Do you frequently feel the urge to rub your eyes? Your eyes are prone to a condition commonly known as red eyes. Long hours of work at night or staying up all night is a common cause of this illness.
Article Navigation
- Why Red Eyes Happen?
- How to Prevent Red Eyes?
- Potential Problems Red Eyes Can Lead to
- When to See a Doctor?
- Home Remedies for Red Eyes
- Do’s and Don’ts
- Conclusion
Red eyes also occur due to irritation from dust particles. There are numerous ways to treat red eyes. Most people opt for home remedies as they are natural. Below is a comprehensive breakdown of red eyes causes, prevention, and potential problems leading to red eyes, when to see a doctor and how to get rid of red eyes.
Why Red Eyes Happen?
Before you know how to get rid of bloodshot eyes, you must be familiar with its causes. There are various causes of red eyes. Below are some of the common reasons why red eyes happen.
Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is also known as pink eye. It is one of the most common and communicable eye infections. The problem is predominant in school children. It appears when the thin membrane covering the sclera becomes affected. The infection causes irritation and swelling of the blood vessels within the sclera. The symptoms of conjunctiva include eyes burn, itch, or feel gritty. There are different types and also different ways of treating pink eye. These ways are also the home remedies for treating red eyes.
Contact Lenses
Contact lenses cause a buildup of irritating surface deposits and microorganisms on your eye. They reduce the amount of oxygen reaching the cornea. Lenses limit the normal tear flow production, especially when they are tightly fit. They also cause fungal eye infection called keratitis. These fungi lead to the redness of the eyes.
Allergies
Red eyes are commonly referred to as allergy eyes. Foreign substances like dust enter the eyes. They cause the production of histamine in the body which fights allergies. As a result, the blood vessels in the eye enlarge, become red and watery.
Long Periods on Screens
Spending a lot of time on your computer, television, or phone exposes you to the risk of red eyes. Long periods on the screen put a strain on your eyes, causing vision syndrome. The syndrome causes dry red eyes. It also leads to blurred vision and eye irritation.
How to Prevent Red Eyes
Prevention is better than cure. This saying has passed the test of time in the health world. There are numerous ways you can keep your eyes healthy and cut on treatment costs. You can use the hacks below to prevent bloodshot eyes.
Good Dieting
Paying attention to the food you eat improves and maintains healthy eyes. You should eat food rich in omega-3 fatty acids. They are found in flax seeds, salmon, and fish. You should avoid eating excess inflaming foods. These foods include dairy products, fast foods, or processed foods.
You should also ensure to stay hydrated at all times. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day to maintain sufficient fluid balance in the body. A lot of water prevents bloodshot eyes.
Switching Contacts
If you wear contact lenses ensure they do not cause infection or irritation. You should change the lenses the moment you feel irritation in the eye. Ensure you are using the best contact solution for the lenses to inhibit eye redness.
Enough Rest
Good rest is not only good for the body but also for the eyes. You should ensure you get enough rest. Adequate rest guarantees the necessary retention of moisture in the eyes. It prevents redness of the eyes.
Avoid Smoking
Smoking heightens the risk of uveitis, dry eyes and diabetic retinopathy. You should reduce your smoking to prevent red eyes. You can also quit smoking completely and reduce the chances of getting bloodshot eyes.
Potential Problems Red Eyes Can Lead to
Red eyes come about as a result of eye fatigue, overwearing contact lenses or common infections. Nevertheless, eye redness sometimes is a sign of other serious conditions. Below are some of the potential problems bloodshot eyes lead to.
Cluster Headaches
Cluster headaches are excruciating headaches that occur in sequences. It occurs on one side of the head but can switch sides depending on people. The pain spreads to the forehead, nose, neck or shoulders. It also appears abreast the bloodshot eyes.
The headaches are common in teenagers and middle age but can come at any age. There are two primary types of cluster headaches, episodic and chronic. You will experience several headaches at times, but at other times, headache-free. The pains are always severe.
