Brief overview
- Causes: e.g. dry eyes, conjunctivitis (e.g. due to an allergy), corneal inflammation, iris dermatitis, glaucoma, burst veins in the eye, lack of sleep, dry room air, dust or cigarette smoke, trauma, UV rays, drafts, toxins, cosmetics, contact lenses; reddened eyelids e.g. due to hailstones and styes
- What helps against red eyes? Depending on the cause, e.g. moisturizing eye drops, anti-allergic medication (antihistamines), antibiotics, antivirals, cortisone, treatment of possible underlying diseases.
- What you can do yourself: e.g. get enough sleep, avoid tobacco smoke, drafts and UV radiation, avoid allergy triggers if possible, avoid contact lenses, relaxation exercises for the eyes, cold compresses
Red eyes: Causes
In most cases, there is a harmless cause behind it. For example, after a night of drinking in a smoky room, red veins are often visible in the eye. With sufficient sleep and avoidance of smoke-filled air, this eye redness generally disappears on its own. However, sometimes red eyes are caused by (serious) medical conditions.
Here is an overview of common factors that can cause red and irritated eyes:
- Lack of sleep
- Dry room air
- Dust
- Air conditioning or drafts
- UV rays
- Eye irritation caused by contact lenses or cosmetic products
Conditions that can cause red eyes include:
- Conjunctivitis (inflammation of the conjunctiva), for example allergic conjunctivitis
- Corneal inflammation (keratitis)
- Inflammation of the middle part of the eye in the anterior segment (anterior uveitis such as iris uveitis)
- inflammation of the connective tissue layer between the sclera and conjunctiva (episcleritis)
- Inflammation of the eyelids (blepharitis)
- Glaucoma or acute glaucoma attack (glaucoma)
- Sjögren’s syndrome
- Ocular herpes
- Tumors
- Ophthalmorosacea (form of rosacea affecting the eyes)
- Atopic diseases (for example neurodermatitis)
Blunt trauma such as a blow to the eye, severe rubbing, or eye surgery also cause reddened eyes.
Red eyes & allergy
Red eyes are a common symptom of allergy. The conjunctiva contains many immune cells that can react hypersensitively to substances that are actually harmless, such as pollen, mold spores or the droppings of dust mites. They then release chemical substances that trigger inflammatory processes in the eye – allergic conjunctivitis develops. A distinction is made between three forms:
- atopic conjunctivitis: This is a year-round allergic reaction of the eyes: red, burning and itchy eyes are caused by dust mites, animal dander (e.g. from cats) or other non-seasonal allergens.
Conjunctivitis – whether allergic or due to other causes – is one of the most common reasons for red eyes.
Reddened eyelids
Red eyelids with stuck eyelashes are a typical symptom of blepharitis. The conjunctiva is then also often slightly reddened. The cause of the inflammation is clogged sebaceous glands at the edge of the eyelid. People who suffer from excessive sebum production and thus often also from acne, neurodermatitis or rosacea are susceptible to blepharitis.
Hyposhagma
Do you have a single red eye? The cause is often a burst blood vessel under the conjunctiva. Doctors refer to this as hyposphagma. The bleeding under the conjunctiva is visible as a sharply defined red spot in the eye. This can look frightening, but is usually not a cause for concern. Burst veins in the eye heal on their own.
If you have frequent burst veins in your eye, you should have your blood pressure levels checked by a doctor.
Red eyes: accompanying symptoms
Red eyes often do not occur alone. Common accompanying symptoms include:
- Watering eyes
- Burning eyes
- Dry eyes
- Itchy eyes
- Eye pain
- Swollen eyes
- Feeling of pressure on the eyeball
- Foreign body sensation in the eye
- Secretion discharge from the eye (purulent, watery, mucous)
- Clogged eyes (especially in the morning)
Red eyes: When to see a doctor?
If redness of the eyes is accompanied by one or more of the following symptoms, a visit to the doctor is necessary:
- sudden severe eye pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- rash on the face (especially around the eyes or on the tip of the nose)
- decreased visual acuity
- visual disturbances
- open wound on the cornea
- fever
Also, if the red eyes are caused by a foreign body in the eye (metal splinters, chemicals, etc.), you should see a doctor immediately.
First, the doctor will discuss your medical history with you in detail (anamnesis). This is followed by various examinations to clarify the red eyes (and possibly other symptoms).
Medical history
During the anamnesis, the doctor may ask you the following questions, for example:
- How long has the eye redness existed?
- Have you had red eyes before?
- Do you have other symptoms besides the eye redness (such as eye pain, itching, etc., fever, headache, etc.)?
- Has your vision changed?
- Is there an injury to the eye?
- Are you wearing contact lenses?
- Did you get foreign bodies or other substances in your eye (dust, splinters, etc.)?
- Are you taking any medications?
- Are you allergic?
Examinations
Various examinations also help to find out the reason for the eye redness. The doctor checks, for example, the size of the pupil, the reaction of the eyes to incident light, and eye movements. The following examinations can also be informative:
- Eye test
- Slit lamp examination (to evaluate different parts of the eye)
- @ Tear fluid examination
- Allergy test
- Swab from the eye (if an infectious cause is suspected)
Red eyes: treatment
Reddened, dry eyes can be treated with
If the cause of red eyes is a bacterial conjunctivitis, eye drops or ointments with added antibiotics often help. In certain cases, it may also be necessary to take antibiotics, for example in the case of conjunctivitis due to a chlamydia infection. Viral conjunctivitis can only be treated symptomatically, for example with artificial tears and eye drops containing cortisone.
If an allergy is responsible for inflamed conjunctiva (allergic conjunctivitis), the allergen should be avoided if possible. In addition, anti-allergic agents (antihistamines) in the form of eye drops or tablets can relieve the reddened eyes and any other allergy symptoms. In cases of severe allergy, eye drops containing cortisone may be useful.
Red eyes: What you can do yourself
For red, dry eyes, there are various moisturizing eye drops that are available over the counter. However, it is better to discuss their use with a doctor first. Perhaps there is a disease behind the dry eyes that needs treatment.
If the eye redness is caused by mascara, eye cream or other cosmetic products, it is said: Hands off it! It is better to switch to a product that is better tolerated.
Do you have red, dry eyes because you’ve been staring at a screen (computer, TV, etc.) for too long? Then relaxation exercises for the eyes are a good idea. Some examples:
- Consciously look closely at things at different distances (keep your eyes focused!).
- Place your thumbs on your temples and massage the upper edge of the eye socket (from the root of the nose outwards) with your index fingers.
- While working at a computer screen, you should often close your eyes for a few seconds. You can also try typing a few sentences “blind”.
If a solid foreign object such as dust or metal splinters causes the eye redness, first aid measures and then a visit to the doctor are indicated.
Home remedies for red eyes
Instead of damp cotton cloths, you can also place a grain pillow (e.g. cherry pit pillow), which you have previously cooled in the freezer, on the eyes. Or you can use cold packs. However, do not place these directly on the reddened eyes, but first wrap them in a cotton cloth.
Home remedies have their limits. If the discomfort persists for a long time, does not get better or even gets worse, you should always consult a doctor.
