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THE RED EYE. A red eye is such a common condition, that one can safely say that it is an affliction which will probably affect everyone at some stage in their lifetime. The red eye has many causes. We will discuss some of the more important ones:
1: Bacterial infection.
2: Viral infection or,
3: Allergy.
These are all forms of conjunctivitis, sometimes called "pink eye", that cause a red eye, with a gritty feeling, and a discharge that can vary from being watery to slimy and even pussy. Sometimes photophobia or irritation in bright light can occur.
Vision is usually not severely reduced, although the patient may experience transient blurring of his vision. Bacterial and viral conjunctivitis are highly infectious and may spread easily by hand contact. It is thus very important to wash your hands after being in close contact with somebody who has "pink eyes", or before touching somebody else if you yourself have "pink eyes". You should not share towels and face-cloths with family members while you are infected. Bacterial and viral conjunctivitis are usually treated with antibiotic eye drops prescribed by your medical practitioner.
Conjunctivitis caused by an allergy has similar symptoms, but patients typically also complain of itchy eyes. It is usually the same type of allergy that causes hay fever that also causes allergic conjunctivitis. The treatment of this condition is usually more difficult than the other types of conjunctivitis and it also takes longer to resolve - often up to a couple of months.
There are other causes of conjunctivitis, such as parasites, chemicals and auto immune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. These should be under the care of your ophthalmologist.
Other causes of a red eye can result in severe visual loss or even permanent blindness . These are conditions such as corneal ulcers, acute glaucoma and inflammations of the inner eye, called uveitis. Some of them may cause a discharge, and are usually also associated with severe pain in the eye and loss of visual acuity.
Redness of the eye can be localized in conditions such as episcleritis, or diffuse such as subconjunctival hemorrhages. These hemorrhages may occur spontaneously, especially after a bout of coughing or severe constipation. Even though the appearance of the eye following a hemorrhage is quite alarming, it usually clears up without treatment in about 2 to 3 weeks and is usually quite harmless.
Foreign objects on the eye, for example metal particles from grinding, often present with a red, extremely irritated eye. You should refrain from rubbing your eye when this occurs, and should consult your ophthalmologist as soon as possible.
So, if your "pink eyes" persist , especially if you experience pain in the eye or loss of vision, you should go and see your eye specialist without delay.
If you have any further questions regarding red or inflamed eyes, please consult your eye specialist.