Health
Ask a doc: ‘Why are my eyes often bloodshot?’
Bloodshot eyes are often associated with late nights followed by early morning obligations.
While this is indeed one cause of irritated eyes, other factors can contribute to the condition.
To get a clear understanding of the triggers and treatments for bloodshot eyes, Fox News Digital consulted with two ophthalmologists, who provided eye-opening insights.
What causes bloodshot eyes?
When the eyes get irritated, the tiny blood vessels on the white surface of the eye (the sclera) swell, said Usiwoma Abugo, M.D., an ophthalmologist at Katzen Eye Group in Lutherville, Maryland.
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When this happens, the white of the eye appears pink or red, she noted.
There are many potential causes of red or bloodshot eyes.
When the eyes get irritated, the tiny blood vessels on the white surface of the eye swell, which makes it appear pink or red. (iStock)
“They can be a response to an irritant such as pollen, pets, dust or smoke, or a symptom of a medical condition, such as a bacterial infection, virus or injury to the cornea,” Abugo told Fox News Digital.
Here’s some more information on some of the primary culprits.
Allergies
When an allergen gets into the eye, the eye responds by producing a substance called histamine, Abugo said.
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This causes the blood vessels on the surface of the eye to get leaky and swollen, which creates redness and swollen, itchy tissues.
Dry eyes
“Dry eye is an incredibly common eye condition,” Abugo told Fox News Digital.
“When the eye doesn’t have enough tears to stay lubricated, the eye becomes red, and the horizontal blood vessels on the surface of the eye become more prominent, swollen and irritated.”
Tiredness
There’s a reason an overnight flight is called the “red-eye” — bloodshot eyes are often caused by being tired, which is usually related to dry eye, the doctor said.
Allergies are a common cause of bloodshot eyes, according to experts. (iStock)
“When you are tired, your body’s natural tearing or lubrication system becomes abnormal, leading to dry eye,” she noted.
Contact lenses
Poor contact lens hygiene or poorly fitted lenses can irritate the eye and lead to redness.
Not cleaning or caring for your lenses correctly could even lead to a serious eye infection, Abugo warned.
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“Make sure to care for your lenses as recommended by your eye care team, remove them as prescribed, and only wear lenses prescribed for you by a professional,” she advised.
Eye infections
Conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye, can be caused by bacteria or a virus.
The condition causes the surface of the eye to swell, which gives the eye a pink or red color, said Abugo.
Relieving and preventing bloodshot eyes
Michelle Andreoli, M.D., an ophthalmologist at Northwestern Medicine in Naperville, Illinois, shared with Fox News Digital some tips for treating red eyes at home.
Over-the-counter artificial tears can be used to address irritation and wash allergens from the eye.
An opthamologist said to avoid decongestant (anti-redness) drops, because “they don’t solve the cause of the problem and can sometimes make redness worse in the long run.” (iStock)
Avoid decongestant (anti-redness) drops, Andreoli advised, because “they don’t solve the cause of the problem and can sometimes make redness worse in the long run.”
Instead, she suggested using over-the-counter antihistamine drops to help with itchy eyes caused by seasonal allergies. (Always check with a doctor first.)
A cool compress can also provide some relief.
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To prevent redness, Anderoli said to avoid smoke, fumes, pollen, dust, chlorine or pet dander if those are known irritants.
Wash your hands often, avoid touching your eyes and wash eyelids daily with a mild cleanser, she recommended.
“If you do have an eye infection, your doctor will prescribe antibiotic eye drops or other medication as deemed appropriate,” the doctor said.
When to see a doctor
Bloodshot eyes are very common and rarely indicate something serious, according to Andreoli.
If symptoms aren’t improving after one week of home remedies, however, she recommends seeing an ophthalmologist for diagnosis and treatment.
Contact lenses can cause redness for some people, especially when they are not cleaned or cared for properly. (iStock)
Some of the more serious conditions associated with bloodshot eyes are ocular inflammation (called uveitis) or an eye infection.
