Causes Of Blood Shot Eyes – How To Fix Red Eyes

Almost every individual has experienced red, bloodshot eyes at least once. The tiny blood vessels on the eyes’ white dilate, giving it a pinkish or reddish tint, depending on the severity. The red, bloodshot eyes look scary and may need immediate treatment. However, before that, knowing the causes of bloodshot eyes is important.

While most times, red eyes are just due to tiredness and may not hamper your routine; sometimes it may accompany pain, blurry vision, and headache. Therefore, those wanting to know why my eyes are bloodshot should read this blog and learn the major causes and treatments to fix the issue. 

A] Top 10+ Causes Of Blood Shot Eyes 

There are multiple reasons for bloodshot eyes, from irritation to lack of sleep. The following points shed light on these factors briefly mentioning red eye causes and treatment:

1. Dry Eyes

Dry eyes are a medical condition where your eyes cannot moisten themselves. Either your eyes can’t produce tears, or your tears’ texture may differ. It means that the tears evaporate too quickly. 

The dry eye is quite uncomfortable. It may lead to irritation, grittiness, and red eyes. Environmental factors like wind, smoke, and dry air increase the risk factors for dry eyes.

To treat this condition, patients must use artificial tears and maintain good eye hydration to treat this condition. Also, spending less time on screen and covering your eyes when you go out is important to prevent the symptoms of dry eyes.

2. Allergies

Allergies from outdoor or indoor triggers, like pollen, dust, mould, etc., can cause red eyes. Due to allergies, you may experience itching, burning, and a blotchy redness that worsens upon scratching. Your eyes may also feel watery and tender.

One or both eyes might be affected by allergies. It may result in eye pain, and blurry vision in severe cases. Eye allergy may accompany nose allergy in certain people.

To treat this condition, staying away from potential triggers is the important.. Other solutions for how to get rid of bloodshot eyes due to allergies are as follows:

• Antihistamine medicines
• Over-the-counter eyedrops for allergies
• A cool compress or washcloth over closed eyes

3. Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)

When your eyelid lining and white of the eye become inflamed, you will get diagnosed with conjunctivitis or pink eye. This issue usually occurs due to a virus or bacteria and is better treated by an eye surgeon in Adelaide.

If you wake up with a painful, bloodshot eye in the morning, it might be due to conjunctivitis. Although it is rare to get severe, pink eye can keep you from work because of the discomfort. You may be teary-eyed throughout the day, along with sticky discharge.

It is advisable to stay home as this condition is very contagious and may require antibiotic drops for bacterial conjunctivitis. The viral pink eye can resolve on its own.

4. Eye Strain

In this digital age, it’s difficult to let your eyes rest. Constantly scrolling reels, binge-watching movies and series, working in front of a laptop/ PC, studying online, and much more significantly strain the eye.

Due to eye strain, you may get red, tired eyes and discomfort. If you want to prevent this situation, following the 20-20-20 rule is crucial. It involves taking a 20-second break to look at something 20 feet away every 20 minutes. Other ways to reduce eye strain include proper lighting and screen filters.

5. Lack of Sleep

If you don’t sleep for sufficient hours, you will have dryness and tired red eyes. The surface of your eyes doesn’t get adequately lubricated when you don’t sleep, and keep them open for a long time. 

A regular sleep schedule is necessary to create a restful environment for your eyes. However, if the problem persists, over-the-counter drops can work wonders. You can consult a healthcare provider for the same.

6. Contact Lens Issues

Contact lenses may irritate if you don’t care for or use them properly. Also, when you wear one for a long time, you get limited oxygen to your cornea. Sometimes, when you sleep with contact lenses, you may complain about why you woke up with bloodshot eyes in the morning.

Overusing contact lenses for a long time can also lead to keratitis or corneal ulcers. These issues can even lead to vision loss. Thus, following the recommended contact lens wear and care guidelines is crucial. Additionally, consult an eye specialist to diagnose and treat the issue effectively.

