Bloodshot Eyes as a Symptom

Bloodshot eyes is often referred to as red eyes. As the name suggests, the eyes appear red in this condition. It is mostly found in both the eyes but bloodshot in one eye cannot be ruled out. It usually develops when the blood vessels present near the eye region becomes enlarged and congested with blood. In case the symptoms turn severe, the red spread veins become too prominent on the white eyeball.

The blood vessels in the eyes may get inflamed due to various causes and lead to bloodshot eyes. Some less harmful causes are cold and flu, eye fatigue, eye strain, sun exposure, etc. Exposure to toxic substances and allergens may give rise to this condition. It could be a symptom of eye problems like conjunctivitis, a kind of bacterial infection in the eyes, blepharitis, glaucoma, etc.

Those who wear contact lenses may get such redness as the eyes become dry and the lack of moisture can be responsible for the enlargement of blood vessels. Any kind of injury to the eyes may result in reddening of the eyes. There is a connection between bloodshot eyes and high blood pressure too. Sometimes, due to high blood pressure, one or more of the blood vessels may burst and the blood leaks out into the white part of the eyeball and result in appearance of those bloodshot. Nutritional deficiency and consumption of alcohol are the other two causes.

This condition suggests the presence of some kind of health disorders. In most cases, it has one or more accompanying symptoms which can in turn help to identify the underlying health problem.

Blepharitis is one such condition where the bloodshot comes with symptoms like itching sensation on the eyelid, soreness of eyes, and a greasy discharge in the eyes. Overuse of contact lens can be indicated by dryness of eye and eye twitching.

When red eyes is caused by infection like conjunctivitis, then the symptoms that shows up are mild to moderate eye pain and itching sensation in the eyes. However, if it is an extremely painful condition, then it could be because of serious eye problems like corneal ulceration, keratitis, etc.

Blurred vision could be a symptom of a serious nature. In this case, there is a possibility that it is due to some kind of ocular diseases. If the vision gets slightly cleared after blinking of the eye, then it suggests that some kind of discharge is taking place on the eye surface.

If a person experiences colored halos in the vision along with red eyes, then it is a sign of corneal edema. In acute form of glaucoma, one experiences severe eye pain, photophobia, or extreme sensitivity towards light.

Redness of eyes when caused by cold and flu or allergies, the other signs associated with it are coughing, sneezing, sniffing, etc. Any other health problem like high blood pressure can give some less common symptoms like headache, neck pain, swelling in hands and feet, etc.

When one first notices this condition, he/she can apply an ice pack over the eyes to get rid of the pain and swelling. Thus, one can eliminate the redness as well. Washing the eyes with water, to which eye washing solution has been added, may bring down the symptoms to a great extent. If these measures fail to show any signs of improvement, consult the doctor who would check the condition and prescribe medicines accordingly.

For dry eyes, artificial tears are given. For allergies, antihistamines for oral intake as well as eye drops are recommended. Infections like conjunctivitis and blepharitis are treated with decongestants, medicated eye drops, and pain relievers. Similarly, other eye problems are treated to give relief.

Bloodshot eyes symptoms can be caused due to some minor reasons or it could be an indication of a major eye disorder. Therefore, one should never ignore it. When one experiences this problem, he/she may feel the urge to rub the eyes or touch them repeatedly. One should strictly avoid it. Or else, the condition may deteriorate further and induce more severe forms of symptoms.

Disclaimer: This Story is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.