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Contents
  • Common Causes of Red Eye
  • When to Worry: Serious Conditions
  • Evaluating Severity at Home

Is Your Red Eye a Sign of Something Serious?

Is Your Red Eye a Sign of Something Serious?

The Big Picture

Red eyes can be more than just a cosmetic issue. Understanding the causes can help you decide if you need urgent care or just some eye drops.
Contents
  • Common Causes of Red Eye
  • When to Worry: Serious Conditions
  • Evaluating Severity at Home

Common Causes of Red Eye

Most cases of red eye are due to non-serious conditions like conjunctivitis, which is often caused by allergies or viruses. These conditions typically cause redness, itching, and a watery discharge. Another common cause is dry eye syndrome, where your eyes don't produce enough tears, leading to irritation. These issues can usually be managed with over-the-counter treatments or at-home remedies.

When to Worry: Serious Conditions

Some red eye cases require urgent medical attention, such as angle-closure glaucoma, which can cause severe eye pain, headache, and even nausea. This condition can lead to permanent vision loss if not treated immediately. Other serious conditions include iritis and infectious keratitis, which also present with redness and may cause sensitivity to light and a gritty feeling in the eye. These require prompt evaluation by an eye specialist.
Red eye is a condition characterized by a reddened appearance of the eye, often caused by irritation or inflammation. While often benign, it can sometimes indicate serious underlying health issues.

Evaluating Severity at Home

You can perform a basic self-evaluation to determine if your red eye needs medical attention. Check if you have severe pain, vision changes, or sensitivity to light, which are red flags for serious conditions. Mild symptoms like itchiness and watery discharge are often less concerning. If you're unsure, a virtual consultation with a healthcare provider can help you decide whether to seek further evaluation.

FAQs

What are the common causes of red eye?

Allergic or viral conjunctivitis and dry eyes are the most common causes.

When should I see a doctor for red eye?

If you have severe pain, vision changes, or sensitivity to light, see a doctor immediately.

Can red eye be treated at home?

Yes, many cases like mild conjunctivitis or dry eyes can be managed at home.

Is red eye contagious?

Viral conjunctivitis can be contagious, so practicing good hygiene is important.

Did you know red eye can be a sign of glaucoma?

Yes, angle-closure glaucoma causes red eye and is a medical emergency.

Key Takeaways

Understanding the causes of red eye can help you decide when to seek medical attention.
Get started by discussing your symptoms with Doctronic, the AI doctor, today.
Additional References
  1. Leibowitz HM. The red eye. N Engl J Med 2000; 343:345.
  2. Dart JK. Eye disease at a community health centre. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1986; 293:1477.
This article has been reviewed for accuracy by one of the licensed medical doctors working for Doctronic.