subject: How do I get rid of a red eye? [print this page] Redness of the eye is a very common occurrence. Red eye is not a distinct disease. It is really the result of a wide assortment of eye conditions. Some of these conditions are minor or self-limiting, and are easily treated. But others can be severe and could lead to vision loss if left without professional attention. In some cases, the disorder can be the first precursor of a more deep-seated systemic disease.
Red eye emerges when certain parts of the eye get so inflamed that their blood vessels become swollen. Usually, these blood vessels are so hairy-thin they seem to be not there at all. But once they become engorged, the hair-thin vessels become more noticeable, imparting the red or pink colour to the eye.
Red eye conditions occur mostly due to conjunctivitis (infection in the conjunctiva, the thin membrane that lines the inner side of the eyelid and the sclera) and episcleritis (infection in the tissue connecting the conjunctiva to the sclera, the white part of the eye). Diseases of the cornea, iris, and other parts of the eye may also give rise to red eye.
The more infrequent causes of red eye include acute glaucoma, corneal ulcer (on the corneal surface caused by, for example, years of contact lens use and bacteria) and dendritic ulcer (a herpes simplex infection in the inner tissues of the cornea). Very often, red eye also brings some ache, and some discharge. These underlying health issues are potentially critical and sight-threatening.
In many instances, red eye can also induce you to experience build up of minuscule iota of calcium salts within the mucous glands in the conjunctiva. Tiny bits get into the eye every so often, causing gritty sensations. The salty grains may also reconstitute the composition of the tear film and induce dry eye.
Rheumatoid arthritis patients who report red eye are also likely to have dry eye syndrome. Red eye may also exist in those who have sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disease in which immune cells clump together to create small granules, causing various kinds of complications in the organs where they settle. When sarcoidosis affects your eye, you are likely to get blurred vision, high sensitivity to light and glare, and pain. If left untreated, chronic sarcoidosis in the eye can result in blindness.
Treatment
Conjunctivitis is self-limiting and normally is gone within 12 weeks. Antibiotics serve only to speed up the process. Your physician may advise the use of topical antibiotic drops, to be applied every two hours, supported with ointment before retiring. This program goes on about five days, and after the initial outbreak has subsided, use of the eye drops can be revised to four times a day.
The dry eye discomforts felt together with conjunctivitis are often addressed with artificial tears and cyclosporine combined in a castor oil base. More serious conditions will require professional care and evaluation.
