Why do red eyes, red eyes sign of disease?

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Hoang Thanh Nga - Department of Medical Examination and Internal Medicine - Vinmec Ha Long International Hospital. The doctor has 10 years of experience in the field of ophthalmology.

Redness of the eye occurs because the blood vessels in the eye become enlarged and dilated, which is indicative of an ophthalmic or systemic condition. This condition can be benign or serious depending on the accompanying symptoms such as decreased vision, eye pain, glare,...

Redness of the eye is caused by dilation of the small blood vessels located between the sclera and conjunctiva in the eye. Red eyes can manifest in many different degrees, benign or severe depending on the accompanying symptoms. Some environmental causes cause red eyes such as:
Air pollution Smoke Dry climate Dust Gas in the air: gasoline, solvents,... Exposure to chemicals such as swimming pool chlorine,... Exposure too much sun in bright light without wearing UV-blocking sunglasses. See also: How to treat pink eye

Red eyes can be a symptom of many different diseases. The nature of the emergency depends on the accompanying signs such as: medical history, pain, decreased vision,... Some common diseases that cause red eye symptoms include:
2.1 Blepharitis Inflammation of the eyelids It can also cause red eyes. Currently, there is not much evidence that antibiotics are effective in the treatment of blepharitis. Usually the disease will recover when the patient keeps the eye clean and warm compresses.
2.2 Subconjunctival Hemorrhage Subconjunctival hemorrhage is a disease that shows signs of redness in the eyes, but the less common type of red eye is a blood red dot in the eye. It may look like a small bruise on the skin that appears after a light touch, cough or sneeze. High blood pressure or the use of anticoagulants can cause bleeding.
Usually subconjunctival hemorrhage will clear up on its own in 2 weeks without any treatment. However, if you feel persistent discomfort or eye pain, you should seek medical attention.

2.3 Hemorrhage under the eye Subocular hemorrhage occurs when a blood vessel under the surface of the eye ruptures, and the blood collects to form a red patch on the white background of the eye. This is a common injury, although it looks serious, it does not affect strength, cause pain, leak or swelling.
Bleeding under the eyes can happen when working too hard, for example: going to the gym or lifting something too heavy, or just from sneezing or coughing too hard,... Even vomiting can can cause bleeding, as it causes direct trauma to the eye. The red patches caused by bleeding under the eyes will gradually fade after a few weeks.

See more: What to abstain from red eye? Things need to notice

2.4 Glaucoma Glaucoma is a series of diseases that damage the optic nerve that connects the retina of the eye to the brain. Glaucoma usually occurs when the eye is put under too much pressure due to fluid build-up. One of the first signs of a type of glaucoma, called acute angle closure glaucoma, is red eyes. Some other signs include: blurred vision, seeing circles in the light, eye pain,...
Glaucoma can cause blindness, so it's important to see an ophthalmologist to have it checked. Get a thorough examination if you suspect you are suffering from this symptom. Glaucoma usually comes on slowly, but if the eyes turn red and vision problems come on suddenly, and are accompanied by symptoms like headaches and nausea, it's advanced. count. Although glaucoma usually occurs mainly in the elderly, the possibility that young people also develop this disease cannot be excluded. Regular eye exams are a way to detect early and slow down vision loss with the help of a doctor.
In addition, red eyes can be a sign of many other eye diseases such as:
Dry eyes Eye allergies Contact lens use Digital eye fatigue Eye injury New eye surgery: LASIK, plastic surgery eye,... Uveitis Corneal ulcer

Lifestyle factors also contribute to your risk of red eyes. Examples include crying a lot, smoking cigarettes or marijuana, or drinking a lot of alcohol. Regular use of electronic and digital devices and insufficient sleep are also causes of red eyes.
See more: Can red eyes with chlorocina-H ointment be cured?

Some remedies for red eyes caused by environmental factors such as:
Warm compress : Dip a clean towel or clean gauze in warm water and squeeze. The area around the eyes is very sensitive, so you need to maintain a reasonable temperature. Place a warm washcloth over your eyes for about 10 minutes. Heat can increase the amount of blood to nourish, it can also increase the production of mucus in the eyelids. It makes your eyes work more smoothly. Remember to use a separate towel or gauze for each eye. Cold compress: If warm compresses are not effective, cold compress can be used. Dipping a clean washcloth or gauze in cold water and wringing it out may temporarily relieve symptoms of red eyes. It helps reduce swelling and itching caused by irritation. Care should be taken to avoid extreme cold or extreme heat in the area around the eyes which can make the condition worse. Artificial tears: Tears help clean the eyes and make the eyes work more smoothly. Short-term or long-term dry eyes can use artificial tears to keep the eyes healthy. Stop using contact lenses: Contact lenses can cause frequent eye redness. Contact lens materials increase the chance of infection and irritation in the eye. Therefore, if your eyes are often red, you need to stop using contact lenses. Diet: Drink enough water every day to balance the amount of water in the body. In addition, eating too much of these potentially inflammatory foods also leads to red eyes. Processed foods, dairy products, and fast food can all cause inflammation if you eat too much. Limit the amount of processed foods or add anti-inflammatory foods to your diet. Products rich in omega-3s have the ability to reduce inflammation, and are commonly found in fish. Therefore, for better eyes, you can add foods rich in omega-3 such as: salmon, and nuts,... Pay attention to your surroundings: Exposure to allergens such as Pollen or smoke can also be the source of red eyes. Dry, wet, and windy air can also cause red eyes.

In a nutshell, red eye is the dilation of the small blood vessels located between the sclera and conjunctiva in the eye. Red eye is a common symptom and manifests in different degrees and is a symptom of many diseases such as eyelid inflammation, subconjunctival hemorrhage, sub-ocular hemorrhage, and glaucoma, etc. Therefore, if applying common measures such as hot compresses, cold compresses, etc., the redness of the eyes is still not relieved, and is accompanied by a number of other symptoms such as pain and tearing. many, vision loss, ... need to go to a medical facility immediately for examination and appropriate treatment measures.
Advice from a specialist: Red eyes can be caused by many different diseases, including serious and acute diseases such as: angle-closure glaucoma, corneal ulcers...if not treated Timely awareness can cause blindness. Therefore, patients with red eyes should go to the doctor as soon as possible for timely treatment.
If you are experiencing vision problems, go to a medical facility immediately to be examined and treated by doctors as soon as possible. Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital has vision-related service packages such as:
Refractive error screening package Cataract surgery consultation and examination package Ortho-K package