Red veins in the eyes can have multiple causes.
It can affect one or both eyes.
They will check for possible complications and provide the correct treatment.
Illustration by Tara Anand for Verywell Health
Frequent Use of Eye Drops
Do you reach foreye dropswhen you wake up with bloodshot eyes?
Watch out for drops that include ingredients that constrict blood vessels such as tetrahydrozoline HCL.
Using over-the-counter, preservative-free lubricating eye drops is usually a safe bet to try before consulting your eye doctor.
A.D.A.M.
Computer Vision Syndrome
Red, dry eyes result from a lack of moisture to the eyes.
Your tears work to replenish moisture to the eyes by blinking.
Blinking is one of the fastest reflexes of the body.
rob_lan / Getty Images
However, people tend to blink about half as much as normal when working on a computer.
This is known as “computer vision syndrome” or digital eye strain.
have a go at reduce redness by blinking more often.
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you’re able to also replenish moisture in the eye by using artificial tears.
Lack of Sleep
If you don’t get enough sleep, your eyes may show it.
Losing sleep tends to increase blood and fluid around the eyes.
This makes them appear puffy and red.
Lack of sleep can also lead to dry eyes.
Be sure to get a good night’s sleep for overall eye health.
Swimming
Many people develop red veins in their eyes after spending time in a pool.
Redness pops up if the chlorine used in many pools causes the eyes to become irritated.
See your healthcare provider to discuss your eye health, and consider strategies toquit smoking.
Alcohol is dehydrating and can cause the eyes to appear red and tired.
Vasodilationand eye redness happen because substances affect the surface of the eye.
The only way to avoid bloodshot eyes due to alcohol or cannabis is to avoid using them.
Allergies
You may notice red veins in your eyes due toallergies.
In addition, red eyes from allergies often burn and itch.
As a result, fluid accumulates and causes swelling.
Treatment can also include eye drops targeted at allergies.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy causes large changes to several hormones in the body.
These shifts can cause the body to produce fewer tears, soyour eyes may feel irritated or gritty.
In addition, they may appear red and be sensitive to light.
Think of photokeratitis as a sunburn that affects the corneas of your eyes.
Ultraviolet rays naturally come from the sun and are also artificially produced in tanning beds.
It can also happen when UV rays reflect off of snow or ice and into your eyes.
In addition to redness, symptoms of photokeratitis include watery eyes, blurry vision, and light sensitivity.
It is important that you stop further UV-ray exposure.
Don’t patch the eye.
It is usually not serious.
Pink eye is extremely contagious and can be easily transferred by touching your eyes.
Avoid sharing towels or physical contact with anyone infected with conjunctivitis.
Visit your healthcare providerif you suspect your bloodshot eyes are due to pink eye.
This is especially important if it is associated with pain and vision changes.
Blepharitis
rob_lan / Getty Images
Blepharitisis a common reason for painful, red-veined eyes.
It is sparked by impacted oil glands that can’t release the oily layer of the tear film well.
This leads to inflammation of the eyelid.
Good eyelid hygiene is important.
If that doesn’t help, you may be prescribed antibiotics or other medications.
Uveitis
Uveitisis an inflammation of the eye’s uvea, the middle layer of the eyeball.
If an underlying cause of the uveitis is determined, that will be treated as well.
Uveitis should be treated quickly.
Complications, such as uveitic glaucoma or retinal and choroidal scarring, may occur without treatment.
COVID and Red Eyes
Studies show that eye symptoms occur in about 5% of COVID-19 cases.
When eye symptoms do occur, they often appear before other systemic symptoms, such as fever and headaches.
you could use OTC artificial tears to soothe redness andirritation.
If your symptoms persist, or if your vision is affected in any way, contact your healthcare provider.
OTC lubricant, or rewetting, eye drops can be used throughout the day.
Injury
Redness often occurs with an eye injury.
When you injure your eye, blood vessels inside the eye enlarge and dilate.
This brings blood and cells to heal and repair the injury.
Eye redness from an injury is a sign that something is wrong with your eye.
Visit your healthcare provider to see to it that you did not significantly damage your eye.
As cells rush in to help fight the infection, it can cause visible redness.
With acorneal ulcer, the nearby blood vessels enlarge to quickly get important inflammatory cells to the site.
Instead, it gets most of its oxygen and nutrients from tears and the air.
The drops may be antibacterial, antiviral, or antifungal.
Steroids are not commonly started at the beginning of corneal ulcer treatment.
However, your healthcare provider may prescribe them to reduce scarring and inflammation once the infection is under control.
Seek treatment right away.
Corneal ulcer treatment needs to be aggressive to prevent potential vision loss and blindness.
The blood has no place to go, so it spreads out like ketchup under plastic wrap.
Sometimes the blood can gather so much that the eye appears swollen and pouches outward.
They will examine your eye and double-check that no other damage is present.
They may also measure your eye pressure and look inside your eye.
Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma
Sometimes red veins in the eyes can signal a serious condition.
Episcleritis and Scleritis
Episcleritisandscleritisare two somewhat similar-looking causes of red veins in eyes.
Episcleritiscauses mild eye pain, irritation, and eye redness.
Sometimes the eyes become tender to the touch.
Scleritisis a deeper inflammation of the eyeball’s outer coat.
Episcleritis can be treated with artificial tears.
In addition, steroids can be used if this condition is causing troublesome symptoms.
Scleritis needs immediate medical attention.
It often requires oral anti-inflammatories and topical steroid drops.
Dehydration
Dehydrationcan lead to red eyes due to the irritation sparked by dryness.
The surface of your eyes is lubricated with each blink.
When the body is dehydrated it doesn’t have enough water and other fluids to perform normal functions.
If you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated.
Pay attention to your thirst and hydrate by drinking small amounts frequently.
Dehydration can cause severe symptoms and may require hospitalization.
Consult your eye doctor if you develop red-veined eyes.
It’s best to determine the cause and learn about your treatment options.
While they are not cause for concern, you may need OTC or prescription medication to ease your symptoms.
COVID-19 can cause you to have red eyes, too, but this symptom should resolve as you recover.
If eye redness persists beyond your illness, consult your healthcare provider.
Summary
Bloodshot eyes can result from many things.
OTC artificial tears can help to quickly resolve bloodshot eyes in many cases.
So, it’s always best to consult your healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis.
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