What do red eyes talk about and what to do with them

Why do eyes turn red

1. Allergy

Dilation of the eye vessels leading to redness, tears and irritation can be signs of an allergy. In this case, it makes sense to drip moisturizing drops to wash off the allergen. And if it doesn't help, take an antihistamine.

2. Infection

Alexander Rodin ophthalmologist at the Vision Clinic (Moscow) and Canadian Eye Care Center Moscow

In a number of situations, redness of the eyes is caused by inflammation of the tissues of the eye - conjunctivitis, episcleritis, keratitis, inflammation of the iris, or some more rare diseases. Although mild infections of the outer lining of the eyes can go away on their own, these conditions should not be ignored by an ophthalmologist: they can pose a threat to vision. In such cases, only a doctor can assess the details of what is happening and give accurate recommendations for treatment.

3. Smoking and alcohol

A couple of hours in a smoky room - and redness of the eyes will not keep you waiting. Tobacco fumes, like any other smoke, irritate the cornea of the eye, and irritation is one of the causes of redness.

Overdoing it with alcohol, you also run the risk of waking up in the morning with scarlet eyes. The fact is that alcohol disrupts the process of moisturizing the eye, and this leads to redness. Oral alcohol administration disturbs tear film and ocular surface.

4. Lack of sleep

It takes a while for the eyes to regain their natural moisture level. They rest at night, but if the precious hours of sleep are stolen from them, they will avenge themselves with redness.

5. Dry air

In winter, dryness and redness of the eyes are more common. This is due to the low level of humidity, which prevails both in hot rooms and outside.

6. Long work at the computer

On average, a person blinks 15 times a minute. But if he looks at the computer screen, this figure is reduced by a third Computers, Digital Devices and Eye Strain. Therefore, if you do not look away from the monitor for several hours, your eyes will not receive a significant part of the moisture they need and may turn red.

Rano Ibragimova ophthalmologist, specialist at Essilor Academy, Russia

Gadgets emit harmful blue-violet rays of the visible spectrum, which cause eye fatigue and have an adverse effect on the retina. Therefore, when using electronic devices, it is recommended to wear glasses with protective lenses that will block harmful rays.

7. Injury of the capillaries of the eye

If you notice a red spot in the eye, most likely, the wall of one of the vessels has been injured. In most cases, such redness goes away on its own, but sometimes it can indicate other diseases (for example, diabetes or hypertension). Therefore, if this happens often, it would be useful to consult a doctor.

8. Side effects of drugs

Some medications can cause dry eyes and, as a result, redness: beta-blockers, diuretics, antihistamines, hypnotics, and sedatives Causes of Dry Eye. Therefore, talk about eye problems to the doctor who prescribed these drugs.

9. Contact lenses

Wearing contact lenses is a challenge to the natural moisture level of the eye. If your lenses cause redness, try a different brand or switch to glasses altogether.

What to do if you have red eyes

1. Use artificial tears

As you can see, in most cases, dry eye syndrome is to blame for redness, caused by various reasons. If your own tears are not enough for normal hydration, you can just regularly bury artificial analogs that are sold in pharmacies.

Do not overuse drops that contain a vasoconstrictor drug. They give the best short-term cosmetic effect, but dilate the capillaries immediately after they stop acting and mask the real cause of the redness.

Alexander Rodin ophthalmologist at the Vision Clinic (Moscow) and Canadian Eye Care Center Moscow

2. Get distracted from the computer

If you cannot minimize communication with PC and smartphone screens, you should at least take pauses. The American Academy of Ophthalmology suggests a rule of three 20: Look away from the screen every 20 minutes to look at an object at least 20 feet (about 6 meters) away from you for 20 seconds Computers, Digital Devices and Eye Strain. And if you lower the brightness of the screen and position it so that it is just below eye level, it becomes even better.

Special exercises that will only take you a few minutes will help moisturize your eyes. It's a great way to bridge the gap in your PC experience.

3. Take fish oil

You can also fight dry eye syndrome with foods high in omega-3 fatty acids Relation between dietary n-3 and n-6 fatty acids and clinically diagnosed dry eye syndrome in women. Most of these substances contain fish oil, so it is worth leaning on salmon, herring, tuna, sardines and mackerel. Or, you can simply take fish oil capsules.

4. Install a humidifier

If you have red eyes, install a humidifier

If the cause of dry eyes and redness is low air humidity, buy a humidifier or replace it with available products. Not only your eyes will thank you, but also your skin, which suffers from dry air just as badly in winter.

5. Drink more water

If the human body is faced with dehydration, all parts of the body suffer, including the eyes. So a few extra glasses of refreshing fluid a day will help restore the eye's natural moisture levels and fight redness.

6. Wear sunglasses

It is also important to remember to protect your eyes from ultraviolet radiation. Moreover, it is necessary to protect the eyes not only in summer, but also in winter, when direct rays, as well as rays reflected from the snow, fall into them. Choose sunglasses with a maximum protection factor of E-SPF 50.

Rano Ibragimova ophthalmologist, specialist at Essilor Academy, Russia

7. Make compresses

Warm compresses will help improve the functioning of the eyelid glands and make the eyes less dry. It is not difficult to make them: it is enough to moisten cotton pads in water, and then apply on the eyelids for 3 minutes in the morning and in the evening, so that the pores of the glands open and the moisturizing secret comes out better. To enhance the effect, you can replace the water with green tea. The effectiveness of this natural antioxidant has been proven by Efficacy of Green Tea Extract for Treatment of Dry Eye and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction; A Double-blind Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial Study: It has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and immunomodulatory effects.