Reactive Arthritis
Reactive arthritis is a type of arthritis prompted by a bacterial infection. It comes alongside the red-eye inflammation. You experience pain, skin rashes, and mouth sores. It also affects the joints in your knees and ankles.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye disease that destroys your optic nerve. The optic nerve sends a visual message to the brain from your eyes. It is usually as a result of abnormally high pressure inside your eye. The increased pressure corrodes your optic nerve tissues, leading to vision loss and blindness. The red-eye problem affects you alongside glaucoma.
Corneal Abrasion
Corneal abrasion comes about when foreign substances from the air or contact lenses scratch and irritate your cornea. It is always accompanied by the red-eye inflammation. Most abrasions are minor, so they heal faster. However, an infected corneal abrasion leads to corneal ulcer.
When to See a Doctor?
Bloodshot eyes can be a sign of minor irritation or a critical medical condition. They occur when small blood vessels on the eyes’ surface enlarge and become congested with blood. Minor irritation disappears after a short while, but if it persists, you should see a doctor. A headache might be normal. However, if you feel it is severe and it is accompanied by unusual sensitivity to light, seek medical attention.
A severe headache also comes with fever and eye pain. You should visit the doctor if you experience vomiting or nausea. It is a sign of food poisoning, irritable bowel syndrome or Traveler’s diarrhea. It is also wise to see the doctor when your eyelids remain closed in the morning.
Another reason to see the doctor is when you feel as if something is in your eye, it is itching or burning. You might be having a viral infection or an allergic reaction. Agonizing, green or thick yellow discharge from the eye is another cause for alarm. The discharge is usually a bacterial infection. Double vision, blurred vision or seeing rings of light around objects are symptoms enough to consult the doctor. Red eyes accompanied with swollen eyelids signify danger.
You should seek advice when you look at your eyelashes falling out. It is a sign of a disease called blepharitis. You should also visit the doctor if you experience swollen lymph nodes. The swell is often a viral infection. Dermatitis is another disease. It is crusting and scaling of the eyelid skin. Consult a doctor if you see your eyelid skin peeling.
Home Remedies for Red Eyes
Below is a list of home remedies that go a long way to ease red eye.Warm and Cold Compress
Waking up to a red eye is a very daunting situation. Redness is always the only noticeable symptom. Most of the time the redness does not cause discomfort, but it is quite unattractive. Cold and warm compress are popular methods you can use at home to ease the condition. Cold bread constricts the blood vessels in your eyes. Making a cold compress is very simple.
You can fill a bowl with water and ice. Put a clean washcloth in the bowl. Wring the cloth and slowly compress your eye with it. You can also use cold bags of frozen corn and peas. For the warm compress, you can fill a bowl with warm water. Wring the cloth and gently compress your eye with the cloth.
Reduce Your Time on the Screen
Today people spend most of their time on digital screens. Eye strain from long hours on the screen cause eye dryness, irritation, blurry vision, and fatigue. Eye redness is also caused by a lot of time spent on the screen. Minimize the time you spend on the television, computer, iPad, and most importantly your mobile phone. You can also adjust your seat such that your eyes are on the same level as the television or computer.
Reduce your screen brightness to a reasonable level. The reduction ensures the screen is not too bright or too dim. Today there are anti-glare glasses available in the tech market. Experts design these glasses specifically to reduce eye strain from monitor reflection. You can purchase a pair to avoid episodes of eye redness.
Rose Water
Rosewater is commonly known for its soothing effect on skin, stress reduction, natural cleansing properties and as a great mood lifter. Most people do not know rosewater is your eyes best friend. It is a home remedy for eye redness. People use components of rosewater in Unani and Ayurvedic preparations, to treat eye allergies and infections.
Rose water is a product of Rosa damascene. It contains anti-infective and anti-inflammatory properties. You can use the water as eye drops to curb conjunctivitis. You can soak a cotton ball in rose water and place them above your eyes for up to fifteen minutes.
Alternative methods of using rosewater include:
- Put two to three drops of rose water in your eyes or washing your eyes with the natural water.
- You can also dip two slices of cucumber in rosewater and put them over your eyes.
