Brands include Opcon-A and Naphcon-A both contain an antihistamine to control itching and a vasoconstrictor to shrink swollen blood vessels to reduce redness.Īntihistamines are short-acting, so they must be used: Once available only by prescription, antihistamine eye drops can now be purchased over the counter. Symptoms are triggered by the immune system's response to an allergen. People who have narrow-angle glaucoma should not use vasodilator eye drops.Īntihistamine eye drops contain medications designed to treat symptoms of eye allergy (allergic conjunctivitis)-chief among them itching, but also redness, soreness, stinging, and/or swelling. More frequent use of this type of eye drop is not good for your eyes. If you find yourself needing them every morning, consult your healthcare provider.ĭo not use vasodilator eye drops without consulting your healthcare provider first if you're pregnant or have: Vasoconstrictors reduce redness and may be used safely for up to 72 hours. Use them once in the morning and once before bedtime. How to UseĪpply eye drops to treat red eyes no more than twice daily. This can cause "rebound redness"-when the drops wear off, blood vessels dilate even larger than they were before, making eyes appear bloodshot. Vasoconstricting eye drops are not popular with eye doctors for treating red eye because, when used for too long, they wear off quickly and prompt too-frequent use. Examples of vasoconstricting eye drops include: Vasoconstrictors (decongestants) work by shrinking the small blood vessels in the conjunctiva. You can resolve or prevent red eyes by avoiding triggers such as lack of sleep, alcohol consumption, smoking, swimming in a chlorinated pool, or, ironically, overusing eye drops to treat the redness. Most often, however, the cause of red eyes is benign (harmless). Blood in the iris (the colored part of the eye).See your healthcare provider for prompt referral to an ophthalmologist if you have a red eye following an injury, or have: In some cases, it's a sign of a medical condition such as pink eye (conjunctivitis), uveitis, corneal ulcer, or acute angle-closure glaucoma, especially if accompanied by certain symptoms. That "bloodshot" appearance of red eyes occurs when blood vessels in the white part of the eye-the conjunctiva-are irritated and become enlarged. It also explains when to see your healthcare provider for red-eye treatment. This article explores different treatments for red eyes and details how to get rid of red eyes. At-home and over-the-counter treatments include: How you get rid of red eyes depends, in part, on the cause. Antibiotic prescription fills for acute conjunctivitis among enrollees in a large United States managed care network.Red eyes are a common problem. Viral hemorrhagic conjunctivitis outbreak in rural Belize. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. We link primary sources - including studies, scientific references, and statistics - within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations.
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