What causes red eye?
JUN 17, 2015
Question:
When I wake up I have no red veins in my eyes but in a few hours they start to appear. My eyes do feel pretty dry on most days and I use the natural tears. Is this a symptom of dry eyes or allergies as it only appears when my eyes are open?
Answer:
Red eyes that appear and get worse over the course of the day likely point to an environmental exposure. Dry eyes is by far the most common cause as the prolonged exposure to a dry environment can lead to blood vessel dilation in the conjunctiva (thin membrane covering the white of the eye) and the appearance of red eyes. Allergies also can cause red eyes, however, they also have some hallmark signs of itching and the presence of other symptoms. Your ophthalmologist will be better able to determine the proper course of treatment after examining you and will be able to distinguish dry eyes and allergies from other conditions which also cause red eyes.