Use Cucumber
Many people use cucumber to get rid of the dark circle around the eye. It also makes the skin around the eyes look youthful and glow. How to get rid of bloodshot eyes with cucumber is not common knowledge. Cucumber contains caffeic acid and ascorbic acid. These acids reduce water retention in the eyes which causes red eyes. The properties also curb puffy eyes.
Cucumber works as a cold compressor. It has a cold surface which causes blood vessels to constrict reducing redness in the eyes. Cucumber has anti-irritant characteristics that curb inflammation and eye irritation. You should freeze the cucumber for fifteen minutes then apply it on the eyelids. You can also soak it in rosewater before freezing it. Place the cucumber over your eyes for twenty minutes.
Use Spoons
Spoons for the eyes is probably the simplest home remedy for bloodshot eyes. Sometimes red eyes occur as a result of higher temperatures around the eyes. These temperatures constrict blood vessels and cause bloodshot eyes. Using spoons is a genius remedy that does not require much of an effort.
For best results with this method, you need four metallic spoons and ice water. Put each spoon in the water to cool and not freeze. Place two of these spoons over your eyes. Incline the concave side of the spoon to your skin. After your spoons become warm due to body temperature, replace them with the other two. Alternate the spoons for up to twenty minutes. Apart from red eyes, the spoons also curb swelling and eye irritation.
Milk and Honey
Milk and honey are effective home remedies for red eyes and bloodshot eyes. Milk protein has amino acids which have anti-inflammatory characteristics. These properties cure eye infections including redness in the eyes. For you to treat eye redness with milk, you soak a cotton pad in raw milk. You rub the cotton over your eyes for up to 15 minutes.
For best results do this procedure twice every day. A mixture of honey and milk also gives the same results. Mix milk and honey to form a consistently smooth paste. Using an eye dropper, drop the paste to your eye at least three times in a day. This mixture also cures itchy eyes.
Rinse Your Eyes with Water
Water is the most popular home remedies for bloodshot eyes. Thorough rinsing with cold water reduces red eyes and itchy eyes. As much as you wash your face and eyes every day, to cure bloodshot eyes requires a more effective wash. If you have bloodshot eyes, take a palm full of water and splash it on your face. Coldwater leads to better results compared to lukewarm water.
The essence of this splash is to get rid of insects and unwanted particles in the eyes. These foreign intruders cause infections including red eyes. Alternately, you can submerge your face in cold water slightly opening and closing it.
Tea Bags
After you use your tea bag you probably always throw it away. If you have red eyes or bloodshot eyes, black and green tea bags are quite handy. Green and black tea have bioflavonoids. These properties treat bacterial and viral infections thus reducing inflammation. Tea bags, therefore, treat puffy and red eyes.
Tea bags also have tannins which have antimicrobial properties. These properties prevent the under eye from swelling and itching. For the most effective results, put your used tea bag in a refrigerator for twenty minutes. Place the bags on your eyes for another twenty minutes. Next time you have red eyes, tea bags are the way to go.
Castor Oil
Castor oil is a pure vegetable oil obtained from castor seeds. The pure oil of Egypt decent, is a home remedy for dry eyes, inflammation, and red eyes. It also provides a cure for conjunctivitis. If you view screens for long hours, you are prone to eye strain which leads to redness.
Castor oil gets rid of the strain. Using a new clean dropper, such a hundred percent of castor oil. Administer a drop of the oil to each eye before you go to bed. Immediately you use the oil, and you will have a blurry vision for a while. However, the oil will be used up through the night.
Raspberry Leaves
People in ancient times used raspberry leaves to treat cold sores, canker sores, and gingivitis. Women who are looking to curb morning sickness also use the beneficial leaves, especially in tea. Most people do not know that the leaves are advantageous to people treating bloodshot eyes and red eye.
Below are the steps on how to get rid of red eyes:
- Boil a fair amount of raspberry leaves to make tea and steep it for a few minutes.
- Strain the mixture and wait for it to cool.
- Apply the mixture over the eyes for up to fifteen minutes and repeat the same process for three days.
