Synonyms
Red eye in the broadest sense: conjunctivitis, conjunctivitis
Definition reddened eyes
Red eyes is the leading symptom of conjunctivitis. However, the red eye can also occur in many other eye diseases. The conjunctiva is the primarily affected structure of the eye.
It usually appears whitish. Red eyes rarely occur as the sole symptom. In itself, it is not a clinical picture, but an accompanying symptom.
Red is the eye, or actually only the conjunctiva because of the increased vascular drawing. For example, reddened eyes can occur in the following clinical pictures:
- Inflammation of the eyelids
- Conjunctivitis
- Dry eye
- High intraocular pressure
- Tearing eyes
The diagnosis “reddened eyes” is usually made by slit lamp examination. Red eyes can be easily diagnosed at high magnification and with good light conditions, such as are given at the slit lamp.
As mentioned above, red eyes do not represent an independent clinical picture, but are merely a symptom. What the red eye is ultimately due to must be found out with further diagnostics. As a simple example: If the examiner sees compression wrinkles of the conjunctiva, the diagnosis is usually “dry eyes“.
More about this symptom can be found under dry eyes. The treatment of reddened eyes depends on the underlying basic disease. Dry eyes from the above example would be treated with tear substitutes.
Conjunctivitis depending on its genesis, for example, with antibiotic ointments (bacterial conjunctivitis) or anti-allergic drops. and eye drops for red eyesReddyed eyes can have many causes. They are usually harmless and disappear after a short time.
Very rarely, reddened eyes can be an indication of more serious diseases. Among the most important causes are: 1. external influences When small blood vessels in the conjunctiva dilate, the eye appears red. Numerous external factors can significantly influence the blood circulation in the conjunctiva.
Cigarette smoke, air conditioning, dry air, UV radiation, chlorinated water and dust are only some of the triggers. Of course, the measure and the duration are decisive. A short drive in an air-conditioned car usually does not cause reddened eyes.
Long distance flights with dry, strongly air-conditioned air, however, do! 2. tiredness ‘tired eyes’ are widespread in the population: After a long working day in front of the computer screen, a glance in the mirror is enough to recognize the reddened eyes. But why is this so?
When we get tired, the body shuts down many activities. The tear gland produces less fluid and the irritated eyes start to itch. As a result, we unconsciously rub our eyes and germs get onto the sensitive conjunctiva.
In addition, the ‘blinking frequency’ decreases during concentrated screen work, but also, for example, during long car journeys: By staring forward (monotony of vision), we blink less! Thus the eye surface dries out and appears reddened. 3. conjunctivitis (inflammation of the conjunctiva) A frequent cause of reddened eyes is an inflammatory change of the conjunctiva, also called conjunctivitis.
In addition, increased tear production, swelling of the eye or a swollen conjunctiva or, in the case of an inflammation of bacterial origin, even suppuration can be observed. Reddened eyes in the context of conjunctivitis can have various causes. In most cases, one speaks of a so-called non-specific conjunctivitis: lack of tears, external irritation, kinked eyelashes, wrong eyeglasses or contact lenses irritate the sensitive conjunctiva over a longer period of time and lead to reddened eyes.
Numerous eye drops are available in the pharmacy to alleviate the symptoms, such as tear substitutes (‘artificial tears’). 4 Dry eye Dry eye is considered a widespread clinical picture and can be very stressful for those affected. Due to so-called ‘wetting disorders’ of the conjunctiva and cornea, either the production or composition of the tear fluid is insufficient.
The pathological change causes inflammation, and thus redness, of the ocular surface. Therapeutically, eye drops can be used several times a day to moisten the corneal surface (‘artificial tears’). If the drops do not provide relief, numerous other preparations can be tried.
5th allergy With the first sunrays and mild temperatures in spring, the pollen season begins at the same time.During this time hay fever patients suffer massively from reddened, itchy or watery eyes, blocked nose, colds, severe sneezing attacks or even asthma. If you observe one or more of the symptoms mentioned above, this is an indication of ‘rhinitis allergica’, also known as hay fever! It is caused by an excessive response of the body to what are actually harmless plant or tree components, the pollen.
As soon as we inhale the pollen, our immune system responds with an ‘overreaction’ and typical symptoms appear. In contrast to the seasonal allergy (approx. March to September), animal, dust mite or mold allergies, for example, are year-round diseases.
For example, if you suffer from a cat hair allergy, your eyes will be red as soon as a cat is in the immediate vicinity. The hair also sticks to carpets, upholstery surfaces, etc. Therefore, personal contact with the animal is not necessary to trigger an allergic reaction.
The only causal therapy for hay fever, as well as year-round allergies, is hyposensitization (formerly also densensitization). Here the body is gradually ‘accustomed’ to allergenic substances. In this way, it is hoped that the allergy can be cured and the tormenting symptoms can be avoided.
Eye drops can help against the reddened eyes. In the short term, blood vessel constricting drops (active ingredients: tetryzolin, naphazolin) or drops containing cortisone provide relief. To achieve a long-term effect, it is recommended to use special, anti-allergic drops.
