Viral conjunctivitis - cold or flu-like symptoms, runny nose, fever, itchy eyes, excessive tearing.Bacterial conjunctivitis - irritated eyes, swollen eyelids, eye discharge, crusty eyelids and excessive tearing.In addition to reddish eyes, the following symptoms are associated with conjunctivitis: This highly contagious condition affects children and adults. About 12% of kids get bacterial conjunctivitis every year. If your child has conjunctivitis, they’re not alone. There are two types of infectious conjunctivitis – bacterial and viral. You’ve probably heard of “pink eye.” It's another name for infectious conjunctivitis – an infection of the conjunctiva, the thin membrane covering the eyelid and the front surface of the eye.
The following are some of these medical conditions: Conjunctivitis If allergies are the culprit, oral antihistamines and antihistamine eye drops may relieve symptoms.Īt other times, underlying problems requiring prompt medical attention can cause your eye’s blood vessels to dilate. Lifestyle changes, such as getting more sleep, cutting down on alcohol intake and limiting screen time can often be helpful. Spending too much time in front of the computerīloodshot eyes due to lifestyle and environmental irritants may disappear on their own, or you can try to relieve them with over-the-counter eye drops or liquid tears.Irritants such as smoke, pollen and perfume.So why do these blood vessels dilate, causing your eyes to look bloodshot? This makes the eyes appear red and irritated. When blood rushes to the front of the eye, the tiny red blood vessels on the white of the eye dilate and become visible. If your eyes appear red or bloodshot, make an appointment with an eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam to determine the cause and to receive effective treatment. That might not be surprising if you stayed up late to finish a project, had too many drinks at a party or spent time in a smoke-filled room.īut bloodshot eyes can also signal an underlying eye problem. You wake up in the morning ready to start your day, only to discover that your eyes are bloodshot.