What causes bloodshot eyes?
Apr 30, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Wang Shuai
Introduction
In general, eye redness may be caused by eye strain, long-term use of eye drops, conjunctivitis, scleritis, acute glaucoma, or other reasons. In daily life, it is important to maintain proper eye usage habits, such as keeping an appropriate reading and writing distance and angle. At the same time, attention should be paid to adjusting indoor lighting to avoid excessively bright or dim light that could irritate the eyes.
In general, eye redness may be caused by eye strain, long-term use of eye drops, conjunctivitis, scleritis, or acute glaucoma. When the above conditions occur, timely medical evaluation and treatment are recommended. Specific analysis is as follows:
1. Eye strain: Prolonged use of the eyes, especially in poorly lit or dry environments, may cause blood vessels in the eyes to dilate, leading to eye redness. This occurs due to excessive eye effort resulting in congestion of ocular blood vessels. It is recommended to maintain moderate eye use and take breaks by gazing into the distance or closing the eyes periodically.
2. Long-term use of eye drops: Certain chemicals in eye drops may cause eye redness. In particular, prolonged or excessive use of eye drops may lead to vascular tolerance to the medication, resulting in rebound hyperemia. Eye drops should be used only as directed by a physician to avoid drug abuse.
3. Conjunctivitis: Conjunctivitis refers to inflammation of the conjunctiva, usually caused by bacterial infection, viral infection, or allergies. In severe cases of conjunctivitis, blood vessels around the eye may dilate, causing eye redness. Follow medical advice to relieve symptoms using medications such as chloramphenicol eye drops, ofloxacin eye drops, or ganciclovir eye drops.
4. Scleritis: Scleritis is an inflammatory condition caused by infection or irritation of the sclera. When the sclera is irritated or infected, blood vessels around the eyeball may dilate, leading to eye redness. Under medical guidance, medications such as methylprednisolone tablets, fluconazole eye drops, or tobramycin eye drops may be used to alleviate discomfort.
5. Acute glaucoma: Acute glaucoma is a serious eye condition typically caused by a sudden increase in intraocular pressure. During an acute attack, increased pressure within the eye may cause dilation of blood vessels around the eyeball, resulting in eye redness. Treatment under medical supervision may include medications such as betaxolol hydrochloride eye drops, mannitol injection, or carteolol hydrochloride eye drops.
In daily life, it is important to maintain proper eye usage habits, such as keeping correct reading and writing distances and angles. Additionally, adjust indoor lighting appropriately to avoid excessively bright or dim light that may irritate the eyes.