6 Hyposphagma If a small vein in the conjunctiva bursts, the physician speaks of a hyposphagma. In many people affected, the conspicuous, dark red bleeding in the eye causes concern. Nevertheless, in almost all cases a hyposphagma is completely harmless and does not allow any conclusions to be drawn about further bleeding in the body, e.g. a cerebral hemorrhage!
Sometimes burst veins in the eye can be an indication of high blood pressure. As a rule, they disappear on their own and do not require any therapy. Only in exceptional cases can an injury to the conjunctiva or eyeball be the trigger.
7 Glaucoma Glaucoma is a collective term for diseases in which the intraocular pressure is elevated. As a consequence, the optic nerve can be damaged and thus cause permanent visual disturbances. The disease is often also known as ‘glaucoma‘.
However, since there is a high risk of confusion with ‘cataract‘ (clouding of the lens), the term is no longer used. In very rare cases, a reddened eye can be an indication of glaucoma. The ophthalmologist speaks of an ‘acute glaucoma’ or ‘glaucoma attack’ and treats it as an absolute emergency.
Besides the redness of the eye, the intraocular pressure is so high that the eyeball feels very hard. The pupil may have lost its round shape or appear greatly enlarged. If you suspect that the symptoms apply to you, you must consult an ophthalmologist or hospital immediately!
In the worst case, the affected eye may become completely blind! 8 Foreign body in the eye If a foreign body enters the eye, it appears reddened. Even small particles, such as grains of sand, can cause reddening.
Careful eye rinsing with lukewarm water can remove the disturbing particles. In case of larger foreign particles, e.g. wood splinters, a doctor should be consulted without fail. Red eye can be prevented by preventing the underlying disease.
Among these diseases are e.g. :
- Conjunctivitis
- Eyelid Inflammation
- Ectropion
- Entropion
Over time, contact lenses have developed into an attractive alternative in the field of visual aids. In contrast to glasses, they are completely invisible and therefore serve the cosmetic needs of many people with a visual impairment. In addition, they do not fog up in haze or rain, which is very important for some professions (e.g. cooks, sailors, athletes, etc.).
Despite the numerous advantages, contact lenses can cause undesirable side effects, such as reddened eyes. The following causes are known in connection with contact lenses: 1. ageing of contact lenses It is not uncommon for contact lens wearers to forget that their lenses have a limited durability! So if suddenly, despite unchanged care routine and handling, the eyes are reddened, the contact lenses may be overaged.
Depending on the manufacturer and the type of lens, the shelf life varies considerably. Some form stable/fixed lenses last for several years, certain soft lenses ( monthly lenses ) only 4 weeks. Therefore, it is recommended to follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.Under certain circumstances, a note in the calendar can be helpful to be able to replace the lenses in time.
2. deposits on contact lenses Contact lenses are in close contact with the surface of the eye. Interactions with the tear fluid easily cause deposits to form. In particular, proteins and lipids accumulate on the inner surface of the lens, leaving behind a real ‘lubricating film’.
The contaminated surface irritates the sensitive eye and leads to irritation and redness. 3. defective contact lenses As soon as even a small corner of the contact lens breaks or tears, sharp-edged fragments can occur. Often a defective lens goes unnoticed and is inserted anyway.
Affected persons experience a scratchy or unpleasant feeling. The smallest injuries and bleeding can occur: The eye is reddened. Optimal care, correct storage and handling are the A&O to avoid defective contact lenses.
In addition, after the lenses have fallen to the floor, for example, they may only be reinserted after strict inspection. Only when you are absolutely sure that the lens is undamaged may it be used again. 4 Incorrect care A wide range of contact lens care products are available in stores.
Mostly multifunctional solutions are used. They are suitable for cleaning, rinsing, disinfecting and storing. To prevent contamination, only fresh solution should be used.
In addition, it should not be forgotten that cleaning agents also have a limited shelf life. In the long term, many lens wearers nevertheless develop an incompatibility with reddened eyes. It therefore requires a lot of tact and sensitivity to find the right care and, under certain circumstances, to replace them.
5 Incorrect handling Removing and inserting contact lenses requires some practice and rules. Before touching the lens, the hands must be washed each time. Under no circumstances should the lenses come into contact with tap water!
The lens care product must also be handled carefully. For example, the tip of the cleaning bottle must not be touched with your fingers, as germs could get in. Even the storage boxes must be changed once a month to avoid reddened eyes.
6. bad fit of contact lenses The correct fit of contact lenses is essential! They should cover the cornea completely, sit centered on the eye and be sufficiently movable. If the fit is not optimal, irritation of the eye surface will occur and redness will appear.
Your optician or ophthalmologist can check and adjust the fit using painless measuring methods 7. Getting used to contact lenses At the beginning, contact lenses very often cause reddening of the eyes. The length of the familiarization phase varies depending on the type of lens, care products and personal sensitivity.
The risk can be reduced if the wearing time is gradually increased. As a general rule, soft lenses initially cause less redness than hard lenses. Red eyes caused by contact lenses are a frequent and annoying problem for contact lens wearers.
