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Try one of these related symptoms.
Eye redness
A red spot on my eye
Eye congestion
Subconjunctival hemorrhage
Bleeding from the white part of the eye (the sclera)
Blood in the white part of the eye
Bleeding from right eye
Bleeding from left eye
Bleeding from eyes
It is characterized by the redness of the transparent membrane that lines the eyelid and eyeball which may be caused by inflammation or infection.
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
Generally, Eye redness can be related to:
This viral infection causes sore throat, red eyes, and fever. Some patients may have enlarged neck glands (lymph nodes). Patients usually recover without treatment.
Intraocular foreign bodies are unintentional projectiles that are retained in the eye and require urgent diagnosis. If left unattended, they may lead to vision loss and blindness.
Corneal damage is an injury to the cornea, which is the transparent tissue covering the front of the eye.
Sometimes, Eye redness may be related to these serious diseases:
Inflammation inside the eyeball, typically from infection. Quick medical treatment is necessary to avoid permanent blindness.
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
Reviewed By:
Ami Shah Vira, MD (Ophthalmology)
Dr. Shah Vira grew up in Arizona. She moved to Chicago to complete a combined engineering and medical program at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and Chicago Medical School. She completed a highly competitive two year dual fellowship in Neuro-ophthalmology and Oculoplastic at the highly regarded Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Shah Vira specializes in surgical correction of the eyelids and eyebrows, eyelid malposition and tumors, excessive tearing, and conditions involving the orbit.
Masashi Mimura, MD (Ophthalmology)
Dr. Mimura Graduated from the Osaka Medical College and obtained his ophthalmologist certification in 2007. He opened an outpatient clinic for oculoplastic and reconstructive surgery at Osaka Kaijo Hospital. Subsequently, he was appointed as the assistant professor at the Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical College, in 2014. He then served an international fellowship at the Department of Ophthalmology/Oculoplastic and Reconstructive Surgery, California State University, San Diego. Since then, he has been appointed as Lecturer in the Departments of Ophthalmology at Osaka Medical College and Toho University Medical Center Sakura Hospital. Dr. Mimura is currently the Director of Oculofacial Clinic Osaka, where he specializes in Oculofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Content updated on Feb 6, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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Q.
Red Eye? Why Your Eye is Irritated & Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
Red eye is common and often mild, but it can also signal infections or urgent problems; matching your specific symptoms to the right, medically approved next steps is essential. See below for the most likely causes, safe home care, exactly when to seek urgent care for red flags like severe pain, vision changes, intense light sensitivity, nausea, injury, or contact lens issues, and how doctors evaluate and prevent it.
References:
* De Gagne, R. (2021). Acute Red Eye: A Symptomatic Approach to Diagnosis and Management. *The Journal for Nurse Practitioners*, *17*(1), 101–105.
* Azari, A. A., & Barney, N. P. (2021). Conjunctivitis: A Systematic Review of Diagnosis and Treatment. *JAMA*, *325*(9), 983–995.
* Dautov, S., Semchyshyn, H. M., & Sheen, K. O. (2022). Current approaches to the diagnosis and management of dry eye disease. *Current Opinion in Ophthalmology*, *33*(3), 200–208.
* O'Donoghue, N., & Barry, P. (2017). Episcleritis and scleritis: a review of causes, diagnosis, and treatment. *Current Opinion in Ophthalmology*, *28*(4), 329–335.
* Vashisht, P., & Al-Taie, R. (2021). Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma: An Ophthalmic Emergency. *Ophthalmology and Therapy*, *10*(3), 601–612.
Q.
Swollen Eyelid? Why Your Eye Is Inflamed and Medically Approved Steps
A.
Swollen eyelids are most often due to allergies, blepharitis, a stye or chalazion, or pink eye. They usually improve with a clean compress cold for allergies or recent injury and warm for styes or blocked oil glands plus gentle lid hygiene, artificial tears, and pausing makeup and contacts. Watch for red flags fever, severe pain, vision changes, pain with eye movement, bulging, rapidly worsening swelling, or swelling after significant injury which need urgent care. There are several factors to consider, so see below for specific causes, safe treatments, prevention tips, and when to call a doctor that could change your next steps.
