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.
Apply a cold compress. If your eyes itch, the bloodshot look is probably caused by allergies. "A cold washcloth placed over your eyes will soothe the pain and shrink the blood vessels if your eyes are bloodshot because of allergies," says Eric Donnenfeld, M.D., associate professor of ophthalmology at North Shore University Hospital/Cornell Medical College in Manhasset, New York. Hold the cold compress over your eyes until the itchiness subsides. You can repeat as often as convenient during the day.
For tired eyes-use a warm compress. If your eyes are red but don't itch, then a warm compress is the answer, adds Dr. Donnenfeld: "Warmth is best for bloodshot eyes caused by fatigue, staying up too late or a cold." Just place a warm washcloth over your closed eyes for 10 to 20 minutes.
Try artificial tears. If your bloodshot eyes are stinging, try soothing them with nonpreservative artificial tears, suggests Paul Vinger, M.D., assistant clinical professor of ophthalmology at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He recommends the single-dose packages.
Contacts wearers: Read the label. If you're a contact lens wearer and you notice more eye redness than in the past, read the label on your contact lens cleaner. If you're not using one labeled "preservative-free," switch to one that is. Preservatives in the cleaner can cause reddened eyes.
Put a lid on "red-out" products. "Eyedrops that promise to remove redness should be used only occasionally, because they can become habit forming," warns Dr. Donnenfeld. "After using them for a while, you may develop a 'rebound' effect, so if you don't use the drops, your eyes become red." His advice: Avoid using these over-the-counter products for more than four consecutive days, and try not to use them more than once daily.
Avoid known allergens. Steer clear of anything that has caused you to have allergies in the past: It could be causing your red-eye to flare up. Also, wash your hands after petting pets or applying makeup and shampoo, advises Thomas Platts-Mills, M.D., Ph.D., head of the Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology at the University of Virginia Health Sciences Center in Charlottesville.
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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