Why Your Eyes Are Always Red (and How To Fix Them)

It seems like your eyes are always red. All-nighters and raging parties are a thing of the past, so what gives?

Most of the time, that angry color is a harmless reaction to dust or allergens. But sometimes, inflamed eyes signal that you need to see an eye doctor — and the sooner the better.

How can you tell what’s a concern and what’s not?

Ophthalmologists Nicole Bajic, MD, and Catherine Hwang, MD, outline a few conditions that could give your eyes a reddish hue and explain what to do about them.

Why your eyes are always red

Research shows that between 2% and 3% of all people visiting primary care physicians and emergency rooms come in because of an eye issue ­— and the majority of those people have red eyes. Here are 10 of the eye issues Dr. Bajic and Dr. Hwang see most often.

1. Allergies

Check the calendar. If it’s pollen season, you may have found the culprit. In addition to red eyes, allergies can make your peepers feel itchy, watery or as if they’re burning.

If you have occasional red eyes, over-the-counter (OTC) eye drops, allergy pills and nasal sprays should be enough to keep the redness and discomfort at bay.

If you don’t usually have allergies, or you aren’t getting the relief you need from over-the-counter medications, see an allergist or ophthalmologist. You may need prescription strength treatment.

2. Eye irritation

Maybe the windows to your soul feel a little cloudy. Or maybe you came into contact with an errant bug. Whatever happened, something feels off or irritated in your eyes.

See your primary care or an eye care provider about it, especially if you wear contact lenses. Discomfort could be a sign of an eye infection.

“We want to treat those infections quickly,” states Dr. Hwang. “Otherwise, it can turn into a bad ulcer.” She also recommends seeing an eye doctor if there’s pain associated with the irritation or if it doesn’t get better within a day.

3. Dry eyes

Do you consistently get a burning, itchy or gritty feeling in your peepers? If so, you may be dealing with dry eyes, the perfectly descriptive term for what happens when you don’t have enough tears.

Believe it or not, three different layers of tears provide a protective film over your eyes. If the waterworks slows down, your eyes can turn red and uncomfortable. Allergies, weather, computer screen use, medications and surgeries can all contribute to dry eye. The condition also tends to become more common with age.

Over-the-counter lubricating drops known as artificial tears can make your eyes feel better, sometimes within minutes. Allergy drops may also help reduce your discomfort if your dry eye symptoms are allergen-based. Just steer clear of “redness relievers.” We’ll explain why in a bit.

If you’re not getting the relief you need, see an ophthalmologist.

4. Broken blood vessels

Broken blood vessels on the eye’s surface (subconjunctival hemorrhage) may look and sound alarming, but they’re typically nothing to worry about. The broken vessels are usually painless and don’t affect your vision.

“Most people don’t even notice them. Their friends or family members notice, usually right after the person wakes up,” Dr. Hwang explains. “It’s like a little bruise on the eye. And it often appears worse before it gets better.”

Bloody vessels can pop up for any number of reasons, including:

• Straining during a cough, sneeze or bowel movement.
• Sustaining injury to your head or eye.
• Rubbing your eye a tad aggressively.
• Taking certain medications, including blood thinners.

As far as treatment goes, it just takes time. “They’ll get better by themselves in a week or two,” says Dr. Bajic. Consider using artificial tears if you experience some irritation.

While a little irritation is to be expected, it shouldn’t be associated with pain or vision changes. If it is, Dr. Hwang says, “You have to go right to an eye specialist. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200.”

5. Pink eye

Kids bring a lot home from school — including pink eye (aka, conjunctivitis).

This type of eye infection is so common among younger children that it’s practically an elementary school rite of passage. And the condition is incredibly contagious, no matter your age.

Pink eye occurs when viruses, bacteria or irritants (such as chlorine) cause inflammation and infection of the mucous membrane lining in your eyes. There are about 6 million cases of pink eye reported in the United States every year.

