RED EYE

BASICS OF EYE

The eye is made of two parts

The sclera can turn red due to various causes
- Infection- ex-conjunctivitis,
- Increased pressure within the eye- glaucoma
- Bleeding- due to bacteria, trauma (even during delivery)

COMMON CAUSES

a) Conjunctivitis

Conjunctiva is a thin film (like the clear plastic cover) over the eyeball. When there is an infection of this, it gets red and itchy. Sometimes there may be pus discharge from the eye
Common causes are bacteria or virus or allergy
This can be treated with antibacterial eye drops- Chloramphenicol or ciprofloxacin. Ask your doctor to swab the area for treatment to know the organism. It is caused due to allergy, you need anti-allergic drops.

Other helpful measures

b) Bleeding in the eye (Subconjunctival haemorrhage)

The tiny vessels that carry blood on the surface of eye can bleed and cause sudden red eye
It can be caused by
- Injury
- Coughing
- Infections-
Like anywhere else in our body, the blood gets absorbed slowly over few days. If it persists then it needs to be looked at. There should always be an explanation for such bleed.

PAINFUL RED EYE

This is a danger sign and needs to be seen my doctor immediately

Iritis- its infection of the coloured part of eye

Pressure building inside the eye (glaucoma)

The eye is like a round ball,
It produces fluid constantly and this fluid is drained through narrow channels. When these channels get clogged, it causes glaucoma
The eye may be red and painful, and you may feel sick and see halos around lights. Your vision may be blurred or cloudy.

An ulcer on the cornea

An ulcer on the cornea (the clear outer layer at the front of the eyeball) is usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection.
It can cause the eye to become red and sensitive to light, and it can feel like there’s something in your eye.
If your GP thinks you have a corneal ulcer, they will refer you to an eye specialist for treatment.

Irritation of the eye

Every one of us has experienced irritation when a foreign body falls into the eye. This irritates the eye and causes redness.
The more you rub, it causes damage. Sometimes the particle can scratch the smooth surface of the eye( like a scratch on glass surface)
And when this gets infected, it becomes an emergency.
It is associated with pain, pus formation and painful eye movements.

Swimming.

Can lead to irritation of eye due to the chemical in the water like chlorine or bacteria present in contaminated water
Prevention – use swim goggles before taking a dip.
Also, never swim with contact lenses

FIRST AID/ PREVENTION

Don’t rub your eyes
Wash hands before touching eyes
Clean contact lenses contact lens cases can act as a breeding ground for harmful bacteria, so it’s important to follow your eye doctor’s instructions for cleaning and replacing your contacts.
Speak to your doctor about allergic conditions
Take a break from looking at the computer screen and follow the 20-20-20 rule: look away from your computer every 20 minutes and gaze at a distant object 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.

DANGER SIGNS