Red Eye
Red Eye and Its Treatment
You might find it alarming to see a red eye, or even a pair of red eyes, looking back at you in the mirror. Eye redness can have many causes, signaling everything from mild irritation to a serious condition. The good news is that we can diagnose and treat the underlying cause of redness and any accompanying symptoms.
Why You Might Have Red Eyes
Whenever something damages or irritates the tissues of your eyes, the blood vessels in those tissues can grow enlarged and inflamed. When this reaction affects the white of the eye, the eye takes on a noticeable pink or red coloration. Eye redness can be triggered by:
- Bacterial or viral infections
- Digital eye strain
- A break in one of the eye’s blood vessels
- Glaucoma
- Allergies
- Pollutants
- Eyelid conditions such as blepharitis
Other symptoms such as pain, tenderness, itching, blurred vision, or light sensitivity can accompany redness in one or both eyes. While home care techniques can relieve some of these symptoms, it might be a good idea to schedule an exam in case your eyes need professional treatment, especially if the condition is chronic.
Diagnosis and Treatment
We can examine your eyes while discussing your symptoms, medical history, and lifestyle with you to find the cause of the eye redness. You may simply be subjecting your eyes to too many long hours of computer work, in which case more frequent breaks might solve the problem.
If you have a sensitivity to environmental irritants, you may benefit from prescription eye drops such as antihistamines or ophthalmic steroids. Frequent infections may require you to alter your home hygiene or eye makeup habits. If your contact lenses cause or contribute to your red eyes, you may need to clean your contacts more frequently or switch to a different contact lens solution.
Get a Contact Lens Exam or Eye Exam
Don’t let a prolonged or painful case of eye redness go unaddressed, especially if it involves visual disturbances or other symptoms that might point to a serious eye problem. Call us at (808) 329-3535 today to schedule an eye exam or contact lens exam. Our office is always here to help so don’t ignore or live with symptoms that can be readily treated!
Location
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
Contact
Fax: 888-504-0018
Hours
1:00-4:30pm