7. Environmental Irritants

Your surroundings may be polluted- full of smoke and chemical fumes. If your eyes come in contact with these irritants, it can lead to red eyes. The sand, dust, and such things in the air can lead to scratches on the cornea, which may be why your eyes get red. 

UV exposure can also cause damage to the surface of your eyes which can lead to red eyes. On the other hand, chemical fumes and liquid going into the eyes can lead to vision loss.

Now, how do you fix red eyes due to environmental irritation? You must wear sunglasses/ protective eyewear whenever you go out. Using air purifiers at home and avoiding exposure to these irritants can reduce the risk of bloodshot eyes. When you get severely affected, it’s better to consult a doctor. 

If you’re looking for squint eye treatment, consult a specialist with adequate experience.
 

8. Uveitis

The middle part of the eye is called the uvea, found between the retina and the white part of the eye. When it gets inflamed, the condition is called Uveitis. This condition can lead to redness in the eyes, pain, blurred vision, and sensitivity to light.

You may suffer from this problem because of autoimmune diseases, specific infections, some types of cancers, etc. If you leave Uveitis untreated, you may experience severe implications. Thus, prompt medical attention is a must for Uveitis.

 To treat this problem, corticosteroid eye drops or oral medications can help reduce the inflammation. Rest, following up with an ophthalmologist is recommended.

9. Glaucoma

Due to the fluid buildup and intraocular pressure, you may suffer from acute glaucoma. The pressure damages the optic nerve that connects the brain to the eye. Bloodshot eyes can be a symptom of acute angle-closure glaucoma, a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment to prevent vision loss. 

When you experience bloodshot eyes due to glaucoma, you may face severe eye pain, headache, nausea, and halos around lights. The treatment for red eyes due to glaucoma includes medications, laser therapy, and surgery. 

However, detecting this problem early is important because it may lead to irreversible vision loss.

10. Subconjunctival Hemorrhage

Subconjunctival Hemorrhage occurs when a blood vessel in your eye bursts. It leads to blood leaking on the eye’s surface, turning the white part of your eye, red. It may happen for various reasons, like a strong sneeze, heavy lifting, hard vomiting, or rubbing the eyes too hard.

This condition looks serious, but it is usually harmless and goes away without any treatment. It doesn’t affect your vision. If it does, you need to consult a doctor straight away. 

11. Pterygium

Pterygium, also known as “surfer’s eye,” is a growth of fleshy tissue on the white part of the eye that can extend onto the cornea. This condition is often caused by prolonged UV light, wind, and dust exposure. 

Pterygium can cause bloodshot eyes, irritation, and in some cases, blurred vision. To prevent this condition, wearing UV-protective sunglasses and using artificial tears can be beneficial. In more severe cases, surgical removal may be necessary. You can consider consulting a specialist for pterygium surgery in Adelaide.

Conclusion

If you’re wondering, “Why do I have bloodshot eyes,” the above points answer it perfectly. Red eyes are commondue to lack of sleep to conditions like glaucoma. In most cases, it goes away itself with better sleep or over-the-counter drops. However, other cases may require immediate attention, diagnosis, and treatment. Thus, consulting good eye specialists is crucial for your eye’s well-being.

Dr. Swati Sinkar

Dr. Swati Sinkar is a dedicated and experienced General Ophthalmologist with a special interest in cataract surgery, Pterygium surgery, eyelid malpositions, glaucoma treatment, Macular degeneration treatment, and paediatric ophthalmic conditions. She has been extensively trained in Australia and overseas and was awarded a Fellowship from RANZCO in 2015. Passionate about preventing paediatric blindness, she established neonatal screening for Retinopathy of Prematurity in Northern Adelaide at Lyell McEwin Hospital. Dr. Sinkar mentors trainees, teaches internationally, and values evidence-based medicine, with numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals. Outside work, she enjoys cooking, travel, cricket, and badminton.