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Peepers get pink for lots of reasons, from allergies to closed-angle glaucoma
It seems like your eyes are always red. All-nighters and raging parties are a thing of the past, so what gives?
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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:
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.”
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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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:
“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.”
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.
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