Red eyes are a common eye condition that every one of us has faced several times in our life. The causes behind this issue can be many. Fortunately, it can be treated through simple home remedies.
Although in serious cases of red eyes accompanied by pain, you might have to pay your optometrist a visit. But we’ll get to that part later.
First thing’s first. What exactly are red eyes and what causes them to become red? These are the basic questions regarding this eye condition and we’ll be going through these first. Your eyes become red when the vessels inside them either enlarge or get irritated due to some reason. Curious to know the potential causes of your eye vessels behaving like this? Let us dive into the causes of red eyes.
Causes of Red Eyes
Your red eyes might be interlinked with a number of factors. Your eye vessels may be inflamed due to some of the following causes.
- Overuse of eyes
- Not enough sleep
- Excessive looking at digital screens
- Dryness
- Excessive exposure to the sun
- Infections
- Smoking
- Allergies
- Improper use of contact lenses
These are some common causes of red eyes. Almost all of them can be treated through simple home remedies. However, depending upon the intensity, your bloodshot eyes might also be a symptom of a bigger problem. Researches have shown that red eyes are a symptom of a common eye disease known as glaucoma. If we take a step back, we might also be dealing with a possible eye infection. However, unless the redness is accompanied by pain, there is a high probability that your eyes just need some rest and home treatment.
Treatment of Red Eyes
So, what are the steps to deal with red eyes? Here are a few!
- No Touching
The first and foremost rule of treating red eyes is to keep your hands away from the surface of your eye. You’d be tempted to rub and squish your eyes but avoid doing that. Or else the redness and irritation will get even worse.
- Comfort the Eye
Covering your eyes with a warm cloth might help a lot in lessening the redness. Furthermore, if you wear contact lenses, remove them immediately and wear spectacles instead.
- Take a Nap
Red eyes are often caused due to overuse of eyes or no proper sleep. Put the screens away for a while and give your eyes a break. In most cases, a nap is an optimal solution for dealing with plain red eyes.
- Try Home Remedies
If the above-mentioned steps don’t help then look for home remedies. Putting sliced pieces of cucumbers can greatly help revitalize your eyes. You can easily find dozens of effective home remedies done just with fruits and veggies.
- Seek Medical Attention
In the case of redness combined with blurred vision or pain, it is best to seek medical assistance immediately. Since two or more common eye issues at the same time are never a good sign.
Treating red eyes is easy but preventing them is even easier. Make sure you get at least 8 hours of sleep every 24 hours for healthy eyes.