How to Reduce Eye Redness

Written by Anna Aronson

14 August, 2017

Fact Checked

Your eyes become red or bloodshot from the blood vessels on the surface of the eyes getting irritated and enlarged. Many factors can contribute to red eyes, including dust or foreign bodies in the eye, allergies and eye injuries. Some eye infections -- including conjunctivitis and blepharitis -- can also cause eye redness, according to MedLinePlus 1. Most cases of eye redness can easily be treated at home, but if your vision is affected or you are experiencing pain you should seek medical attention 1.

Is This an Emergency?

If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water. When your eyes are red and irritated, you're likely to instinctively touch or rub them. Because of this, it's a good idea to wash your hands frequently throughout the day. This can be especially helpful if you have an eye infection that spreads easily.

How to Get Rid of Eye Pimples

Learn More

Lie down in a comfortable place.

Place cool compresses over your eye or eyes. If the compresses are too cold, try wrapping them in a cloth or towel.

Causes of White Eye Discharge

Learn More

Lay with the compresses over your eyes for between five and 10 minutes.

Repeat these procedures throughout the day when your eyes become irritated or uncomfortable.

Tips

Eye drops available over the counter at drugstores can also help reduce redness in the eye. Some eye drops are designed specifically for this purpose.

Try not to rub or scratch your eyes. This can cause the redness to worsen and can also contribute to the spread of an infection.

If you do not have any cool compresses handy, try using a bag of frozen vegetables such as peas or corn. The small size of peas and corn makes them ideal for use as an ice pack or cool compress.

Warnings

If your eye is infected, do not wear contact lenses or apply eye makeup until the infection has cleared completely, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.