Eye Redness

What is it?

A red eye results from dilation or inflammation of conjunctival or episcleral blood vessels. It is one of the most common reasons for eye-related medical visits. Most red eyes are benign — conjunctivitis (viral or bacterial), dry eye, or subconjunctival hemorrhage. The clinical priority is identifying the small but important subset of red eyes that indicate serious pathology: acute angle-closure glaucoma, anterior uveitis, corneal ulcer, or scleritis. Pain, photophobia, and visual changes are the red flags that distinguish urgent from non-urgent presentations.

Common causes

When to see a doctor

• 1Eye pain (not just irritation), especially severe pain
• 2Significant vision changes or blurred vision with redness
• 3Photophobia (pain or discomfort in light) with redness
• 4Colored halos around lights with eye pain and redness (acute glaucoma)
• 5Red eye in a contact lens wearer — remove lenses and seek care promptly
• 6Thick purulent discharge in a newborn (ophthalmia neonatorum — emergency)

What you can do

• ✓Apply a clean, cool compress over closed eyes to reduce redness and irritation
• ✓Viral conjunctivitis is highly contagious — wash hands frequently and avoid touching your eyes
• ✓Remove contact lenses until redness fully resolves
• ✓Use preservative-free artificial tears for dry eye redness
• ✓Avoid eye makeup during an active conjunctivitis episode
• ✓Replace all eye makeup after a bacterial conjunctivitis episode to prevent reinfection

Conditions that cause this symptom

Medications that may help

Treatment depends on the underlying cause. Always consult your provider before starting any medication.

Frequently asked questions