What causes red eye?
Redness in the whites of the eyes may be accompanied by itching and other unpleasant symptoms. Common causes include:
- Allergies due to pet dander or seasonal issues
- Infections from bacteria or viruses
- Contact lens irritation
You may also experience irritation in your eyes if you don’t take off your eye makeup properly or get dust or another irritant in your eye on an especially windy day. Dry eyes can also make your eyes more sensitive and reddened.
What are the treatments for red eye?
The optometrists at Valley Eye Professionals treat the cause of your redness to resolve it. If you have allergies, for example, they may recommend prescription eye drops or antihistamines to relieve the redness, itching, swelling, and wateriness.
An infection caused by bacteria or virus is called pink eye, or conjunctivitis, which often involves a sticky discharge and crusty eyelids. Pink eye is contagious, so it’s important to get it treated with medicated eye drops and limit your contact with other people until it resolves.
How do contact lenses cause red eye?
Contact lenses that aren’t properly disinfected and cleaned can irritate your eyes. Certain brands or types of lenses may also cause a reaction, as might certain kinds of disinfecting solutions.
Make sure you care for your lenses properly and respect their wear time. If you have daily disposable lenses, for example, don’t try to extend that into a few days. If your contacts continue to bother you, even when you respect wear time and care for them properly, talk to your optometrist at Valley Eye Professionals. They may offer a different type of lens or method of vision correction.
What other steps help reduce red eye?
Toss out eye makeup after three months since older makeup is more likely to harbor infections, and never share eye makeup, such as mascara and eyeliner. Cold compresses can alleviate discomfort in your eyes and relieve redness if you’re experiencing a temporary condition due to the weather or indoor environmental conditions, for example.
To learn how to treat and manage chronic redness in your eyes, call Valley Eye Professionals or book an appointment online.
