How to get rid of red eyes

Unless you’re from Krypton, red eyes aren’t cool. Red, bloodshot eyes are unaesthetic and often annoying. Because you’re here, we’re sure you’re wondering, “What causes red eyes?” The short answer? It depends. 

We’ve put together this handy-dandy quiz to help you know why your eyes are red and, better yet, how to get rid of red eyes. 

Disclaimer: This quiz is not in partnership, sponsored, or endorsed by any of the companies, products, or links referenced within it. Also, the quiz doesn’t constitute medical advice. Please see a doctor if you’re concerned about your red eyes. 

Question 1:

Are your eyes scaring children?

Question 2:

Have you experienced any of the following?

• Changes in vision 
• Sensitivity to light 
• Eye crustiness or discharge 
• Eye pain (e.g., a burning sensation) 
• An inability to open or close your eyes 
• Feeling like something is in your eye(s) 
• Redness that’s lasted longer than a week 
• Other symptoms of illness (fever, nausea, headache, etc.) 
• Exposure to someone with pink eye (you have our condolences if this is the case) 

Question 3:

Which of the following best describes you? 

Question 4:

Do you wear contacts? 

Question 5:

Have you been leaving your contacts in for too long? Wearing damaged lenses? Skipping solution? Swimming, showering, or sleeping in contacts? You can tell us. 

Yeah… You should probably see a doctor 

Your bloodshot eyes could be the result of a pressing eye condition. If we were your average online symptom checker, this is where we’d freak you out by convincing you that you have conjunctivitis (pink eye) or a subconjunctival hemorrhage (you don’t want to know) or something. But we’re not your average online symptom checker. 

Your primary care provider should be able to diagnose and help with most things that cause red eyes. You can also consult with an eye doctor, who would most likely have access to some cutting-edge tools. Either way, it’s a good idea to moisten your eyes regularly until you see your doctor. In this article, Dr. Gary Heiting suggests preservative-free lubricating eye drops. 

Red eyes from drinking 

Cause: According to this objectively illuminating blog post by us, drinking a bit too much makes your eyes’ blood vessels swell. This swelling can cause itchiness, irritation, and bloodshot eyes. 

Treatment: Try some eye drops to alleviate redness and discomfort. Here’s our humble opinion on the best eye drops for your red eyes:

Red eyes from sleep deprivation 

Cause: Beauty sleep is real. In this article, Dr. Troy Bedinghaus, a Floridian optometric physician, says that poor sleep leads to blood and fluid around the eyes, making them look puffy and red. 

Treatment: Catch some more z’s for overall eye health. You can also try eye drops to alleviate redness and discomfort. Here’s our humble opinion on the best eye drops for your red eyes:

Red eyes from screen time 

Cause: Are you bingeing Grey’s Anatomy for the third time? We’ve all been there. Sadly, bloodshot eyes can come from sustained time in front of TVs, phones, and computer screens.  

Treatment: Blink more often. Optometrist Mark Kahrhoff says in this article that people tend to blink about half as often when looking at a screen. You can also try eye drops to alleviate redness. In our humble opinion, these are the best ones:

Red eyes from contacts no-no’s 

Cause: We’ll save you the lecture. Suffice it to say that any of the contact lens no-no’s we mentioned could be irritating your eyes and making them red.  

Treatment: Look no further than our comprehensive guide on how to care for your contact lenses. Also, try eye drops to alleviate redness. In our humble opinion, these are the best ones:

You’re a tough nut to crack, aren’t ya? 

We’re a little stumped. Have you been swimming? Chlorine can cause red eyes. Get your Katie Ledecky on with a pair of swim goggles. Or (hear us out) close your eyes while underwater. Maybe you have allergies? If so, treat yourself with some cold eye compresses, artificial tears, and over-the-counter allergy medication. Rubbing your eyes? Here are five good reasons not to. 

If you’re still not sure what’s causing your bloodshot eyes, we’re sorry that our quiz hasn’t been as handy-dandy as we’d hoped. You’ll want to check in with a doctor if the redness lasts longer than a week. For now, try some eye drops to alleviate redness and discomfort. We give you our humble opinion on the best eye drops for red eyes:

Best eye drops for red eyes 

Want to hear a not-so-fun fact? Eye drops specifically for red eyes often increase eye redness with prolonged use. This phenomenon is called rebound redness. Because of rebound redness, doctors recommend that you use redness-reducing drops for no more than three days at a time. 

With that said, Lumify® can work wonders for you in a pinch. They’re the best eye drops for red eyes from a rebound-redness standpoint. Lumify® is FDA-approved and doesn’t rely on bleaches or dyes. The AAO recommends applying preservative-free artificial tears up to four times daily for a longer-term solution to bloodshot eyes.