Red eyes, often described as bloodshot eyes, are a common concern that can range from a minor irritation to a sign of a more serious underlying condition. It’s important to understand what might be causing your persistent eye redness and when it’s crucial to seek professional medical advice. While occasional redness might be due to temporary factors, if you find yourself frequently asking, “Why Are My Eyes Always Red?”, it’s time to investigate the potential causes.
To help you differentiate between benign and serious issues, and to know when to consult an eye care professional, this guide will explore common reasons for eye redness, from harmless irritations to conditions requiring prompt medical attention.
Common (Benign) Causes of Red Eyes
Let’s first examine some of the more common and generally harmless reasons why your eyes might be red. Recognizing these benign causes can help alleviate worry and guide you towards appropriate self-care or over-the-counter solutions.
Allergies
Allergic reactions are a frequent culprit behind red and irritated eyes. These allergies can be seasonal, triggered by pollen, or perennial, caused by year-round allergens like pet dander, dust mites, or mold. Irritants such as cigarette smoke and air pollution can also exacerbate allergic reactions in the eyes.
Symptoms of eye allergies often include:
- Redness in one or both eyes
- Itching, sometimes intense
- Burning sensation
- Watery discharge or excessive tearing
- Swelling of the eyelids
- Sensitivity to light
Managing eye allergies:
Over-the-counter antihistamine pills or eye drops can effectively reduce allergic reactions. Lubricating eye drops, also known as artificial tears, can help soothe irritation and wash away allergens. Avoiding known allergens and keeping your environment clean can also minimize allergy-related redness. If over-the-counter treatments aren’t providing relief, prescription medications from your doctor may be necessary.
Dry Eyes
Your eyes rely on a constant layer of tears to stay lubricated and healthy. Tears are produced by glands around your eyes and are essential for maintaining clear vision and protecting the eye surface. Dry eye syndrome occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough tears or when the quality of your tears is poor, leading to rapid evaporation.
Dry eye symptoms can include:
- Persistent redness
- A gritty or sandy feeling in the eyes
- Burning or stinging sensation
- Sensitivity to light (photophobia)
- Blurred vision that fluctuates
- Excessive tearing (as a reflex response to dryness)
Treating dry eyes:
Artificial tears are the primary treatment for dry eyes, providing lubrication and relief. For more persistent dry eyes, your eye doctor might recommend prescription eye drops that help increase tear production or reduce inflammation. In some cases, punctual plugs, small silicone inserts placed in the tear ducts to reduce tear drainage, might be suggested. Lifestyle adjustments like using a humidifier, taking breaks from screen time, and wearing wraparound sunglasses can also help manage dry eye symptoms.
Subconjunctival Hemorrhage
A subconjunctival hemorrhage occurs when a small blood vessel breaks underneath the conjunctiva, the clear membrane covering the white part of your eye. This can cause a dramatic, bright red patch to appear on the white of your eye. Despite its alarming appearance, a subconjunctival hemorrhage is usually painless and benign.
Characteristics of subconjunctival hemorrhage:
- Sudden appearance of bright red in the white of the eye
- No pain or visual disturbance
- May occur spontaneously or after minor trauma, coughing, or straining
Understanding and managing subconjunctival hemorrhage:
While it looks serious, a subconjunctival hemorrhage is typically harmless and resolves on its own within one to two weeks as the blood is reabsorbed. It doesn’t require treatment, but artificial tears can be used for any mild irritation. People who take blood thinners, or have conditions like diabetes or hypertension, might be more prone to these hemorrhages. If you experience recurrent subconjunctival hemorrhages, consult your doctor to rule out any underlying health issues.
Alt text: Close-up of an eye exhibiting a subconjunctival hemorrhage, showing a distinct, localized area of bright red on the sclera, contrasting with the surrounding white.
Serious Causes of Red Eyes – When to Worry
While many cases of red eyes are benign, certain causes require medical intervention to prevent complications and protect your vision. It’s crucial to be aware of these more serious conditions, especially when eye redness is accompanied by other concerning symptoms.
Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
Conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye, is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the transparent membrane lining the eyelids and covering the white part of the eye. This inflammation causes the white of the eye to appear pink or red. Conjunctivitis can be caused by viral or bacterial infections, allergies, or irritants.
Types and symptoms of conjunctivitis:
- Viral conjunctivitis: Often associated with colds, highly contagious, watery discharge, redness, burning.
- Bacterial conjunctivitis: Also contagious, thicker yellow or green discharge, crusting of eyelashes, redness, discomfort.