- You can consistently do the process until the process is over.
Cooled raspberry leaves to curb red eyes is a form of a cold compress.
Chamomile Tea
You have probably used chamomile tea once or twice for its numerous benefits. Some of its advantages are regulating sleep, protecting your skin and lowering levels of stress. Among its benefits is getting rid of red eyes. Chamomile flower contains flavonoids and terpenoids. These components are responsible for its medicinal nature.
Chamomile tea also has anti-inflammatory properties that reduce eye swelling caused by infections. Washing your eyes with chamomile tea treats conjunctivitis. For best results, make a solution of a teaspoon of dried chamomile flower and boiled water. Allow it to cool for some time. Use the cooled solution as your eyewash.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Since time immemorial, people used vinegar for various household purposes. It was popular for its facelift in food and other health benefits. Apple cider vinegar is the most popular vinegar in matters home remedies. People use it for weight loss, curb symptoms of diabetes, and to lower blood sugar levels.
Apple cider vinegar is essential for treating bloodshot eyes. It contains malic acid that enables it to kill pathogens including bacteria. Red eyes are caused by bacterial infections in the eyes. To treat red eyes effectively, mix a spoon of pure apple cider vinegar with water. Dip a cotton ball to the water and use it to wash your eyes.
Green Tea
Green tea is a highly beneficial home remedy. Most people opt for the tea when they are looking to lose weight. It also eases various ailments such as heart disease, liver disease, and some types of cancer. Green tea aids in getting rid of bloodshot eyes. Green tea has anti-inflammatory characteristics which cure swelling eyes, itching in the eyes, swelling, and inflammation of the eyes.
You need two green tea bags and water. Boil them together and allow them to cool for twenty minutes. Wash your eyes with the cooled water, two times a day. Repeat the procedure for three days. You can also directly apply the used tea bags directly to your eyes.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is a widely known plant that grows in tropical climates. People use it for agricultural and medicinal purposes. The stemless plant is useful as a home remedy for red eyes. It has ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts. You can make homemade eye drops with these extracts. The plant, therefore, alleviates inflammation.
Aloe vera has anti-bacterial properties which treat red eyes caused by bacterial infections. For the most fitting results, you mix three tablespoons of aloe vera gel, a tablespoon of honey, and half a cup of elderberry blossom tea. Use the solution to rinse your eyes twice every day. Do this for three days until the red-eye ceases.
Eat a Balanced Diet
Eating the right foods is an essential home remedy to get rid of red eyes. You possibly suffer from bloodshot eyes because of taking in a lot of processed foods and fast food. To curb red eyes, discipline yourself with a strict healthy diet. Eat foods rich in Omega 3 and six fatty acids. For instance, salmon, flax seeds, and nuts are excellent for you.
Add vitamin B2 and B6 to your diet. These foods are eggs, vegetables, cereals, sunflower seeds, dairy products, tuna fish, and turkey. Lastly, eat foods rich in vitamin C, E, and zinc. These foods are such as strawberries, cauliflower, cabbages, oranges, broccoli, and celery.
Chilled Raw Potatoes
You need to consume vitamin and minerals to ensure that your eyes are always healthy. Vitamin E is one of the most beneficial nutrients for curbing red eye. You can add potatoes to your diet to consume vitamin E. It is an antioxidant that works magic for keeping the red-eye at bay.
Use potato slices or grated ones when using it in your eyes. Chill the grated or sliced potatoes for about 20minutes. Lay the chilled pieces on your eyes like at the spa. If you want the chilled potatoes to work better for red-eye, perform this remedy before going to bed.
Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea is a recommended remedy for not only red-eye but also other eye disorders like conjunctivitis, tired eyes or allergies. It is an age-old herb that has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and anti-microbial properties. As a result, it works perfectly as a remedy for red-eye. It reduces inflammation form red that develops as a result of infection.
Chamomile tea is made from boiling chamomile flowers and a cup of water. You can then use the mixture as eye drops. Alternatively, you can rinse your eyes with the mixture. You can also moisten a piece of cloth with the mixture and apply it over your eyes.
