Red Eye: Causes, Treatments, and When to See a Doctor

When your eye turns red, it’s not just about looking tired. Red eye, a common condition where the white part of the eye appears bloodshot or inflamed. Also known as conjunctival hyperemia, it’s often caused by irritation, infection, or underlying health issues that need attention. It’s not always an emergency, but ignoring it can turn a simple case of dryness into something worse.

Many people assume red eye means conjunctivitis, an inflammation or infection of the thin layer covering the white of the eye and inner eyelids. Also known as pink eye, it’s one of the most frequent causes, especially in kids and people around others with infections. But it could also be a subconjunctival hemorrhage, a burst blood vessel under the eye’s surface that looks scary but usually heals on its own. Or it might be linked to glaucoma, a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve and can cause permanent vision loss if untreated. All of these show up as redness, but only one needs urgent care.

What makes red eye tricky is that the same symptom—redness—can come from allergies, contact lens overuse, digital eye strain, or even a simple scratch. If you’ve been rubbing your eyes, wearing contacts too long, or staring at screens all day, that’s likely the culprit. But if the redness comes with pain, blurry vision, light sensitivity, or discharge, you’re not dealing with just tired eyes. That’s when you need to act fast.

There’s no one-size-fits-all fix. Eye drops that work for allergies won’t help a bacterial infection. And popping into a drugstore for redness-relief drops can sometimes make things worse by masking symptoms. The posts below break down real cases, treatments that actually work, and what to avoid. You’ll find clear advice on when to try home care, which medications help, and when to get to a doctor before it’s too late. No fluff. Just what you need to know to protect your vision.