7/28/2019 RED EYE-Dr. Murali Mohan Gurram

1/7

7/28/2019 RED EYE-Dr. Murali Mohan Gurram

2/7

Eye Education Series-Red Eye: Dr. Murali Mohan Gurram

Script by Dr. Murali Mohan Gurram Page 1

RED EYE

Every one of us might have experienced red eye atleast once in our life time. Reasons for redeye

can vary from trivial reasons to some blinding eye diseases. The cause of red eye should be

known and treated to prevent unexpected complications. Every one should have a knowledge ofthese red eye causes and their symptoms. Our eye has a thin layer covering it which is called

conjunctiva. This conjunctiva has blood vessels which are usually small and not prominent.

Whenever there is irritation or inflammation, these blood vessels will increase in number and

size, leading to more blood entering them. This causes redness of eye. Sometimes, normal blood

vessels can rupture due to trauma or blood pressure. This causes blood to ooze out of blood

vessels and cause redness. This is called Subconjunctival hemorrhage. This article tries to

explain the various causes of red eye with their symptoms and treatment.

1. Foreign body: If your eye is red and have severe foreign body sensation (feeling ofsomething pricking inside the eye), which has developed suddenly in a dusty environment, you

are probably having a Foreign body in your eye. This can be a dust particle, a stone particle or

a leaf particle. Wash the eye with clean water immediately, which flushes off the foreign body. If

its not gone, try to look for the foreign body in the mirror. You can also take the help of your

friend , to find out the foreign body. If its superficial, it can be removed by using a cotton wisp.

If it doesnot get dislodged, seek medical attention immediately. Do not rub your eyes, as it can

damage the cornea and lead to severe problems of vision.

7/28/2019 RED EYE-Dr. Murali Mohan Gurram

3/7

Eye Education Series-Red Eye: Dr. Murali Mohan Gurram

Script by Dr. Murali Mohan Gurram Page 2

2. Conjunctivitis (Madras eye): If your eye is red with mild foreign body sensation andyou get white discharge from your eyes, which appears even after cleaning, you may be having

acute mucopurulent conjunctivitis. You will also find that your eyelashes get stuck to each other.

You find it difficult to open your eyes in the morning. Vision is usually not affected in this

disease. It starts in one eye, and after couple of days involves the other eye too. Conjunctivitis is

the infection of conjunctiva, which is a thin layer covering the eye and which extends onto inner

surface of eye lids. Usually the infection is by bacteria. These enter your eye, when you touch

your eyes with infected hands or other materials. Once u get this, keep your eyes clean by

washing away the discharge every 6 hourly. Take medical advice for antiobiotic treatment and

follow the instructions. Take care not to spread your infection to others. Do not let others use

towels, handkerchiefs etc which were used by you. It does not spread just by seeing into others

eyes. Children are most common to get this infection. If your child has this problem, do not send

the child to school for few days, as there is a great chance that the other kids in the class get the

infection too.

3. Allergic conjunctivopathy: if your eyes are red and watering with itching sensation, youmay be suffering from allergic conjunctivopathy. It is usually seen in both eyes. You have severe

itching in the eyes, and on rubbing, the eyes become red. Sometimes it may be associated with

sneezing and itching over the nose. This is usually seen in people with allergic tendencies like

asthma, allergic dermatitis etc. it is common in children where special types of allergic

conjunctivitis occur like vernal catarrh. It is a seasonal disease with recurrences. Vision is

usually not affected. Try to avoid dust, cold weather etc. these problems are treated with steroid

medications, which should not be used injudiciously. Medications should be strictly used

7/28/2019 RED EYE-Dr. Murali Mohan Gurram

4/7

Eye Education Series-Red Eye: Dr. Murali Mohan Gurram

Script by Dr. Murali Mohan Gurram Page 3

according to the ophthalmologists advice. This usually gets responded with the treatment, but

recurs few months to a year later.

4. I ritis / Iridocyclitis: I f your eye is red and your vision is foggy, usually in one eye, youmay be having iritis. Iris is a thin opaque membrane inside the eye which regulates the amount of

light reaching the retina (like camera aperture). This membrane may get inflamed due to several

reasons. This is usually an allergic phenomenon, with the allergen coming from the own body.

The eye becomes red especially around the cornea (the black circle on the eye), unlike other

causes of red eye, where in the redness is uniform all over the globe. Treatment should be done

by ophthalmologist, and therefore medical attention should be sought. Its treated with steroids

and the response is usually good, but recurrences are common in few people with bodily

problems, for which a detailed systemic evaluation is needed.

7/28/2019 RED EYE-Dr. Murali Mohan Gurram

5/7

Eye Education Series-Red Eye: Dr. Murali Mohan Gurram

Script by Dr. Murali Mohan Gurram Page 4

5. Corneal ulcer: if you have red eye, with decreased vision and see a white or yellowpatch on your cornea, you have corneal ulcer or keratitis. This is an infection of the cornea.

Usually seen in field workers after trauma with vegetative matter. Sometimes seen in contact

lens wearers, who dont take proper care of their lenses. The infective organisms eat away the

corneal tissue leading to necrosis. This is a serious disease, which may lead to blindness, if not

treated early.

6. Acute congestive Glaucoma: If you have redness with severe pain in eye and head, withdecreased vision, you might be having acute congestive glaucoma. This is not so common. Our

eye ball maintains its shape, due to fluid present in it, which is called aqueous humor. Thisfluid is produced in certain part of the eye, it circulates in the eye, and finally leaves the eye

through another part called angle of eye. In some people this outlet i.e angle is so narrow , that

the fluid cannot escape from the eye. This leads to increased pressure in the eye, which irritates

the iris and other parts, causing redness, defective vision and pain. This is again a serious

7/28/2019 RED EYE-Dr. Murali Mohan Gurram

6/7

Eye Education Series-Red Eye: Dr. Murali Mohan Gurram

Script by Dr. Murali Mohan Gurram Page 5

disorder, if not treated early. Immediate medical attention should be sought. Its usually treated

with medicines, either orally or Intravenous. It also requires a laser procedure to let the fluid out.

Other diseases like Blepharitis, computer vision syndrome, sub-conjunctival hemorrhage, orbital

cellulitis, tumors etc, also cause redness of eyes. Only the common and serious ones are

discussed above.

(Thanks for google images for providing me the sources of images)

7/28/2019 RED EYE-Dr. Murali Mohan Gurram

7/7