Goldenseal
Goldenseal is popular for its heating abilities. These powers are essential in treating many ailments. It is also useful in treating bloodshot eyes. The native medicinal herb contains bebeerine. It is a compound responsible for compressing blood vessels.
These property gets rid of the red color of the eyes. For best results, mix two spoons of goldenseal herb powder to a cup of boiled water. Allow it to steep for some time and let it cool. Use the mixture as eye drops. The infusion also works as a warm compress. Use the mixture two to three times a day until the signs of red-eye are no more.
Bilberry
British Military pilots ate bilberry jam in World War II to improve their night vision. Later people used the plant whether dried, as a ripe fruit, and its leaves to make eye medicine. Bilberry is not only essential for a better night vision, but also a healthier eyesight.
The plant gets rid of red-eye. Bilberry contains anti-oxidants and flavonoids. Antioxidants increase blood flow in the vessels around the eyes treating red eyes. It also curbs retinal disorder. You can use the bilberry extract on your eyes twice or thrice a day. Repeat the process each day until your red eyes are cured.
Remove Your Lenses and Makeup
As much as you looked amazing the whole day, your contacts and makeup are not healthy staying on. Apart from premature aging, eye make-up causes red-eye. Leaving your makeup on clogs your tear ducts leaving them red. Contacts deliver particles and microbes at your eyes.
They cause infections that lead to bloodshot eyes. When your lenses are left for too long, they cause fungal infections. To treat red eye caused by makeup and contacts, clean your face with warm water and always remove your lenses. You can also use a makeup remover. To remove your lenses, ensure your hands are clean.
Eyebright Herb
The herb is commonly taken orally. It treats the common cold, inflamed nasal passages, allergies, and hay fever. It is also used to aid in conjunctivitis which is a major cause of red-eye. The herb contains methanol extracts which have inflammatory characteristics. Eyebright herb is a home remedy for numerous conditions.
People use it to treat cataracts, weeping eyes, strained eyes, bloodshot eyes, and red eyes. You can make eye drops from this plant to cure red eyes. Use the droops twice every day. You can make an eyebright wash. Mix eight drops of tincture in two cups of cool filtered water. Alternatively, boil a teaspoon of eyebright in one and a half cups of water. Use the mixture to wash your eyes and curb red eyes.
Fenugreek
Fenugreek is a great herbal treatment for red-eye. It contains Trigonella foenum graecum diosgenin, which is a component that acts as an anti-inflammatory agent. It also helps in reducing irritation brought about by red eye. Many people also use Fenugreek because it works as an antiseptic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial agent.
Get the fenugreek seeds and soak them in water for 7 to 8 hours, preferably overnight. Blend the seeds into a smooth paste. Lather the paste over your closed eyes and leave it on for 20 minutes. Wash it off with warm water and repeat the process for 2-3 days. Alternatively, you can just warm and wrap the seeds in a cloth and place them in your eyes.
Witch Hazel
Witch hazel has been used for ages by the Native Americans to cure red eye. It contains astringent properties that reduce inflammation of the eye. In case of swelling or itching, witch hazel comes in handy to relieve them.
You can simply get cotton balls and soak them into the witch hazel extract. Use the moistened cotton ball as a cold compress on your eyes. Keep them in your eyes for about 5 minutes. Repeat the process until the red-eye clears. In case you do not have cotton balls, simply use the witch hazel extract to clean your eyes.
Baking Soda
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), is a suitable natural eye wash for red-eye. It possesses anti-inflammatory properties, which make it useful for relieving red eye. It is also an antibacterial agent, makes it suitable to combat the infection that causes redness.
Baking soda also helps in keeping the eyes healthy by balancing the ph level, so that the eyes are not too acidic or alkaline. Take a quarter a tablespoon of baking soda and mix it in half a cup of water. Use the mixture to rinse your eyes and try to keep open. Repeat the process several times throughout the day until the red-eye clears.
