Most people have experienced red eyes, a condition which can be caused by hay fever, smoking, chlorinated water in the swimming pool, and more. This condition is characterized by red streaks in the sclera and the eyes may feel uncomfortable, watery, and itchy. The tiny blood vessels under the surface of the eye become inflamed or dilated as a result of external irritation, thereby causing the redness. While you don’t have to worry about red-eye because many cases are harmless and tend to respond positively to over-the-counter medication, bloodshot eyes can look unpleasant. Here are the tips from the Eye Care Professionals to Reduce Red Eyes.
The remedy you choose to treat your red eyes depends on what caused the condition. The discomfort can be remedied by both short- and long-term solutions as recommended by eye doctors for elite vision care.
Warm compress
This is one of the short-term solutions for red eyes. It involves soaking a face towel in warm water and wringing it out before placing it on closed eyes for 5-10 minutes. Keep the temperature reasonable because of the generally sensitive nature of the eyelids and areas surrounding the eyes. Warm compresses can enhance blood flow to the eye area and increase the secretion of oil on the eyelids. As a result, the eye produces more lubrication to get rid of the dryness that may be causing eye redness.
Cool compress
This is important where a warm compress doesn’t work and it often takes the opposite approach. It is similar to the warm compress method except cool water is used instead. It can help to get rid of swelling and minimize itchiness that results from irritation. However, avoid using extreme temperatures around the eye so you don’t worsen the problem.
Artificial tears
Artificial tears work like natural tears because they also lubricate and clean the eyes. Over-the-counter artificial tears can help to resolve both short- and long-term dryness that may be causing the redness and leave the eyes healthy.
Become diet-conscious
This is a long-term solution because it involves making deliberate efforts to eat the right diet that promotes eye health. Staying hydrated can help prevent bloodshot eyes. To maintain proper water or fluid balance, you need to drink about 8 glasses of water daily. You should also avoid consuming a lot of inflammatory foods associated with eye redness, including fast foods, processed foods, and dairy products. Alternatively, you can add more inflammatory-reducing (anti-inflammatory) foods to your diet. These foods include sea foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids (salmon), nuts, and seeds.
Consider changing contacts
Chronic eye redness may be as a result of wearing contacts because the materials used in making some lenses may cause irritation and even infection. However, talk to your eye doctor before you switch lenses because they can help to identify the problem, which may or may not be linked to a change in contact lenses.
Pay attention to your environment
An environment full of smoke, pollen and other allergens can affect the eyes. Similarly, humidity, wind, and dry air are also factors that may cause eye irritation and redness.
These are some of the highly recommended red eye solutions from eye doctors to help you maintain healthy eyes. However, note that eye redness can be caused by numerous underlying factors. Therefore, you should see an eye doctor if your condition does not seem to improve after trying some of these red eye solutions.