The infection’s well-known nickname is a perfect description of how conjunctivitis looks. The white part of your eye turns a reddish-pink color that’s … well, pretty obvious to anyone looking at you. Your eyes may itch or burn. Your eyelids may get puffy and droopy, and you may have a goopy discharge that causes crusting on your eyelashes and eyelids.

How you treat conjunctivitis depends on the type you’re dealing with. And the only person who can determine that is a healthcare provider. So, go ahead and make the appointment.

6. Other infections

Pink eye isn’t the only game in town. Bacteria, viruses, allergies, fungi and parasites (usually waterborne) can cause eye infections, too. This general ickiness frequently reaches your eyes via your hands.

Pain, light sensitivity (photophobia) and blurred vision are sometimes signs of serious infection. Untreated infections can cause erosion on your eye’s surface that can permanently damage your eyes.

Dr. Bajic says it’s best to see an ophthalmologist within a few days of signs of an infection popping up. If you wear contacts and you suspect you have an infection, get to your provider immediately.

7. Internal styes

If you have an internal stye — meaning the inflamed oil gland is on the inner eyelid — it’s going to rub against your eye. That can leave your eyes sore, painful, irritated and, potentially, red.

If you’re sure you’re dealing with an internal stye, keep your eye area clean using warm compresses and avoiding irritants like makeup, contacts or harsh skin care products. If things haven’t improved within a week or two (or if they’re getting worse), see your primary care provider or an ophthalmologist. And whatever you do, do not try to pop a stye! That only makes things worse.

8. Corneal ulcer

If your red eyes are the result of a corneal ulcer, in addition to being bloodshot, they’ll hurt and be sensitive to light. You might also experience discharge or feel like you have something in your eye. Depending on how large it is, you may even be able to see the corneal ulcer — it looks like a white or gray spot.

If those symptoms sound familiar, you need to contact an eye care provider immediately. If left untreated, a corneal ulcer can cause permanent damage.

9. Blepharitis

You might be surprised to learn that inflammation of the eyelid (blepharitis) can make your eyes themselves red, but it’s true! Other telltale signs of blepharitis include crusts forming on your eyelashes and in the corners of your eye, a greasy appearance to the skin and swollen eyelids.

If your eyes are bothering you, it’s best to see an ophthalmologist. Unfortunately, the symptoms of blepharitis look a lot like other common conditions, and there’s no definitive test that can tell you for sure that that’s what you’re dealing with.

10. Iritis

Dr. Hwang says that most symptoms of iritis — inflammation of your iris — aren’t going to show up in your mirror. They’re vision-related. In addition to those red eyes, you may have pain or irritation, sensitivity to light, blurred vision or even floaters. And of course, with all those possible vision problems, headaches tend to come along for the ride.

Iritis can only be diagnosed by an eye care provider and, while fairly common, doesn’t go away with home remedies. And if left untreated, iritis can lead to vision loss. Importantly, people who have iritis sometimes have underlying medical conditions that require treatment, too, so you may need additional care.

Less common causes

If none of the eye issues we’ve listed seem to fit your situation, it’s possible you may be dealing with one of the following conditions. Emphasis here is on the word “may” — some of these eye problems are rare. Either way, it’s a good idea to make an appointment with an eye care provider, Dr. Hwang advises. They’re the only people with the equipment and knowledge to tell for sure.