- Allergic conjunctivitis: Typically affects both eyes, itching, redness, watery discharge (discussed in benign causes, but can be severe).
- Irritant conjunctivitis: Caused by chemicals or foreign objects, redness, watery discharge, burning.
When to seek medical help for conjunctivitis:
If you suspect bacterial or viral conjunctivitis, seeing a doctor is important, especially due to its contagious nature. Bacterial conjunctivitis often requires antibiotic eye drops or ointment. While viral conjunctivitis usually resolves on its own, a doctor can rule out other conditions and recommend symptomatic relief. If you experience pain, blurred vision, or sensitivity to light with conjunctivitis, seek medical attention promptly.
Blepharitis
Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelids, specifically at the base of the eyelashes. This condition can cause redness of the eyelids and eyes, and is often due to bacteria or clogged oil glands at the eyelid margin.
Symptoms of blepharitis:
- Redness and swelling of the eyelids
- Itchy or burning eyelids
- Crusting at the base of eyelashes, especially in the morning
- Gritty sensation in the eyes
- Tearing
- In severe cases, loss of eyelashes or misdirected eyelash growth
Complications and treatment of blepharitis:
Untreated blepharitis can lead to more serious issues like styes, chalazion (eyelid cysts), corneal damage, and chronic dry eye. Treatment typically involves warm compresses to loosen crusts and debris, gentle eyelid scrubs with diluted baby shampoo or specialized eyelid cleansers, and sometimes antibiotic or steroid eye drops or ointments, especially if bacterial infection is present. Long-term management is often necessary to control blepharitis.
Uveitis
Uveitis is inflammation of the uvea, the middle layer of the eye located beneath the sclera (white of the eye) and cornea. The uvea is rich in blood vessels and includes the iris, ciliary body, and choroid. Uveitis can be serious and sight-threatening if not treated promptly.
Symptoms of uveitis:
- Redness of the eye
- Eye pain, often deep and aching
- Blurred vision
- Floaters (dark spots or lines in vision)
- Sensitivity to light (photophobia)
Causes and urgency of treatment for uveitis:
Uveitis can be caused by autoimmune diseases (like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis), infections (herpes, shingles, toxoplasmosis), eye injury, or in some cases, the cause is unknown. Because uveitis can lead to serious complications, including glaucoma, cataracts, and vision loss, immediate medical evaluation and treatment are crucial. Treatment usually involves steroid eye drops to reduce inflammation, and sometimes oral medications or injections for more severe cases or underlying systemic conditions.
Alt text: Illustration depicting an inflamed eye, highlighting the redness and swelling of the conjunctiva and surrounding tissues, representative of general eye inflammation.
Scleritis
Scleritis is a severe inflammation of the sclera, the white outer layer of the eyeball. It is often associated with underlying systemic autoimmune diseases and can be very painful and damaging to the eye.
Symptoms of scleritis:
- Intense, deep eye pain, often described as boring or aching
- Significant redness, often a deep red or purplish hue
- Tearing
- Sensitivity to light
- Blurred vision
Association with systemic diseases and need for prompt care:
Scleritis is frequently linked to autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Sjögren’s syndrome, and inflammatory bowel disease. It can also occur due to eye injury or infection, but systemic autoimmune diseases are common underlying factors. Scleritis requires prompt medical attention and often systemic treatment, including oral steroids or immunosuppressants, to control the inflammation and prevent serious complications, including vision loss.
Angle-Closure Glaucoma
Angle-closure glaucoma is a form of glaucoma where the iris blocks the drainage angle in the eye, leading to a rapid and dangerous increase in intraocular pressure (pressure inside the eye). This is a medical emergency that can cause rapid vision loss.
Emergency symptoms of angle-closure glaucoma:
- Sudden, severe eye pain
- Redness of the eye
- Blurred vision or sudden vision loss
- Halos around lights
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
Immediate action for angle-closure glaucoma:
Angle-closure glaucoma is a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment to lower eye pressure and prevent permanent optic nerve damage and vision loss. Treatment typically involves eye drops, oral medications, and often laser surgery or surgical iridotomy to create a new drainage pathway for fluid in the eye. If you experience these symptoms, seek emergency medical care immediately.
Do you frequently wonder, “why are my eyes always red?” If you are experiencing persistent or worsening eye redness, especially if accompanied by pain, vision changes, or other concerning symptoms, it is essential to consult an eye care professional. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial for maintaining eye health and preventing potential vision loss. While some causes of red eyes are minor and easily managed, others can be serious and require immediate medical attention. Seeking timely professional advice is the best course of action to ensure the health of your eyes.
