Bloodshot Eyes
Bloodshot Eyes
Out with the Red
As eye problems go, bloodshot eyes are easy to self-diagnose: The tiny network of blood vessels on the surface of your eyeballs (barely noticeable, most times) are swollen and your eyes are red.
Anything that irritates your eyes can leave them instantly bloodshot: Wind. Crying. A smoke-filled room. An allergic reaction to pets. Mold. Even troublesome makeup.
And, yes, drinking too much alcohol can cause the blood vessels to dilate and redden, says Anne Sumers, M.D., an ophthalmologist in Ridgewood, New Jersey, and a spokeswoman for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Often when your eyes are red, they are also dry, so they feel and look uncomfortable.
FOR CLEAR EYES, READ THIS
To shrink those blood vessels and get the red out, try following these tips from experts.
Chill. Applying a cold compress to your eyes for 30 minutes will shrink your swollen blood vessels, says Dr. Sumers. "Wrap ice cubes in a clean washcloth or just use a damp washcloth. It brings the swelling way down."
Artificial tears to the rescue. They won't whiten your eyes immediately, but they will lubricate and remoisten, ease that stinging feeling and clear up the underlying irritation that makes your eyes red, says Dr. Sumers.
Artificial tears, such as Moisture Drops, Hypotears and Tears Naturale, are available over the counter at your local drugstore.
If you wear contacts, rewetting drops will work. They serve the same function as artificial tears, says Dr. Sumers.
Use medicated eyedrops only in an emergency. Over-the-counter eyedrops, such as Murine and Visine, are medicated; they contain a vasoconstrictive substance that will shrink your blood vessels for about 45 minutes.
So if you need to show up at an important meeting with crystal-clear eyes, it's okay to pop in a few drops, says Dr. Sumers. But use medicated drops sparingly. The more you use medicated eyedrops, the more you need them, says Dr. Sumers. "It's a medical situation that we call rebound hyperemia." If your eyes are chronically bloodshot, you need to find out why and not just mask the symptom.
When To See A Doctor
If your eyes are still red after a day, see your doctor. Bloodshot eyes may be a sign of a foreign body trapped in your eye, allergies or infection, says Anne Sumers, M.D., an ophthalmologist in Ridgewood, New Jersey, and a spokeswoman for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. If you get a strong chemical or poison, such as ammonia, in your eye, flush your eye with water and call 911 immediately (or have someone call for you). If you're in pain or have vision loss from an injury to the eye (like getting whipped in the eye by a branch), call your doctor immediately.
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