Most of us at one time or another have had red eyes for one reason or another. While red eye is usually painless, it can be a sign of something serious. When a person has red eye, the blood vessels near the surface of the eye are typically enlarged and dilated, leading to a red appearance. While red eye can be caused by a number of relatively harmless conditions, it can be a sign of something serious and should be checked out by a qualified optometrist as soon as possible.
Causes of Red Eye
The causes are quite diverse but most common causes of the reddening or the scleara (white portion of the eye) are :
- Environment – Dry air, too much sun, dust, and allergies can all cause red eye and although irritating are typically easy to control and repair.
- Straining – Another relatively harmless, straining or coughing can sometimes lead to a “subconjunctival hemorrhage ” leading to a bloody area in the white of your eye.
- Blepharitis – A swelling on inflammation of the eyelid
- Conjunctivitis – Swelling or infection of the tissue which lines the eyelids and coats the surface of the eye.
- Corneal ulcers – Ulcers on the outer covering of the eye, usually caused by an infection
- Uveitis- Swelling of the uvea, usually related to an infection, exposure to toxins or an autoimmune disorder.
- Colds
- Acute Glaucoma – A sudden increase in eye pressure – Seek Immediate Attention
These are just some of the issues which may cause red eye. Some will require medical attention including eye drops, rest or in some cases, surgery.
If you have red eyes and are not sure what is causing it, it is important that you contact your optometrist and set up an appointment right away.
If you are in need of an eye doctor in Cheboygan, Grayling or Gaylord, Alpine Eye Care has offices in each of these northern Michigan cities and are there to help. Don’t put your vision at risk, be sure you have proper eye care from your Cheboygan Optometrist, Alpine Eye Care right away.
Contact us at 1-877-SEE-2020 or set up an appointment. Your eyes are valuable, take care of them.