The symptoms of the eyes can be caused by different reasons. Most of the problems associated with wearing lenses are due to poor hygiene or wearing lenses for too long. To avoid contamination of the lenses with pathogens, it is important to wash or disinfect your hands thoroughly before inserting the lenses.
The lenses should only be worn for the recommended period of time and should always be treated with undiluted solution. The lens storage container should be cleaned regularly. In general, it can be said that the so-called “soft” lenses often cause problems for the individual wearer.
Because less oxygen and tear fluid gets behind the lenses, it is easier for some pathogens to multiply and cause inflammation. For example, red eyes that occur in contact lens wearers can often be attributed to bacterial conjunctivitis. But also fungal diseases of the eye are more common, especially among wearers of soft lenses.
Dry eyes are also a problem and often the cause of reddened eyes. It is recommended to pause wearing the lenses and to apply eye drops to the eyes for a few days until the reddening is improved. Finally, unsuitable contact lenses can also be responsible for the redness of the eyes.
For this reason, it is advisable to consult an ophthalmologist about which contact lenses are suitable for the individual person.A regular eye check is equally important to detect diseases and to detect and correct misconduct regarding the hygiene of the lenses. Contact lens wearers should always consult an ophthalmologist if they have red eyes so that he or she can diagnose the reason for the redness and, if necessary, perform therapy and adjustment of the contact lenses. In case of red eyes, the contact lenses should be removed first and glasses should be worn until the attending ophthalmologist can take a look at the eyes.
Among other causes for the appearance of red eyes, an existing allergy can also be the trigger for this symptom. In the case of an allergy, both eyes are usually affected. In principle, however, especially in later stages, both eyes are affected, so this cannot be used as a unique selling point of an allergy.
If only one eye is reddened, other causes should be considered. Besides the reddening of the eyes, there are usually other accompanying symptoms of an allergy. A running nose, itching of the nose and eyes and frequent sneezing are typical symptoms of an allergy.
A particularly common allergy that can cause redness of the eyes is an allergy to plant pollen, better known as hay fever. In this case, allergies to different pollen can exist and thus individual allergy symptoms of varying severity and time can occur. Also an allergy to house dust mites or animal hair as well as to certain medicines can cause reddening of the eyes as well as unspecific allergy symptoms.
Whether and against what exactly an allergy is present can be clarified in most cases by the family doctor or an allergologist. In case of uncertainty whether an infection of the eyes exists or not, a visit to an ophthalmologist can also provide clarification. A redness of the eyes which is based on an allergy can be treated only symptomatically.
So-called antihistamines in tablet form can be taken orally. These reduce not only the symptoms of the eye but also other symptoms associated with the allergy. Especially for the eyes, drugs in liquid form can be dropped into the eyes, which can significantly reduce the symptoms.
Active ingredients here are also antihistamines or so-called mast cell stabilizers such as cromoglicic acid. Since reddened eyes of unclear origin do not necessarily have to be allergies, a doctor should be consulted in these cases for safety reasons, who can confirm the diagnosis if necessary. This is important, because if it is a contagious infection an immediate therapy should be initiated or precautions for the environment must be considered.
Typical for an allergy is a significant improvement of the symptoms if the allergen is avoided. Thus the reddening improves with an existing hay fever usually in closed areas and after showering, if the allergens were removed. Swelling of the eye Cross allergy
- Swelling of the eye
- Cross Allergy
Red eyes are relatively common in children and can be caused by different triggers.
In many cases, the reddened eye has a purely mechanical cause. For example, children rub their eyes very hard when a foreign body enters the eye, causing redness. But also different eye diseases of children can be responsible for the redness.
For example, bacterial conjunctivitis is often the cause of red eyes. Pathogens such as staphylococci and streptococci are frequent triggers of these inflammations. Accompanying symptoms of such an infection are for example a foreign body sensation as well as weeping and itching eyes.
In most cases, conjunctivitis is not painful. If there is pain, it is suspected that the cornea is also inflamed. Conjunctivitis is particularly critical in newborns, as there is a suspicion of gonococcal conjunctivitis.
Since untreated conjunctivitis can lead to blindness, therapy is irreplaceable in these cases. Other diseases which should be clarified in a reddened eye of a child are iritis, glaucoma, barley grain and leather dermatitis. Also an existing allergy should be considered in case of reddened and itchy eyes.
In any case, if the child has red eyes, a pediatrician or ophthalmologist should be consulted, who can find out the cause of the symptom.By means of a so-called slit lamp, the eye can be examined and, if necessary, therapy can be initiated after the diagnosis has been made. In case of bacterial infections of the eyes, antibiotics are usually used, which can be applied to the affected eyes in the form of eye drops. The use of antibiotics for non-bacterial infections is not recommended and should be avoided.
In the case of an inflammation based on a viral cause, depending on the severity of the disease, antiviral drugs can also be used. In the case of an allergy, antihistamines can be used which can be applied either systemically in tablet form or as eye drops.