References:
* Foulks GN, Lemp MA. MGD and Blepharitis: An Update in Diagnostics and Treatment. Ophthalmology. 2022 Dec;129(12):1413-1422. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2022.07.019. Epub 2022 Jul 25. PMID: 35896350.
* Lee JH, Kim SW, Chae HJ. Diagnosis and management of common eyelid pathologies: A review. Clin Ophthalmol. 2017;11:1571-1581. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S134449. Epub 2017 Aug 28. PMID: 28883713; PMCID: PMC5584988.
* Ladenheim D, Lye K. Hordeolum and Chalazion: A Comprehensive Review. Middle East Afr J Ophthalmol. 2019 Jan-Mar;26(1):1-4. doi: 10.4103/meajo.MEAJO_160_18. PMID: 31143003; PMCID: PMC6506377.
* Leonardi A, Naccari G, Lazzarini F. Allergic conjunctivitis: a comprehensive review. Asia Pac Allergy. 2020 Jan 20;10(1):e4. doi: 10.5415/apallergy.2020.10.e4. PMID: 32095333; PMCID: PMC7029514.
* Serrano F, Coto-Segura P, García-González R. Periorbital cellulitis. Med Clin (Barc). 2021 Jan 15;156(2):83-89. English, Spanish. doi: 10.1016/j.medcli.2020.06.046. Epub 2020 Sep 17. PMID: 32951717.
Q.
Red Eyes? Why Your Eye Drops Fail & Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
There are several factors to consider: persistent red eyes often mean the wrong drops are being used, redness-relief vasoconstrictors are causing rebound, or an underlying issue such as dry eye, allergies, infection, contact lens irritation, or a more serious condition is being missed. See below for medically approved next steps like stopping daily redness-relief drops, switching to preservative-free artificial tears, addressing the root cause and triggers, and the urgent warning signs that should change your next step and prompt care.
References:
* Leibowitz HM, Chang S. The Red Eye: A Practical Guide for the Primary Care Clinician. Am Fam Physician. 2020 Jul 1;102(1):31-39. PMID: 32669046.
* Pucker AD, et al. Dry eye disease: a review of current pharmacological treatment options. Exp Eye Res. 2022 Mar;216:108922. PMID: 35056976.
* Craig JP, et al. TFOS DEWS II Report Executive Summary. Ocul Surf. 2017 Jul;15(3):217-280. PMID: 28781359.
* Leonardi A, et al. Allergic conjunctivitis: a comprehensive review. Clin Exp Allergy. 2017 Sep;47(9):1123-1144. PMID: 28621021.
* Rynne M, et al. Blepharitis: a review of diagnosis and management. Eye (Lond). 2021 Jul;35(7):1921-1929. PMID: 33790515.
Q.
Is it a Stye Eye? Why Your Eyelid is Swollen + Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
A stye is a red, tender eyelid bump from a blocked, infected oil gland; most are mild and clear in 1 to 2 weeks with warm compresses 10 to 15 minutes, 3 to 5 times daily, plus gentle lid cleaning, while avoiding squeezing, makeup, and contacts. There are several factors to consider; see below for complete, doctor-approved steps and prevention tips. Seek care urgently for vision changes, severe or spreading swelling, fever, bulging, or pain with eye movement, and see a clinician if it lasts over 2 weeks or keeps worsening, since lookalikes like chalazion, blepharitis, or pink eye may need different treatment; key details that could change your next steps are below.
References:
* Lindsley K, et al. Interventions for acute internal hordeolum. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Jan 20;1(1):CD007742. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007742.pub3. PMID: 28099863; PMCID: PMC6465064.
