Are Red Eyes Really That Serious?

"Red eyes" is an umbrella term to describe eyes that are bloodshot for any reason. The redness comes from swelling of blood vessels near the eye’s surface. What’s more important, though, is why the blood vessels swell. 

Everyone gets red eyes now and then, but an eye that’s constantly red isn't normal.

If you have red eyes that are irritated, sore, itchy, or painful, ophthalmologist Luis C. Omphroy, MD, and our team at Omphroy Eye Care in Aiea, Hawaii, can diagnose the underlying cause and treat it effectively.

We offer same-day appointments, so we can determine if the cause is serious and so you can feel better as quickly as possible.

Causes of red eyes — serious or not

Red eyes may or may not be serious; it really depends on the underlying cause. You can get a speck of dust or pollen in your eye that can irritate it, causing redness. But you can wash the dust out or take an antihistamine for the seasonal allergy, and you’re fine. 

If your blood vessels are swollen from glaucoma, you’re in the process of losing your peripheral vision, and that’s far more serious.

There are many different causes of red eyes. Here are a number of the more common ones, including their severity and how we treat them.

Allergies

Seasonal allergies often come with burning and itching symptoms. The redness, though, comes from the blood vessels dilating in the front part of the eye. That leads to fluid accumulation and swelling in the eye. 

At-home remedies include cold compresses, over-the-counter (OTC) artificial tears, and OTC allergy medications. Systemic (affecting the whole body) allergy medications can actually dry out your eyes, so Dr. Omphroy may prescribe eyedrops specifically formulated to address your allergy symptoms.

Pink eye (conjunctivitis)

Pink eye is an infection or swelling of the conjunctiva, the clear layer that covers the front part of the eye and protects it. Pink eye can be the result of bacteria, viruses, toxic substances, or allergies. It's a common condition, but it’s usually not serious. 

If you have a bacterial infection, Dr. Omphroy can prescribe antibiotics. For viral or allergic conjunctivitis, the best treatments are compresses, fluids, and rest; the infection will clear on its own.

But if the redness is accompanied by pain and vision changes, come into our office as soon as possible so Dr. Omphroy can determine what else is going on.

Blepharitis

Blepharitis is the result of impacted oil glands that can't release the tear film’s oily layer, causing eyelid inflammation. 

The condition isn’t infectious, and it doesn’t permanently damage your eyesight, but you may have uncomfortable symptoms: red and swollen eyelids, excessive tearing and itching, and crusting. 

To address the symptoms, maintain good eyelid hygiene. That means removing makeup fully and cleaning your lids and lashes with eyelid wipes. If these don’t help, Dr. Omphroy may prescribe antibiotics or other medications to address the problem.

Uveitis

Uveitis is the inflammation of the eye's uvea, the middle layer of the eyeball. Symptoms can occur abruptly and worsen quickly, causing redness, pain, floaters, blurry vision, and light sensitivity. 

Dr. Omphroy typically takes a two-pronged approach. He prescribes a steroid to address the inflammation and swelling, and he tries to determine the underlying cause. If he identifies it, he treats that as well. 

We must treat uveitis quickly to prevent complications, which include uveitic glaucoma or retinal and choroidal scarring.

Corneal abrasions and ulcers

Scratches on the cornea may arise from a blow to the eye, a foreign object in the eye, or wearing contact lenses, and those scratches can lead to an infection. Ulcers, slow-healing wounds, may develop as a result of that infection. 

Blood vessels near the wound become enlarged as immune cells flood the area, causing visible redness. 

In addition to being painful, a scratch or ulcer may cause itchiness, discharge, blurred vision, a white spot on the cornea, and light sensitivity. 

If you have any of these symptoms, make a same-day appointment with Dr. Omphroy, as the condition has the potential to lead to vision loss. Treatment depends on the severity of the wound.

Acute angle-closure glaucoma

Another condition that can lead to vision loss is acute angle-closure glaucoma, which occurs when the fluid pressure inside the eye rises quickly, leading to sudden redness, severe pain, and blurred vision in just one eye. 

If you experience these symptoms, you're having a medical emergency. Call our office immediately to get timely treatment.

Get help for red eyes

So, are red eyes really that serious? They can be. That’s why you should come into Omphroy Eye Care for an evaluation with Dr. Omphroy. Contact us today to make a same-day appointment so we can determine the severity of your condition and treat it accordingly.