There are a variety of reasons you can develop bloodshot eyes ranging from eyestrain and fatigue to colds and allergies. Sometimes environmental issues such as sleeping in a dry environment or exposure to irritating chemicals can result in bloodshot eyes. Some causes can be serious including eye infections, corneal abrasions, and glaucoma.
If you experience eye pain, light sensitivity, headache, visual changes, or an eye discharge, you need to be seen by a physician and shouldn’t attempt any treatment on your own. If you’ve been up all night or spent too much time in front of your computer and have no other eye complaints, chances are you’ll dealing with a simple eyestrain or irritation. If you have a history of allergy, this may explain your bloodshot eyes. What can you do at home to treat an uncomplicated case of blood shot eyes?
How to get rid of bloodshot eyes: Assess your environment
If you experience bloodshot eyes during the winter months, the cause could be lack of humidity. Reassess your living area to see if you need to add a humidifier to moisten the air. Have you been exposed to heavy cigarette smoke or harsh chemicals of any type recently? Have you been exposed to something you’re allergic to? If it seems likely you’re experiencing bloodshot eyes due to allergies, you can contact your physician and get a prescription antihistamine which should relieve your symptoms.
How to get rid of bloodshot eyes: Use artificial tears
Artificial tears are a good choice for treating bloodshot eyes since they moisten the mucous membranes of the eyes. Stay away from the popular eye drops that claim to “get the red out” since they can dry out the mucous membranes worsening the problem.
How to get rid of bloodshot eyes: Use the healing power of cold
Remove a package of vegetables from your freezer and place them over the outer surface of your eyelids with your eyes closed. It’s easiest to lie down for fifteen minutes and allow the cold to have its effect. The cold will not only make your irritated eyes feel better, it will also shrink the irritated blood vessels making them appear less red.
How to get rid of bloodshot eyes: Assess your lifestyle
If you’re staying up until 2:00 A.M. working on your computer, your eyes may be suffering from both eyestrain and lack of sleep. It may be time to make a few lifestyle changes to help heal your bloodshot eyes. Try to get 7-8 hours sleep each night and take breaks away from your computer screen to rest your eyes. You can also purchase a filter to place over your monitor to reduce the risk of eyestrain. Be sure to stay well hydrated by drinking plenty of water. This helps to keep the mucous membranes of the eyes moist, reducing irritation.
If your bloodshot eyes persist, you should see your doctor to make sure you’re not dealing with a more serious cause for our red eyes.
