The white part of your eye, called the sclera, contains many blood vessels that nourish the surrounding tissues. If these vessels swell, you may notice that your eyes look red or bloodshot. In some cases this may result from a medical condition, lack of sleep or exposure to environmental elements such as wind and sun. Your nutritional intake may play a role in eye redness, particularly if you have an inadequate intake of lysine.
Lysine
Lysine is an amino acid that your body needs for providing you with energy and other processes. Your body does not make lysine, and this requires you to have an adequate intake of lysine through food or supplements. People who have the greatest risk for a deficiency of lysine are burn victims, athletes and vegans, explains the University of Maryland Medical Center. If you do not have enough lysine in your system, this could result in redness in the eyes. Other signs of low lysine levels include tiredness, loss of appetite, dizziness and nausea.
Sources
Supplements that contain lysine come in oral tablets, creams and liquid form. Food sources that contain lysine include beans, dairy products, soybeans, eggs and nuts. Meat contains lysine, and the best sources may stem from red meats, such as beef, as well as chicken, turkey and pork. Fish, including cod and sardines, will also provide you with lysine. If you have a low lysine level or have a risk for low levels, your doctor can help you create a dietary plan appropriate for you.
Other Causes
Eye redness may also result from causes besides low lysine levels or environmental factors. You may have red or bloodshot eyes as a result of an eye infection, such as pink eye or allergic conjunctivitis. Other symptoms often accompany redness caused by an infection, and these symptoms may include itching, eyelid inflammation and watery eyes. If you do not have enough tears to adequately cover the surface of your eyes, you may have dry eyes, and this could cause redness. Conditions that involve the eyelids, such as blepharitis, may also cause these symptoms. If you have inflammation of the structures inside your eye, such as the iris, you may also experience eye redness.
Considerations
If you experience a red eye that does not seem to improve and that accompanies other symptoms, contact your doctor for an evaluation. She may recommend blood work to evaluate the levels of lysine in your body, but she will also examine your eyes to look for other causes, such as an eye infection.
