What causes excessive redness or bloodshot eyes?
May 13, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Wang Shuai
Introduction
In general, excessive redness or bloodshot eyes may be caused by over-fatigue, foreign body irritation, conjunctivitis, keratitis, scleritis, or other conditions. Patients should promptly visit a正规 hospital to determine the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment. In daily diet, it is important to avoid spicy, irritating, raw, cold, or hard foods, and to focus on light, easily digestible meals.
Generally, excessive redness or bloodshot eyes may be caused by over-fatigue, foreign body irritation, conjunctivitis, keratitis, scleritis, or other reasons. Patients should promptly visit a正规 medical facility to determine the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment. Specific analyses are as follows:
1. Over-fatigue
Prolonged eye use, such as extended periods of staring at electronic devices like computers or smartphones, can lead to eye strain. This fatigue may cause persistent tension and congestion in the tiny blood vessels of the eye, resulting in visible red blood vessels. It is recommended to maintain proper eye hygiene, keep an appropriate viewing distance and duration, take regular breaks, and avoid prolonged continuous eye use.
2. Foreign Body Irritation
Irritation from external foreign bodies—such as dust, eyelashes, or small insects—can cause discomfort and inflammatory responses in the eye. Such irritation leads to dilation and congestion of the ocular capillaries, manifesting as increased redness. It is advised to promptly remove the foreign object and rinse the eye with saline solution or clean water to reduce irritation and inflammation.
3. Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms. The inflammation results in dilated conjunctival blood vessels and increased secretions, leading to visibly red eyes. Under medical guidance, patients may use medications such as acyclovir tablets, loratadine tablets, or roxithromycin capsules for treatment.
4. Keratitis
Keratitis is an inflammatory response of the cornea triggered by exogenous or endogenous pathogenic factors invading the corneal tissue. Inflammation causes local congestion and swelling of the cornea, leading to the aforementioned symptoms. Patients may follow medical advice to use medications such as tobramycin eye drops, ofloxacin eye drops, or amoxicillin capsules to improve their condition.
5. Scleritis
Scleritis is a relatively rare inflammatory eye disease that primarily affects the sclera, the outer layer of the eyeball. Inflammation leads to symptoms such as scleral congestion, thickening, and pain, often accompanied by noticeable eye redness. Under medical supervision, patients may use medications such as ibuprofen sustained-release capsules, acetaminophen tablets, or azelastine hydrochloride tablets for treatment.
In daily diet, it is important to avoid spicy, stimulating, raw, cold, or hard foods. Instead, opt for light and easily digestible meals. If symptoms persist without improvement, prompt medical evaluation is recommended to establish a clear diagnosis.
