Causes of Red Eyes
If you have red eye, it could mean a lot of things. Sometimes red eye is just a symptom of normal eye strain and is easily relieved. Other times, red eye may be the first sign of a serious medical issue that could have lasting impact on your vision.
The team at Gordon Wong Eye Designs & Optometry has helped numerous people in and around La Jolla, CA with their eye conditions. We’d like to go over some of the most common causes of red eye and how they can be addressed.
Dry Eye
If you suffer from dry eye, you’re likely to experience a number of symptoms, one of them being red eye. The simple way to treat a case of dry eye is to use lubricating eye drops as soon as you experience discomfort. If the use of over-the-counter eye drops is not effective, you can undergo professional dry eye treatment to help preserve and improve tear production or consistency.
Eye Allergies
Eye allergies are reactions to various allergens that may be in the air or in what we eat. These issues typically lead to red, itchy, irritated eyes. The ideal treatment for eye allergies usually involves identifying allergens that trigger you reactions and then doing your best to avoid these substances. Lubricating eye drops and the use of antihistamines can also be helpful.
Eye Fatigue
Eye fatigue refers to your eyes feeling tired or strained. This is often caused today by staring at screens for long periods of time. When you look at a screen for a long time, it caused your blink rate to decrease. This can lead to dry eye as well as red eye and other issues.
The team at GW Eye Associates recommends people try to consciously blink more if they’re looking at screens a lot. We also recommend the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes spent looking at a screen, look away for 20 seconds at an object 20 feet away. The 20-20-20 rule will reset your blink rate and help reduce eye strain.
Wearing Contact Lenses
Wearing contacts for a long period of time can lead to dry or irritated eyes. It’s a good idea to take out your contacts when they’re not necessary so your eyes can breath. Clean your contacts regularly, and make sure your cleaning solution is regularly changed. If problems persist, you may need new contacts.
Eye Infections
Whether it’s pink eye (conjunctivitis) or some other issue with bacteria or a virus, red eye is one of the many telltale signs of an eye infection. Be sure to see a doctor about your problem as soon as possible so you have have the proper medication prescribed.
Trauma to the Eye
An injury to the eye or the eye area can cause your eye to become red in response. This covers everything from a physical blow to the eye area to chemicals getting into the eye. If your eye injury is serious, seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Corneal Ulcers
Corneal ulcers are a type of bacterial or fungal infection of the eye that targets the cornea. Red eye, blurry vision, and fluid discharge from the eye are the most common symptoms. These kinds of infections require immediate medical attention for proper care.
Acute Angle Glaucoma
Acute angle glaucoma involves increased internal eye pressure the eventually leads to progressive vision loss. Professional treatment is crucial as soon as glaucoma is detected. While glaucoma cannot be cured, it can be managed to slow down the rate of vision loss and prevent blindness.
Learn More About Managing Red Eye
For more information about treating and preventing red eye, we encourage you to contact our team of eye care specialists and opticians. GW Eye Associates can be reached by phone in La Jolla at (858) 454-4699 and in Del Mar at (858) 755-9465.
