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Red eyes, also called bloodshot eyes, happen when the small blood vessels on the surface of the eye become enlarged or irritated. This can be caused by something simple, such as tiredness, dry eyes, allergies or screen strain, but it can also be linked to infection, injury, contact lens issues or inflammation inside the eye.
Most red eyes are not serious, but some need prompt care. If your red eye is painful, affects your vision, causes light sensitivity, follows an injury or does not improve, it is best to have it checked by an optometrist.
At E Eye Place in Port Coogee, we assess red and irritated eyes by looking at the eye surface, eyelids, tear film, contact lens use and overall eye health to find out what is causing the problem.
Red eyes are common, and in many cases they are caused by mild irritation. For example, your eyes might look red after a long day on screens, exposure to wind, poor sleep, swimming, allergies or dry indoor air.
However, a red eye should not be ignored if it feels painful, looks very different from normal or comes with other symptoms.
You should seek prompt eye care if redness is linked with:
A simple red eye and a serious red eye can sometimes look similar in the early stages. That is why an eye check can be helpful when symptoms are unusual, persistent or one-sided.
Red eyes are a symptom, not a diagnosis. The redness usually means the eye surface is irritated or inflamed, but the reason behind it can vary.
Below are some of the more common causes.
Dry eyes can make your eyes look red, sore, gritty, watery or tired. Some people describe it as a burning feeling, while others feel like there is sand in the eye.
Dry eye can happen when your eyes do not produce enough tears, or when the tear film is unstable and evaporates too quickly. It can be made worse by:
If dryness is a recurring issue, our dry eye clinic can help identify the cause and recommend treatment options suited to your symptoms, lifestyle and eye health.
Allergies often cause red, itchy and watery eyes. The eyelids may also look puffy or swollen.
Common triggers include:
Allergic red eyes are often itchy rather than painful. They may affect both eyes and can come and go depending on the trigger. Avoiding the trigger can help, but ongoing allergy symptoms may need targeted eye drops or other support.
Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the clear tissue that covers the white of the eye and the inside of the eyelids. It is one of the most common reasons people develop red eyes.
Conjunctivitis may be:
Symptoms may include redness, watering, discharge, crusting, itchiness, grittiness or mild discomfort. Some types are contagious, so hand hygiene, avoiding eye rubbing and not sharing towels or makeup can help reduce spread.
Not every case of conjunctivitis needs antibiotic drops. The right treatment depends on the cause, which is why it is worth getting checked if symptoms are worsening, lasting more than a few days or affecting vision.
Blepharitis is inflammation of the eyelids. It often affects the lash line and can be linked with blocked meibomian glands, which are the tiny oil glands in the eyelids.
These glands help stabilise the tear film. When they are not working well, the eyes can become red, dry, gritty and watery.
Common signs include:
Blepharitis and blocked oil glands are often long-term conditions that need ongoing care. Warm compresses, lid cleaning and dry eye treatment may help, but the best approach depends on what is happening on the eye surface and eyelids.
Contact lenses can cause red eyes if they are worn too long, cleaned incorrectly, fitted poorly or worn while sleeping or swimming.
A red eye in a contact lens wearer needs extra care because contact lenses sit directly on the eye surface. In some cases, redness and discomfort may involve the cornea, which is the clear front window of the eye.
You should remove your contact lenses if your eye is red, sore or uncomfortable. Do not reinsert them until the issue has been checked.
If your eyes are often red or uncomfortable when wearing lenses, a contact lens consultation can help check the fit, lens type, wearing schedule and overall eye surface health.
Long periods of screen use can make your eyes feel tired, dry and irritated. When we use screens, we tend to blink less often, which can cause the tear film to dry out faster.
This can lead to:
Screen-related redness is usually mild, but it can become more noticeable if you also have dry eye, poor tear quality or uncorrected vision issues.
Regular breaks, good lighting and the right prescription can all help reduce eye strain.
