Hyperemia of the conjunctiva, aka blood-shot eyes, may occur for a
handful of reasons that can be easily solved. A visit with your
optometrist will save those eyeballs.
Reason number one,
being the most common (90%) of all, is strain. When eyes are trying to
focus on the world, using interior and exterior muscles (welcome wrinkles), the
eye will find a way to complain by becoming red. It's a system build into
the body to alert extreme fatigue. Tearing, headaches and frequent
blinking could accompany the redness. Often times patients are completely
unaware of mild blur and blame stress or allergies on their present condition.
I suggest a visit with your eye care professional to rule out a need for
glasses.
Reason number two
is most often presented with other symptoms. There may be itching and
swollen eyes in conjunction with the redness, a clear sign of allergic conjunctivitis
(that implies a swelling of the conjunctiva; clear layer above white layer).
If there is yellow discharge and sticky lashes in conjunction with the
redness, you may have a bacterial conjunctivitis. Both are quite annoying
and will have a patient running to the optometrist within days of onset.
Worry not; there are medications for both issues.
Reason number
three is more subtle and longer lasting. Dry eyes are a painful condition
that can last for years for some patients leading to constant redness. It
usually starts very slowly and can become worse with age, especially for
post-menopausal women. Changes in diet (lowering fats) can also create a
dry eye syndrome for a patient, be aware of those lifestyle changes.
Allow your optometrist to ask dietary and hormonal questions which may
lead to a better assessment of your hyperemia. Treatments do exist for
this condition, however be aware they vary from case to case.
In all these cases
I highly recommend consulting your optometrist to better address your needs.
Using visine, clear-eyes or any other brand to mask the redness is simply
hiding the trust of the real issue at hand. Don't delay your treatment
because relief is right around the corner.
See and Be Seen! at Eyed LA Optometry in Brentwood, West Los Angeles
www.eyedla.com
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