Red eyes or reddened eyes are among the most common symptoms patients complain about in relation to their eyes. Often tears and itching occur together with the reddening of the eyes, which is very uncomfortable for the patient. Therefore, it is advisable to visit an ophthalmologist as soon as possible to find out the cause and initiate appropriate treatment for red eyes.
What are red eyes?
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The ophthalmologist speaks of reddened eyes or red eyes when the eyeball has a reddish discoloration. Red eyes are a symptom of the blood supply to the veins in the eyes.
Red eyes can be an indication of various diseases or causes. In any case, an ophthalmologist should be consulted as soon as possible in order to initiate suitable treatment for red eyes.
causes
Red eyes can have a number of different causes. Red eyes are often the result of conjunctivitis, either caused by an allergy or a bacterial infection.
Especially in children, red eyes can appear as a symptom of conjunctivitis and as a side effect of a cold or an infection. In addition to the reddening of the eye, there are usually other symptoms such as itching or tears. Conspicuous in conjunctivitis are also sticky eyelid rims after sleeping.
But dry ambient air can also lead to red eyes. In some cases, the red eye can also be traced back to a broken vein, for example caused by a speck of dust. In addition, there are viral infections of the eye such as a herpes infection or injuries and foreign bodies in the eye, which must be considered as the cause of reddened eyes.
Contact lenses can also irritate the eyes so much that they become reddened. Since red eyes can also be a symptom of serious eye diseases such as glaucoma, the exact cause of red eyes must be clarified by an ophthalmologist.
You can find your medication here
➔ Medicines for eye infectionsDiseases with this symptom
- Conjunctivitis
- Ocular herpes
- allergy
- Glaucoma (green star)
- cold
- high blood pressure
Diagnosis & course
The diagnosis of red eyes is made by an ophthalmologist, who examines the eye thoroughly and asks the patient about the symptoms. If conjunctivitis is suspected, the ophthalmologist will take a swab from the reddened eye. He can determine whether the red eye is due to an allergy or an infection with bacteria or viruses.
The diagnosis should be carried out by an ophthalmologist within 24 hours of the appearance of the reddening, as reddened eyes can also be a sign of other serious eye diseases.
A treatment as soon as possible is necessary in order to have a good chance of recovery. If the underlying disease is treated quickly, there is usually a significant improvement in red eyes within a short time.
Complications
When defining the complication, the responsible disorder should be discussed. A complication in the medical field is a consequence of a disease or undesirable effect of a medicinal preparation when it is used against the same health disorder. Complications may therefore result from a misdiagnosis or from the medical measure.
Red eyes are the common complication of various diseases such as viral infections, allergies, and dry eyes. Red eyes can also burn and itch in the course of these diseases. Red eyes are caused by inflammation or defensive reactions in the body. Complications such as dry eyes are often a side effect of certain eye drops and occur in physically debilitated or elderly patients. Red eyes can be a warning sign of allergies. In order to rule out serious illnesses and their complications, the occurrence of suspicious complaints should call for an ophthalmological examination.
Sometimes the patient should be treated as an inpatient as part of the prevention or acute treatment of possible eye injuries or progressive eye diseases. The concept for outpatient treatment against the original disorder can be worked out. Red eyes are basically just one complication of many eye diseases, from very mild to endangering eyesight. Avoiding dry air, abstaining from nicotine, as well as precautionary eye exams can prevent the cause of reddened eyes. Some drugs, such as anti-diabetic drugs, cause blurred vision and reddened eyes.
When should you go to the doctor?
If the eyes are reddened or red, the whites of the eyeball appear reddish in color. The intensity of the discoloration varies from person to person. Reddened eyes are not an eye disease in their own right, but a symptom. The causes of red eyes are numerous and not always a reason to see a doctor. In some cases, however, a medical examination is urgently recommended.
The harmless causes of red eyes include dry indoor air, wind and the ingress of dust, sand or small insects. Here it is enough to wait and see. Experience has shown that avoiding or removing the suspected trigger is sufficient. If the reddening of the eyes does not improve, it is time to see a doctor. Red eyes are also common with colds or certain allergies such as hay fever. Treatment of the underlying disease usually takes place here.
The situation is different if larger foreign bodies or even chemicals have got into the eye. A doctor must then be consulted immediately in order to prevent permanent damage up to an impending loss of vision. Other causes of red eyes that require treatment are a herpes infection and glaucoma, also known as glaucoma. If none of the harmless causes mentioned above exist, an ophthalmologist should always be consulted immediately as a precaution if the eyes are good.
Doctors & therapists in your area
Treatment & Therapy
Red eyes are treated according to the underlying disease or problem. If red eyes develop due to an allergy, the ophthalmologist usually uses antiallergic or cortisone eye drops or eye ointments and in severe cases antiallergic tablets.
If the red eyes are triggered by a bacterial infection, the doctor will prescribe eye drops that contain an antibiotic and thereby kill the bacteria. If the redness is dry eyes, the use of artificial tear fluid often helps. This supplies the red eye with fluid and thus counteracts redness.
In the case of contact lens wearers, red eyes are often due to exceeding the wearing time, which is why they should not wear the contact lenses for a few days. Changing the care product and using artificial tear fluid can also significantly improve the wearing properties of contact lenses and avoid reddened eyes.
Outlook & forecast
As a rule, there are no particular complications or problems associated with red eyes. Since the red eyes are often mostly due to stress and excessive eye strain, the symptom will go away even if the trigger is gone. Without treatment, rest and a lot of sleep lead to a recovery of the eyes. It can happen that a vein bursts in the eye. This is not a problem, the vein heals within a few hours.
Treatment can take place with eye drops. A positive prognosis is also possible here. The situation is different if the reddened eyes appear very suddenly, are associated with severe headaches and other complaints such as visual disturbances or nausea. In this case, an eye clinic must be visited immediately, it is an acute glaucoma. This must be treated by an emergency doctor.
If burst veins occur more frequently in the eye, this is due to high blood pressure in the eye. Treatment then takes place with medication. In the worst case, if left untreated, reddened eyes can lead to conjunctivitis or to inflammation of other regions of the eye.
You can find your medication here
➔ Medicines for eye infectionsprevention
In order to prevent red eyes, it is advisable to ensure that the ambient air in the room is not too dry. Anyone who does their work on a computer should make sure that they get out into the fresh air frequently and in between to relieve the eyes with eye exercises. In general, a healthy lifestyle with plenty of exercise and a healthy diet can help prevent eye diseases and reddened eyes.
You can do that yourself
Red eyes can have numerous triggers. Whether and what the patient can do himself against this ailment depends on its causes. If the reddened eyes are the result of hay fever, it is important to clarify with the help of an allergist which pollen the patient is allergic to. Those affected also have to get used to studying pollen predictions and, if possible, not leaving the house or office unnecessarily on days with high levels of pollution. If you live in a rural area, you should also check whether the allergens are blooming in your own garden or in that of your neighbor. The grasses should then be removed.
If other contact allergies or food intolerances are the reason for the reddened eyes, it is also important to identify the irritants and then avoid them. People who put make-up on their eyes should do without it on a trial basis. The related cosmetics or make-up removal products are often the cause of eye irritation.
Staying in strongly heated, dry rooms and working at a computer can dry out the eyes. Here it helps to ventilate work and common rooms regularly. Sufficient breaks must be taken when working with computer screens, and you should not forget to blink. In stubborn cases, artificial tears from the pharmacy can help.
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