Red Eye Specialist

Antelope Valley Optometric Center Our Services Red Eye

Antelope Valley Optometric Center

Optometrists located in Lancaster, CA

Red eye occurs when the tiny blood vessels within the eyes grow irritated or infected. While this condition can be painful and frustrating, it’s easily treatable with the expert help of the eye care team at Antelope Valley Optometric Center in Lancaster, California. The experienced optometrists and their staff can evaluate and treat patients with red eye for quick relief. Call the office or schedule an appointment online today.

Red Eye Q & A

What is red eye?

Red eye is a common eye issue that often affects both eyes at once. Red eye may look like many small blood vessels against the whites of the eyes, or it may turn the entire whites of the eyes a pink or red color. Red eye can be a painful, itchy, and frustrating condition to deal with, but is very treatable.

What causes red eye?

The cause of red eye is usually some type of irritation or infection, and some of the most common causes include:

  • Allergies
  • Corneal abrasion (scratch on the cornea)
  • Corneal ulcer (open lesion on the cornea)
  • Dry eyes
  • Ectropion (eyelid turned out)
  • Entropion (eyelid turned in)
  • Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
  • Glaucoma
  • Foreign object in the eye
  • Blood vessel hemorrhage within the eye
  • Excessive time looking at screens
  • Wearing contact lenses for extended periods

There are many other potential causes of red eye. No matter why it occurs, treatment from an optometrist is the best way to eliminate red eye for good.

How are red eyes treated?

While determining the underlying cause can sometimes be difficult with red eye, usually the optometrists at Antelope Valley Optometric Center can diagnose a cause, or at least a suspected cause. This is important as treating the underlying problem is the best way to relieve red eye permanently.

For foreign bodies in the eye, treatment includes immediate removal and possibly medicated drops to enhance healing. Medication is sometimes needed for red eye caused by allergies, while in other instances lifestyle changes and avoidance of triggers is effective.

In some cases, as with entropion and ectropion that cause chronic red eye, a simple surgery may be necessary to position the eyelid properly. For red eye caused by something controllable, like spending too much spent looking at screens or wearing contact lenses for too long, simply adjusting the offending habits is usually enough to stop the red eye.

In addition to other treatments, the optometrists at Antelope Valley Optometric Center may prescribe eye drops that include an antihistamine to relieve redness and irritation and a soothing lubricating agent for immediate relief.

Schedule an appointment using online booking or by calling the office directly for lasting relief from red eye.

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