* Yan J, et al. A review of the causes, diagnosis and treatment of eyelid swelling. J Clin Med Res. 2019 Aug;11(8):570-577. doi: 10.14740/jocmr3909w. PMID: 31396263; PMCID: PMC6688537.
* Bains P, et al. Acute Eyelid Swelling. Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg. 2015 Nov-Dec;31(6):441-4. doi: 10.1097/IOP.0000000000000407. PMID: 26529323.
* Rimmer D. Ocular emergencies: Part 2: Ocular adnexa. Community Eye Health J. 2018;31(102):28-31. PMID: 30283184; PMCID: PMC6132047.
* Suzuki S, et al. Management of external hordeolum. Clin Ophthalmol. 2023 Mar 1;17:661-667. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S405232. PMID: 36873528; PMCID: PMC9989781.
Q.
Is it Pink Eye? Why Your Eye is Red & Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
There are several factors to consider. A red eye may be conjunctivitis, especially with watery or thick discharge and mild irritation, and mild cases often improve with artificial tears, cool compresses, allergy drops, hygiene, and pausing contact lenses, while suspected bacterial cases may need prescription antibiotic drops. See below for the key differences between viral, bacterial, and allergic pink eye, what to do about contagion and return to work or school, and the red flags that need prompt care such as severe pain, vision changes, marked light sensitivity, eye injury, contact lens use with worsening symptoms, or no improvement after 3 to 5 days.
References:
* Azari AA, Barney NP. Conjunctivitis: A Systematic Review of Diagnosis and Treatment. JAMA. 2020 Oct 6;324(13):1335-1346. doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.14234. PMID: 33021752.
* Leibowitz HM. The red eye. N Engl J Med. 2021 May 13;384(19):1833-1840. doi: 10.1056/NEJMcp2032030. PMID: 33979493.
* White ML, Jhanji V, Chow K. Common causes of red eye. Aust J Gen Pract. 2021 Jul;50(7):448-453. doi: 10.31128/AJGP-04-21-5919. PMID: 34180424.
* Bielory L, Bielory BP. Allergic conjunctivitis: an updated overview. Am J Rhinol Allergy. 2021 Aug 22;35(5):610-618. doi: 10.1177/19458924211025064. PMID: 34423414.
* Pfortmueller CA, Wirthmueller U. Red eye: aetiology, diagnosis and treatment. Swiss Med Wkly. 2017 Jan 23;147:w14394. doi: 10.4414/smw.2017.14394. PMID: 28114624.
Q.
Pink Eye: A Woman's Guide to Symptoms, Relief & Vital Next Steps
A.
Pink eye is inflammation of the eye’s surface that can be viral, bacterial, allergic, or irritant, and this guide explains hallmark symptoms like redness, discharge, itching, and light sensitivity, plus relief strategies and how long each type usually lasts. There are several factors to consider, including contagion, contact lens use, and pregnancy safety, and the complete details below can help you choose the right next steps. Seek prompt care for severe pain, blurred vision, intense light sensitivity, worsening symptoms, or contact lens related pain, since these can signal more serious problems that need urgent treatment. See below for specific self care tips, when antibiotics help, how to prevent spread, and what to do if symptoms do not improve.
References:
* Al-Abri R, Al-Hajri F, Al-Mjeni N. A Review on Conjunctivitis. Oman Med J. 2017 Jan;32(1):3-9. doi: 10.5001/omj.2017.02. PMID: 28217297; PMCID: PMC5296860.
* Azari AA, Barney NP. Conjunctivitis: A Systematic Review of Diagnosis and Treatment. JAMA. 2020 Oct 6;324(13):1314-1326. doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.14660. PMID: 33021752.
* Yanai R, Kawamoto S, Ueda K, Hirai H, Fukushima S, Koga Y, Sakaguchi H, Shimakura M, Hamano T, Koh S. Viral conjunctivitis: a review. J Infect Chemother. 2020 Apr;26(4):307-313. doi: 10.1016/j.jiac.2019.11.006. Epub 2019 Dec 9. PMID: 31836423.
