The causes of eye redness are numerous and often are not a matter of concern. Red eyes, also referred to as bloodshot eyes, are the result of enlarged blood vessels within the eye that give the whites of the eyes a red appearance. Redness in the eyes can be resolved in a number of ways, some of which require little more than warm water or a saline solution.
Step 1
Try using eyedrops to rid your eyes of redness. Tilt your head back; pull your lower eyelid down using your fingertips, forming a pocket, and deposit one to two drops in each eye. Saline eyedrops or “artificial tears” can help relieve red eyes caused by allergies and sinuses, according to the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center.
Step 2
Apply a warm compress to your eye if a sty is causing redness. A sty is a painful lump that develops in the corner of the eyelid. Dampening a washcloth with warm water and placing it over your closed eyelids, four to five times a day for 10 minutes, should help the sty to drain and reduce redness in two to three days. Medical attention is required if the sty fails to drain.
Step 3
Treat eye redness caused by lack of sleep or strain with a washcloth dampened with cold water or stick it in the freezer for five to 10 minutes. Apply the cold compress to your closed eyes for 10 minutes several times a day until eye redness resolves. The cold compress will provide cool relief to your tired eyes, helping to reduce dilated blood vessels, according to the website All About Vision.
Tips and Warnings
- A warm compress can relieve redness caused by blepharitis, a condition that involves the inflammation of the eyelash follicles.
- Contact your physician immediately if redness persists or if the redness is only in one eye and accompanies a severe headache, or if you have impaired vision. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that this may be a sign of an underlying health condition, such as a stroke or acute glaucoma. Conjunctivitis is also a cause of eye redness, which may require an antibiotic prescription from your doctor.
Things You'll Need
- Saline eyedrops
- Warm water
- Washcloth
- Cold water