• Closed-angle glaucoma. Fluid within your eye naturally flows out through an intricate drainage system. If these exit canals get blocked, it can lead to a sudden and dramatic rise in pressure inside of your eye. It’s a rare condition called closed-angle glaucoma. It also causes severe eye pain, headaches, nausea and cloudy vision. This is an emergency situation. “If acute angle closure isn’t addressed immediately, you can dramatically and permanently lose vision,” stresses Dr. Bajic.
• Thyroid eye disease. Thyroid eye disease (TED) is an autoimmune condition. It can cause a whole host of symptoms, including some — like bulging, a “staring” appearance and difficulty closing your eyes completely — that don’t appear elsewhere on this list. It’s important to see your provider if you have these symptoms. It’s a manageable condition, but you may have an underlying health condition like Graves’ disease that requires treatment, too.
• Uveitis. Here’s an alarming statistic: About 30,000 Americans lose their vision every year because of a group of eye diseases known as uveitis, which involves inflammation inside your eye. Other symptoms include light sensitivity, blurred vision, pain and dark “floaters” popping up in your field of vision. “Immediate treatment can limit tissue damage and may be able to restore any lost vision,” says Dr. Bajic.
• Scleritis. Your sclera is the white part of your eye. When you have scleritis, the sclera becomes inflamed and — you guessed it — turns red. Your eyes will also really start hurting. Dr. Hwang explains that without treatment, scleritis can cause permanent damage to both the eye and your vision.
• Episcleritis. The episclera is a clear layer of tissue that covers your sclera. When it gets inflamed or irritated, it can turn red. Episcleritis can also make your eyes teary and uncomfortable. While it can be irritating and possibly even painful, episcleritis usually hurts less than scleritis.
• Endophthalmitis. Endophthalmitis is another one of those eye conditions where red, watery eyes are probably the least of your worries. The condition impacts the inside of your eye, specifically the aqueous and vitreous humors. This kind of infection is painful and can cause both vision loss and light sensitivity. Your eyelids might swell too.
• Trichiasis. If you’ve ever had an eyelash get caught in your eye, you know it’s not a great time. For people with trichiasis, their eyelashes (usually their lower lashes) grow the wrong way. That means all the problems you associate with a stray eyelash: redness, watering, irritation and maybe even sensitivity to light. Several different infections and eye conditions can cause trichiasis, so you may have other symptoms, too.
• Photokeratitis. Maybe you looked directly at the sun during that last eclipse or didn’t wear eye protection while exposed to UV-A and UV-B rays. Photokeratitis means those rays burnt part of your eye. And, like many burns, you’ll notice the redness, discomfort and vision issues immediately. Remove the source of the burn, go inside and turn the light off. If basic home remedies aren’t doing the trick, see an eye care provider.
• Ocular rosacea. If you’re like most people, when you hear “rosacea,” you think red or discolored skin. And you’re right to think that, but your eyes can also experience symptoms from this inflammatory disease! There’s no cure for rosacea, but you and healthcare providers can work together to identify your triggers. Avoiding them — and making a few lifestyle changes — should mean fewer flares and less discomfort.
• Eye tumor. Rarely, there can be tumors in the eye or on the surface of the eye. They can be tricky to spot on your own and don’t always cause symptoms. If you have unexplained eye irritation or vision changes, see an ophthalmologist right away.

When to worry

Some symptoms always warrant a trip to your eye care provider. Redness isn’t one of them because it’s often the result of sleep deprivation, substance use, allergies or irritation.

That said, certain symptoms stand out as potential signs of a larger problem and deserve quick attention, states Dr. Bajic. Call your provider if:

• Your eyes hurt.
• Your vision’s changing.
• There’s a lot of discharge.
• It feels like there’s something in your eyes — and flushing them out isn’t helping.

“Causes of red eye cover a wide spectrum, including emergency conditions that need to be taken care of as soon as possible,” she adds. “Don’t ignore concerning symptoms. There really could be something serious going on.”

Avoid ‘redness relievers’

There’s one thing Dr. Hwang urges you not to do, no matter what’s causing your symptoms: Don’t use eye drops marketed as “redness relievers.”

These drops work by shrinking the blood vessels on the surface of the eyes and reducing the blood flow to them. But less blood flow means less oxygen and nutrients, too. When you stop using the drops, Dr. Hwang explains that the blood vessels get even bigger to make up the difference. In other words, you’ll end up with eyes that are redder than before. If you use these drops too frequently, this effect can be permanent.

That’s not the only reason to pass on these products. They can also mask serious eye issues that you need to get checked out by a doctor. Better to just skip ‘em altogether.