine.

While it isn’t necessary to drop your makeup all-together, it is important to be mindful of what products cause redness in your eyes. Discard any expired products (yes, makeup expires), and be sure to use brushes that are clean and well maintained.

An easy, at-home remedy for red eyes is to use a cool compress. Draping a cooling mask or wet wash cloth across your closed eyes for a few minutes, a couple times a day, is both relaxing and an effective way to treat some cases of dry eye.

It’s always important to practice good hygiene, keeping your hands clean and away from your eyes is a great way to prevent your eyes from becoming red. Rubbing your eyes will only cause symptoms worsen.

When to see a doctor

There are many things that can cause your eyes to become red or bloodshot and some of those can be serious, requiring immediate attention.  It’s especially important to take note when the redness comes on abruptly or is accompanied by blurry vision or discomfort. The most effective way to get rid of red, bloodshot eyes is to visit your eye doctor, to diagnose the underlying cause of your symptoms, then prescribe the appropriate treatment option for you.

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