Eye Redness

‘Redness of the eye’ occurs due to the dilation of the blood vessels of the eye, which makes the eye look blood shot. In most cases it is a sign of inflammation or of a disease.

Commonly, redness of the eye is caused by exposure to sun or exposure to foreign bodies, dryness, infection, allergy or any other trauma.

Red eyes can also occur due to straining, as can be seen during excessive coughing. This leads to a bloody area on the sclera which usually clears up with time.

The degree of redness is not indicative of the seriousness of the condition. Usually, the redness of the eye is not a health threat and resolves on its own. However the following symptoms may indicate an underlying serious condition and may require medical attention –

Blurry Vision – Blurry vision, along with redness of the eye could indicate ocular disease and needs immediate medical attention

Pain – The inflammation caused by conjunctivitis may cause discomfort and certain amount of pain but ulcers in the cornea or acute glaucoma can cause severe pain.

Photophobia- Extreme sensitiveness to light is a sign of iritis, during which the eye’s ciliary muscle spasms and becomes inflamed. This extreme sensitivity causes severe pain and required medical attention.

Colored halos – are associated with corneal edema or acute glaucoma. If colored halo occurs with redness of the eye, then a consultation with doctor is mandatory.

Differential Diagnosis

The following are the eye conditions in which redness occurs as a symptom -

Blepharitis

Burns

Conjunctivitis

Contact lens

Corneal abrasion

Glaucoma

Herpes

Corneal Ulcer