Vegetable Juice
Vegetables are a good source of a variety of vitamins that keep the eyes healthy and control infections as well. Carrot is suitable for making vegetable juice. It is high in Vitamin A, which restores ocular tissues. Spinach is an excellent choice for making vegetable juice. It contains Lutein and Zeaxanthin. It is responsible for clearing infections of the eye.
Other vegetables that are suitable for maintaining healthy eyes include kale, pumpkin seeds, celery, parsley, and cabbage. Get fresh vegetables, blend them and consume them. Try as much as possible to get leafy greens because they increase antioxidants in the body.
Cold Bread
Cold bread may surprise you at first, but it still works wonders when it comes to relieving red eye. If you want to treat the red eye with cold brad, just think of how a cold compress works. Take some slices of bread and put it in the fridge for a couple of hours. Place the cold bread over your eyelids.
Alternatively, you can place them in a thin cloth and use them on your eyelids. The cold temperatures help constrict blood vessels to the eyes. Sometimes red eyes cause fluid retention in the eyes. Using cold bread helps reduce fluid retention in the eyes.
Fennel Seeds
Fennel is a pleasant smelling plant that has yellow flowers. It is a common treatment for different ailments of the body. Fennel seeds particularly work as an excellent tonic for the eyes. They are consumed in a variety of forms. You can eat them raw or boil them.
Eating them raw helps enhance eye health. Alternatively, you can boil them and drink. Take a half a tablespoon of dried fennel seeds and boil them for 25 minutes in a cup of water. Strain the mixture and let it cool. For best results, use the mixture to wash your eyes two to three times a day.
Salt and Water
Salt is not just an additive to your food, and it has a wide array of functions in relieving ailments in the body. Salt and water are among the most common remedies for red eyes. It has anti-inflammatory properties. Salt and water also help in eliminating bacteria that causes red eyes.
With this remedy, simply take a tablespoon of salt and boil it in some water. Leave it to cool and use the solution to wash your eyes. Perform the process at least twice or thrice a day for about three days. The solution will relieve the symptoms that are brought about by red eye.
Do's and Don'ts
Do's- Frequently wash your hands to reduce the chances of bacteria getting into your eyes.
- Wear goggles to protect your eyes from direct sunlight
- Eat eye-friendly foods like carrots and leafy greens to keep your eyes healthy
- Drink enough water ensure the body maintains an equilibrium
- Get sufficient rest to prevent redness of the eye
- Reduce any occurrence of the mold by 50 percent. Getting a dehumidifier may be a good idea.
- Do not smoke because it increases the risk of getting red-eye and other conditions like cataracts, macular degeneration, and infant eye disease.
- Reduce your contact with pets because they may cause allergies
- Red-eye can be itchy but try as much as possible not to rub them because it can only worsen the condition.
- Avoid long hours at the computer or television
- Do not work in poor light
- Do not go to polluted areas because it may exacerbate the symptoms of red-eye.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, red eye is a condition that causes your eyes to feel itchy and become bloodshot. Red-eye is mainly caused by conjunctivitis, allergies, contact lenses, and long hours on the screen. Having a proper diet helps prevent red-eye. You can also try switching contact lenses, getting enough rest, and avoiding smoking to reduce the chances of red-eye.
If the red eye is not treated, it can lead to glaucoma, cluster headaches, corneal abrasion, and reactive arthritis. In case you experience blurry vision, double vision, or you start seeing rings of light then it is time to see the doctor. If you feel a severe headache with sensitivity to light, then you need to get the assistance of a medical practitioner. Vomiting and nausea could be a sign of food poisoning, and it would be wise to see a doctor.
Some remedies to ease red eye include warm and cold compress, rose water, teabags, cucumber, and milk. You can also reduce screen time and have a balanced diet. Other remedies include raw potatoes, fenugreek, vegetable juice, apple cider vinegar, fennel seeds, and baking soda. Some herbal remedies for red eyes include raspberry leaves, eyebright herb, bilberry, goldenseal, witch hazel, and castor oil.
All in all, you do not need to struggle with the hardships that are brought about by red eye. Make use of these remedies and say goodbye to red-eye.
