Bloodshot Eyes: Its Common Causes and Prevention

You know you have Bloodshot Eyes when you scratched an itchy eye and soon found your eyes becoming red.

Or, in worse cases, woke up to a set of painful and watery eyes, with lumps of dried substances in the corner of the eyelids.

A Bloodshot Eye is a condition where our eyes show unusual redness, and is usually accompanied by uneasiness, itching, tearing, and heaviness.

Read on this article to know more about its causes and solutions.

What are “Bloodshot Eyes?”

Bloodshot eyes, or simply the appearance of redness in the white area of the eye (sclera), occurs when blood vessels around the eyes swell and get irritated. These are typically caused by both environmental and lifestyle factors.

Having bloodshot eyes after activities like scratching, is common and does not usually impose danger.

However, in some instances, having bloodshot eyes may be a symptom to a bigger health issue.

What are the causes of Bloodshot Eyes?

Different factors can cause Bloodshot Eyes. Here are some of them:

Excessive sneezing and coughing.

When the irritation in our nasal cavity makes us put too much effort in sneezing and coughing, it can cause subconjunctival hemorrhage where a small patch of blood appears in one eye.

When this occurs with a tingling pain, it should be taken seriously for it may lead to serious eye problems.

Take note that sneezing is a natural impulse. If the sneeze doesn’t cause pain to the eye, then you have nothing to worry.

Allergies.

Considering that the eyes are a sensitive organ, a lot of allergens may trigger itchiness.

Allergic eye reactions can be caused by various factors. These factors include: airborne allergens such as dust, pollen from flowers and plants, fur from pets, perfume emission, chemical exposure, and smoke.

With these factors, we may also experience tearing and burning sensation.

Sleep Deprivation.

People who pull off an ‘all-nighter’ may have eyes that are tired and red the next day.

This is caused by the inability of the blood to circulate properly, thus, resulting to lack of oxygen.

The blood vessels in our eyes that are running low on oxygen gets used up, dilated and swollen. This will make it look red and inflamed.

Another thing to take note of is the lack of lubrication of the cornea. When we open our eyes for a long time, this causes dryness and heaviness in the eye, which will eventually cause Bloodshot Eyes.

Alcohol Intoxication.

The dilation of the blood vessels of the sclera can also be caused by a large consumption of alcohol.

Being drunk disables our body to function well and thus, results to the depletion of nutrients allotted for the eyes.

When our eyes no longer receive the proper chemicals, expect Bloodshot Eyes soon.

Contact Lens Irritation.

Improper handling and usage of contact lenses can cause irritation and redness in the eyes.

Wearing contact lenses above its maximum wearable hours can cause improper oxygen flow in our eyes, causing Bloodshot Eyes.

Contact lenses that can cause irritation include those that are unsanitary, worn during sleep, and those coming from unreliable sources.

Pink Eye.

A specific eye problem branched out of the bigger idea of having bloodshot eyes.

Scientifically called as Conjunctivitis or pink eye, occurs when the cornea is irritated due to inflammation or infection.

Although Pink Eye is generally harmless, people diagnosed with it are advised to stay away from crowds, especially those who are caused by a bacteria.

Eye Injury.

Aside from the inflammation and irritation of the blood vessels in our eyes, one clear cause of having bloodshot eyes are eye injuries.

May it be an injury from long ago, or just a recent one, injuries near the eye usually leave a red patch.

Patches from recent injuries tend to clear up in time but severe injuries leaves a permanent redness on our eyes.

Eye Surgery.

After surviving an eye surgery, certain redness in the eyes is expected, and is usually normal.

The operation conducted on the eye must have left red dots that will eventually go away as the patient recovers.

In LASIK surgery, it is inevitable for the blood vessels to break and leave blood spots.

This may appear dangerous, however, proper knowledge about it will ease your concerns.

Immediate Solution to Bloodshot Eyes

Having an easy fix to Bloodshot eyes include: hot compress while the eyes are closed.

This helps the eyes lubricate and produce more oil to ease the infection and let it out as a tear.

Application of artificial tears and eye drops containing antibiotics can also help.

This helps add moisture to the eyes, thus, eliminating dryness.  and kills bacteria that caused the infection.

[Read: What psychology reveals about your eye color]

In having bloodshot eyes from drinking and lack of sleep, cold spoon therapy is of great help. The sudden cold makes the swollen vessels constrict and make it less red.

Generally, cold compress can make the itchiness and irritation subside because of the halt it gives to the inflammation.

Ways to Prevent Having Bloodshot Eyes

There are numerous ways to avoid having bloodshot eyes. Simply from being hygienic around your eyes and other little ways to enjoy a clear vision.

Solution to having red eyes varies from person to person because of the differences in an individual, just like when it comes to the things a person may be allergic to or the previous experiences that may have caused the red tint in the eyes.

Avoiding Irritants and Allergens.

Common prevention includes staying away from the things that can irritate the eyes.

Chemicals should be used appropriately and should be placed on its designated area where kids could not reach it.

Knowledge about certain chemicals can also prevent you from having red eyes since you would pave yourself away from chemicals that can harm your eyes.

Contact Lens Sanitation.

People who wear contact lenses should be more responsible of their handling with the lenses. Hygienic practices are important in maintaining the use of contact lens.

Users should also be mindful of the maximum wearing time and make sure to place it properly on the container with proper lubrication.

[Read: FAQs about Cosplay Colored Lenses]

Getting Enough Sleep.

Aside from the fact that a good sleep can make our moods brighter, it can also regulate bodily functions in our body. That includes the rest of your eyes.

This is necessary, so that the eyes can function properly. Good sleep can also make us more productive by making our eye sight stable and more focused on our tasks.

Drinking Alcoholic Beverages in Moderation.

Alcohol intoxication leads to not only to bloodshot eyes, but also to a lot of more serious health problems.

It can also cause impaired vision and hallucinations. Vitamin and mineral deficiency is also a side-effect of having too much alcohol in our system.

Hygienic Environment.

Pets are a great companion, and knowing that they cannot keep themselves clean, owners should maintain cleanliness especially in the areas where fallen pet fur accumulates.

Keeping your pets clean and cleaning after yourself helps you prevent hair and dust from getting into your eyes.

Rubbing your eyes with dirty hands can also cause infection. It is best to maintain sanitized hands, especially when we rub our eyes or our.

Sources that we trust:

WebMD
Medical News Today
American Academy of Opthalmology
Very Well Health