Eye redness Health Article

What to expect at your health care provider's office

Your doctor will take your medical history and perform a physical examination, which will include a detailed eye exam.

To help diagnose the cause of the problem, your doctor will ask medical history questions, such as:

• Are both of your eyes affected? If only one eye, which one?
• What part of the eye is affected -- the white part, or elsewhere?
• Did the redness come on suddenly?
• Have you ever had eye redness before?
• Do you have eye pain? Does it get worse after movement of the eyes?
• Do you have other symptoms like eye discharge, burning, or itching? Nausea or vomiting? A headache?

The eyes may need irrigation with normal saline solution, and any foreign bodies will need to be removed. Eye drops may be prescribed.

Prevention

To prevent conjunctivitis:

• Do NOT share anything that has touched the eye of someone with this contagious condition -- like pillowcases, sheets, towels, or eyeliner.
• Wash your hands right away if you have come in contact with someone with conjunctivitis.
• Wash out any chemicals or objects from your eye immediately.

References

Greenberg MF. The red eye in childhood. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2003;50(1):105-124.

Pasternak A, Irish B. Ophthalmologic infections in primary care. Clin Fam Pract. 2004;6(1): 19.

Rodriguez JO. Prevention and treatment of common eye injuries in sports. Am Fam Physician. 2003;67(7):1481-1488.