Red eye

If you have a red eye:

• don't wear contact lens until your symptoms get better
• don't touch or rub your eyes.

A red eye is caused by the expansion of blood vessels on the white part of your eye, known as the sclera. This can be caused by a number of conditions, including:

• blepharitis (inflammation of your eyelids) 
• keratitis (inflammation of your cornea)
• conjunctivitis
• episcleritis 
• scleritis
• glaucoma
• allergy
• infection
• eye injury
• subconjunctival haemorrhage (burst blood vessels)
• environmental irritants such as dust, smoke, fumes and chemicals
• eye drops 
• dry eye.

You can see your doctor, optometrist or an ophthalmologist for a diagnosis. An optometrist is a trained healthcare provider who diagnoses and manages eye conditions. An ophthalmologist is a trained specialist doctor who manages eye conditions and performs eye surgery.

Your eye care provider will ask you about:

• whether you have a red eye on one side or both eyes
• how long you've had it
• any change to vision, discharge, pain or sensitivity to light
• any recent injury to your eye 
• other symptoms such as fever, headache, nausea or a rash
• whether you wear contact lenses
• whether you have had any recent contact with someone with a red eye. 

They will also examine your eye and perform tests if necessary to find out the cause. Read more about eye examination. 

Treatment of a red eye will be based on the specific condition you have. For example, if you have conjunctivitis, the approach will be to treat your conjunctivitis, and may include antibiotic eye drops or ointments. Dry eye is treated with lubricating eye drops. Uveitis, episcleritis and scleritis are treated with anti-inflammatory eye drops. Subconjunctival haemorrhage will clear on its own.

Acute glaucoma is a potentially blinding condition. It requires urgent specialist input and treatment with medicine, laser and potentially surgery. 

Apps reviewed by Healthify

You may find it useful to look at some Ear, nose, throat and eye health apps.