* Rhee MS, Lee MJ, Lee S. Clinical Characteristics and Management of Bacterial Conjunctivitis. Korean J Ophthalmol. 2021 Feb;35(1):1-10. doi: 10.3341/kjo.2020.0033. Epub 2021 Feb 5. PMID: 33543666; PMCID: PMC7873528.
* Bielory BP, Bielory L. Allergic conjunctivitis: an updated review. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2019 Jan 30;19(1):1-12. doi: 10.1007/s11882-019-0836-1. PMID: 30697664.
Q.
What pinkeye some effective treatments I can do at home?
A.
Effective at-home treatments include strict hand hygiene and not sharing towels, warm compresses for viral/bacterial cases or cool compresses for allergic cases, lubricating or antihistamine drops (avoid prolonged use of redness‑relief drops), removing contact lenses, and gentle eyelid cleaning; most cases improve within 1–2 weeks, and mild bacterial conjunctivitis often gets better without antibiotics after a short watch‑and‑wait period. There are several factors to consider—pinkeye type, which drops and compresses to use, and red flags like severe pain, vision changes, swelling, fever, or no improvement by 7–10 days—see the complete guidance below to decide your next steps.
References:
Everitt HA, Little PS, Smith PW, et al. (2006). Antibiotic treatment of acute infective conjunctivitis: randomized… BMJ, 17142557.
Wakefield D, & Williamson T. (2000). Antibiotics for acute bacterial conjunctivitis. Cochrane… Cochrane Database Syst Rev, CD001211, 10796508.
Durand F, & Valla D. (2005). Assessment of the prognosis of cirrhosis: Child-Pugh vs MELD. J Hepatol, 15862188.
Q.
What pinkeye treatments are available over the counter?
A.
Over-the-counter options include artificial tears/lubricants, ketotifen antihistamine/mast‑cell stabilizer drops for allergies, short‑term redness relievers like naphazoline or tetrahydrozoline (limit to 3–4 days), sterile saline eyewash, bedtime lubricating gels/ointments, oral pain relievers, plus warm/cool compresses and gentle eyelid hygiene. There are several factors to consider—antibiotic drops require a prescription and often aren’t necessary, and you should seek care for severe pain, vision changes, or persistent thick discharge; see the complete guidance below to choose the safest next step.
References:
de Franchis R, & Dell'Era A. (2007). Non-invasive diagnosis of cirrhosis and the natural history… Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol, 17223493.
European Association for the Study of the Liver. (2014). EASL clinical practice guidelines for the management of patients with decompensated cirrhosis… J Hepatol, 24986678.
Smits G, Aarts L, Ernst B, & van der Linden F. (2010). Antibiotics versus placebo for acute bacterial conjunctivitis… Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 20464712.
Q.
What are the side effects of izervay?
A.
Izervay (avacincaptad pegol) can sometimes cause eye pain, redness, or inflammation after an injection, and these side effects are usually temporary. It is important to follow your doctor's care and report any unusual eye symptoms.
References:
Khanani AM, Patel SS, Staurenghi G, Tadayoni R, Danzig CJ, Eichenbaum DA, Hsu J, Wykoff CC, Heier JS, Lally DR, Monés J, Nielsen JS, Sheth VS, Kaiser PK, Clark J, Zhu L, Patel H, Tang J, Desai D, Jaffe GJ; GATHER2 trial investigators. Efficacy and safety of avacincaptad pegol in patients with geographic atrophy (GATHER2): 12-month results from a randomised, double-masked, phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2023 Oct 21;402(10411):1449-1458. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01583-0. Epub 2023 Sep 8. PMID: 37696275.
Shakeel L, Khan A, Akilimali A. "Izervay (avacincaptad pegol): paving the way for vision preservation in geographic atrophy". Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2024 Apr 3;86(5):2413-2416. doi: 10.1097/MS9.0000000000002021. PMID: 38694318; PMCID: PMC11060312.
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