In that case, there are usually additional symptoms, such as pain, discharge and blurred vision.
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“If not treated, eye infections can sometimes cause devastating damage, including vision loss,” Anderoli said.
“Luckily, effective treatments are available to avoid this worst-case scenario.”
If eye redness is accompanied by any degree of vision loss, contact your eye care provider immediately, the doctor advised.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that all healthy adults get an eye exam by the age of 40 to catch any signs of eye disease.
Added Anderoli, “Lots of eye conditions and diseases can be treated when caught early enough, but often begin without any noticeable symptoms.”
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Stat of the week
More than 59% of women may have high blood pressure by 2050, according to a new report from the American Heart Association.
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A new report by the American Heart Association (AHA) included some troubling predictions for the future of women’s health.
The forecast, published in the journal Circulation on Wednesday, projected increases in various comorbidities in American females by 2050.
More than 59% of women were predicted to have high blood pressure, up from less than 49% currently.
The review also projected that more than 25% of women will have diabetes, compared to about 15% today, and more than 61% will have obesity, compared to 44% currently.
As a result of these risk factors, the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and stroke is expected to rise to 14.4% from 10.7%.
The prevalence of cardiovascular disease and stroke in women is expected to rise to 14.4% from 10.7% by 2050. (iStock)
Not all trends were negative, as unhealthy cholesterol prevalence is expected to drop to about 22% from more than 42% today, the report stated.
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Dr. Elizabeth Klodas, a cardiologist and founder of Step One Foods in Minnesota, commented on these “jarring findings.”
“The fact that on our current trajectory, cardiometabolic disease is projected to explode in women within one generation should be a huge wake-up call,” she told Fox News Digital.
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“Hypertension, diabetes, obesity — these are all major risk factors for heart disease, and we are already seeing what those risks are driving. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, eclipsing all other causes of death, including breast cancer.”
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women in the U.S. and around the world. (iStock)
Klodas warned that heart disease starts early, progresses “stealthily,” and can present “out of the blue in devastating ways.”
The AHA published another study on Thursday revealing one million hospitalizations, showing that heart attack deaths are climbing among adults below the age of 55.
The more alarming finding, according to Klodas, is that young women were found more likely to die after their first heart attack than men of the same age.
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“This is all especially tragic since heart disease is almost entirely preventable,” she said. “The earlier you start, the better.”
Children can show early evidence of plaque deposition in their arteries, which can be reversed through lifestyle changes if “undertaken early enough and aggressively enough,” according to the expert.
Moving more is one part of protecting a healthy heart, according to experts. (iStock)
Klodas suggested that rising heart conditions are associated with traditional risk factors, like smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle.
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Doctors are also seeing higher rates of preeclampsia, or high blood pressure during pregnancy, as well as gestational diabetes. Klodas noted that these are sex-specific risk factors that don’t typically contribute to complications until after menopause.
The best way to protect a healthy heart is to “do the basics,” Klodas recommended, including the following lifestyle habits.
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Klodas especially emphasized making improvements to diet, as the food people eat affects “every single risk factor that the AHA’s report highlights.”
“High blood pressure, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, excess weight – these are all conditions that are driven in part or in whole by food,” she said. “We eat multiple times every single day, which means what we eat has profound cumulative effects over time.”
“Even a small improvement in dietary intake, when maintained, can have a massive positive impact on health,” a doctor said. (iStock)
“Even a small improvement in dietary intake, when maintained, can have a massive positive impact on health.”
The doctor also recommends changing out a few snacks per day for healthier choices, which has been proven to “yield medication-level cholesterol reductions” in a month.
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“Keep up that small change and, over the course of a year, you could also lose 20 pounds and reduce your sodium intake enough to avoid blood pressure-lowering medications,” Klodas added.
“Women should not view the AHA report as inevitable. We have power over our health destinies. We just need to use it.”
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