When the eye is red, this usually means that the person has a certain type of eye irritation, which can occur from the driest environment, tiredness or the use of creams or makeup, which can cause an allergic reaction. In these situations, washing your face and applying lubricating eye drops often relieves symptoms.
However, redness in the eyes can also be caused by more serious problems, and therefore, when this symptom is common, slows to pass or is accompanied by other symptoms such as pain, discharge or difficulty seeing, it is advisable to consult a doctor. ophthalmologist, to identify the possible cause and initiate the most appropriate treatment.
Common eye conditions and diseases that can redness of the eyes include:
When a spot, grain of sand or eyelash can come into contact with the surface of the eye, it is normal for the eyes to become irritated and red, causing much discomfort.
What to do: In this case, washing your eyes with a saline solution or with artificial tears bought at the pharmacy, can help eliminate the foreign body, relieving pain and discomfort. It is also important to avoid rubbing your eyes or placing your fingers in the eyeball, as they may contain microorganisms that may facilitate the onset of infection.
Some people are more likely to have allergies and, as a result, may have red, irritated, and watery eyes when creams or lotions are applied to their faces. The same can also happen with the use of makeup, especially when it is not hypoallergenic or when its expiration date has passed.
Eye shadows, eyeliner, eyeliner and mascara are the most likely makeup products that can leave eyes red and irritated. In addition, body sunscreen should not be used to pass through the face as it can cause allergies in some people, and ideally use only sunscreen for the face and still be careful not to apply it too close to the eyes. .
What to do: wash your face with cold water and completely remove the traces of cream or makeup, and apply a lubricating eye drops or a few drops of physiological serum to the eyes, keeping them closed for a few minutes. Placing a cold compress can also help deflate your eyes and soothe irritation.
Scratches on the cornea or conjunctiva are very common, which can redness and irritate the eyes due to damage to eye tissue. This type of scratch can occur as a result of eye knocks, during a team match, or during a cat attack, for example, but it can also be a complication when a spot or sand enters the eye.
What to do: To reduce discomfort, it is recommended to keep your eyes closed and wait a few moments until you open them slowly. In addition, it can also help put a cold compress on your eyes for a few minutes and wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun’s rays. In any case, when a scratch is suspected in the eye, it is very important to go to the ophthalmologist to see if there are any changes that require more appropriate treatment.
People who work long hours in front of the computer, spend hours watching TV or using the tablet or mobile phone for a long time are more likely to suffer dry eye syndrome, which is a change that can redness and irritate the eyes, especially at the end of the day, due to the decrease in the amount of tears produced. To better understand what dry eye syndrome is.
What to do: To relieve symptoms of dry eye syndrome, it is recommended to try to blink more often when using a screen, as well as pouring a few drops of eye drops or artificial tears into the eyes several times a day, whenever you feel the eye dry and irritate.
Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the membrane that lines the eyelids and surface of the eye. In this case, in addition to the red eye, symptoms include pain, light sensitivity, itching and yellowish puffs, which can affect only one eye.
This inflammation is usually caused by viruses, but it can also occur due to a type of bacteria or allergy.
What to do: In the face of suspected conjunctivitis, it is always important to consult the ophthalmologist to identify the cause and initiate the most appropriate treatment, which may include the use of antibiotics, antiallergic eye drops or simply artificial tears. In addition, it is important to keep your eyes clean and free of secretions. See more details on conjunctivitis treatment.
Depending on the cause, conjunctivitis is an infection that can be easily transmitted to others. For example, it is recommended that you wash your hands regularly with soap and water, especially after cleaning your eyes or coming into contact with secretions.
Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelids that leaves the eyes red and irritated in addition to the presence of small scabs that can make it difficult to open the eyes when waking. This is a common change, but treatment can take time, especially when it is caused by a change in the Meibomius glands.
What to do: The treatment of blepharitis is to keep your eyes always clean, so it may be necessary to wash your face with a neutral child shampoo to avoid burning your eyes, and then apply a soothing compress that can be prepared with tea. cold chamomile. However, ideally blepharitis should always be evaluated by an ophthalmologist, as it can also be a sign of a bacterial infection, which requires more specific treatment. Learn more about blepharitis and how to treat it.
Uveitis is an inflammation of the eye’s uriven and can produce symptoms very similar to conjunctivitis, with redness of the eye, sensitivity to light, granules and pain. However, uveitis is much less common than conjunctivitis and occurs mainly in people with other associated diseases, especially autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or Beheet disease, and infectious diseases such as toxoplasmosis, syphilis or AIDS. Learn more about uveitis, its causes and treatment.
What to do: An ophthalmologist should be consulted to confirm the diagnosis and begin treatment, which usually involves reducing inflammation and scarring by anti-inflammatory drops and corticosteroids.
Keratitis is an inflammation of the outside of the eye, known as the cornea, which occurs mainly in people who wear contact lenses incorrectly, as it promotes the growth and development of fungi and bacteria on the outside of the eye.
The most common symptoms of keratitis include, in addition to redness of the eyes, pain, blurred vision, excessive tear production and difficulty opening the eye. See other symptoms and how keratitis is treated.
What to do: An ophthalmologist should be consulted to confirm the diagnosis, identify the correct cause and initiate the most appropriate treatment, which may include the use of eye drops or antibiotic or diffuse ointments, for example.
Glaucoma is an eye disease caused, most of the time, by increased pressure inside the eye and worsening for several months or years. During the initial phase, there may be no symptoms, but when glaucoma is more advanced, signs and symptoms such as red eyes, headaches and pain in the back of the eye may appear, for example.
Glaucoma is most common in people over the age of 40 who have a family history of the disease and who have other associated conditions.
What to do: Ideally identify glaucoma in its initial phase before causing symptoms, because treatment is easier and there is less risk of complications, such as blindness. Therefore, it is ideal to have regular consultations with the ophthalmologist. If the diagnosis is confirmed, treatment may be done with special eye drops that help reduce pressure inside the eye. Learn more about treating glaucoma.
It is important to see your doctor or hospital when eye redness is frequent and doesn’t go away over time, as it may indicate severe eye changes. Therefore, it is recommended to go to the hospital when:
In these cases, it is important that the person is observed by an ophthalmologist and tests are performed to identify the cause of the onset of symptoms so that the most appropriate treatment can be initiated.