Redness of Eyes

 Redness of eyes could be a sign of a very simple  ailment of the eye or signal some serious eye problem. Red eyes caused by anger are not the scope of this article, but all other causes are!

Redness of eyes can be caused by

1)      Inflammation of the conjunctiva (the transparent layer covering the white part of the eye) due to-

a)Infection due to bacteria, viruses, and other microscopic organisms

b) Allergies due to dust, pollens, cosmetics and many other particles in the air. Allergies can be seasonal or can occur throughout the year.

A specific type of allergy affects children from a very early age, sometimes from 2 years of age. It is called as ‘spring catarrh’. This allergy occurs at every season change or in spring and is associated with itchy red eyes. It reduces as the child grows and mostly goes off after 16 to 17 years of age. But it requires medication and control till it is resolved.

2)      Infection of the eyelids called as blepharitis which is associated with flaking and matting of the eyelids at the roots of eyelashes. It also causes redness of eyes.

3)      Uveitis means the swelling and inflammation of brown pigmented middle layer of the eye that can be seen as iris from outside. It can be autoimmune (the immune system that counters the infections and allergies that occur from outside the body starts attacking the parts of the body itself) or caused by certain diseases like tuberculosis or syphilis or herpes infections.

4)      Dry eye which is cause by reduced tear secretion of the eyes, mostly in the elderly and in post – menopausal women. It can also occur in reduced secretion of oil by the glands of the eye which causes evaporation of the tears due to reduced oil (meibum) by the glands when it is called as evaporative dry eye. This can also be caused by long hours on computers. 

5)      Sub-conjunctival hemorrhage causes frightening dark red localized fleshy redness of the conjunctiva and can be caused by very simple acts like coughing, sneezing, straining at stools, lifting heavy weights, but can also be caused by reduced clotting of blood in some blood dyscrasias(where there is deficiency of the clotting factors in the blood or abnormal blood cells) and also in hypertensive patients. When it is due to commonplace reasons patients can be told to relax and not be afraid as it reduces on its own after about two weeks.

6)      Foreign body anywhere in the eye like dust particles during driving, glass or iron particles in factory workers. And also acid and alkali burns due to everyday use chemicals like toilet cleaners, mosquito repellents and many others. It is very important that patients are instructed to thoroughly wash their eyes even before they come to the eye clinic as earlier the eyes are washed the better.

7)      Ulcers of the cornea due to infections from bacteria and viruses  (herpes corneal ulcer is the commonest) and also fungi which occurs mostly due to injury with a tree branch, rice husk, blades of grass or foreign bodies of vegetative origin especially in rural areas  going in the eye.

8)      Contact lens over-wear or unhygienic use of contact lenses. We advise all contact lens wearers to wash their hands before handling the lenses and to replace the lens solution regularly and clean the lenses while putting them on and removing them every day.

9)      Acute congestive glaucoma which occurs more frequently as the age advances and is caused by raised eye pressure and is associated with severe eye pain.

                          The treatment of the redness of the eyes varies according to the cause but it is always advisable to seek opinion from Medical practitioners and not buy medicines from over the counter as they have potential side effects. The most over used preparations are the corticosteroids and they have severe side effects like raising eye pressure, to causing early cataracts. Inadvertent use of antibiotics causes the organisms to become resistant and the antibiotics to be ineffective and so great care has to be taken while using them.