A subconjunctival haemorrhage is a small burst blood vessel on the white of the eye. It can look alarming because it often appears as a bright red patch.
In many cases, it is painless and clears on its own. It can happen after coughing, sneezing, straining, heavy lifting or minor rubbing.
You should have it checked if:
Even when it is harmless, it is understandable to feel concerned because the redness can look dramatic.
An eye injury, scratch, chemical splash or foreign body can cause redness, watering, pain and light sensitivity.
Examples include:
Do not rub the eye if you think something is stuck in it. If there has been chemical exposure, the eye should be flushed immediately with clean running water and urgent medical help should be sought.
Redness after injury should be taken seriously, especially if vision changes or the eye is difficult to open.
Uveitis is inflammation inside the eye. Iritis is a type of uveitis that affects the front part of the eye.
This is different from simple surface irritation. It can cause:
Uveitis can sometimes be linked with inflammatory health conditions, infections or previous eye issues. It usually needs prompt diagnosis and treatment to reduce the risk of complications.
Acute angle-closure glaucoma is less common, but it is an eye emergency.
It can cause:
This condition happens when the pressure inside the eye rises suddenly. It needs urgent medical treatment.
If you have a red painful eye with nausea, vomiting, halos or sudden vision changes, seek urgent care.
Red eyes can come with a wide range of symptoms. The combination of symptoms often gives clues about what may be causing the redness.
Common symptoms include:
It is especially important to pay attention to pain, light sensitivity and vision changes. These symptoms are less typical of simple irritation and should be checked promptly.
You should book an eye test if your red eyes last more than a few days, keep coming back, involve discharge or swelling, or are linked to contact lens wear.
You should also book an appointment if you are unsure what is causing the redness or if over-the-counter drops are not helping.
A red eye is not always urgent, but these warning signs should not be ignored.
Red eye treatment depends on the cause. That is why it is best not to guess, especially if symptoms are painful, recurring or affecting your vision.
An optometrist may recommend:
Some people use redness-relief drops to make their eyes look whiter. These may provide short-term cosmetic improvement, but they do not always treat the cause of the problem. In some cases, frequent use can make redness worse.
The goal should be to find out why the eye is red, then treat the cause properly.
If your red eyes are mild and there are no warning signs, simple home care may help.
You can try:
Do not use old prescription eye drops, steroid drops or antibiotic drops unless they have been prescribed for your current eye condition.
If symptoms do not improve, it is better to have your eyes checked rather than keep trying different drops.
Children can develop red eyes for many of the same reasons as adults, including viral conjunctivitis, allergies, irritation, dryness, rubbing or minor infection.
However, children may not always describe their symptoms clearly. Instead, you may notice changes in behaviour.
Watch for:
A mild red eye may settle quickly, but children should be checked if there is pain, discharge, swelling, light sensitivity, vision changes or symptoms that keep coming back.
Contact lens wearers should be careful with red eyes. Even if the redness seems mild, contact lens-related irritation can sometimes become more serious if it affects the cornea.
If your eye becomes red while wearing contact lenses:
If your eyes often feel dry, red or uncomfortable in contact lenses, it may not mean you need to stop wearing them altogether. You may need a different lens material, fit, replacement schedule or dry eye support.
A contact lens consultation can help assess whether your current lenses are still suitable for your eyes.
You cannot prevent every red eye, but you can reduce common triggers.
Helpful habits include:
Prevention depends on your personal risk factors. For example, someone with dry eye may need a different plan from someone with allergy-related redness or contact lens irritation.
At E Eye Place in Port Coogee, we assess red and irritated eyes with a focus on finding the cause, not just calming the redness.
We may look at:
From there, we can recommend the most suitable next step. This may include dry eye care, lid hygiene, contact lens changes, eye drops, monitoring or referral if urgent medical treatment is needed.
If your red eyes are ongoing, uncomfortable or affecting your vision, book an appointment with our team.
