Eye conditions
What is red eye?
Red eye is when the white of your eye (the sclera) looks red or bloodshot. It’s very common and often clears up on its own within a few days.
It happens when the tiny blood vessels on the surface of your eye become swollen or irritated. It can affect one eye or both, and it can come with soreness, watering or itching, or just look red without any discomfort.
Red eye can look alarming, but it usually isn’t serious. Sometimes, though, it can be a sign of a more significant eye or health condition, so it’s worth knowing when to get it checked.
Know the signs
Symptoms and causes
Symptoms
- Redness in the white of the eye, or a bloodshot look
- Irritation, soreness or discomfort
- Watery eyes
- Sensitivity to light
- Itching, especially if it's caused by an allergy
- Sometimes just redness, with no discomfort at all
Causes
Red eye has many causes, from minor to more serious. The most common include:
- Allergies, such as hay fever
- Infections such as conjunctivitis
- Dry eye
- Smoke or air pollution
- A burst blood vessel on the surface of the eye (sub-conjunctival haemorrhage)
What can make it more likely?
Some everyday things can irritate your eyes or raise the risk of infection:
- Contact lenses that aren't cleaned properly, are worn too long or don't fit well
- Long periods looking at screens
- Old or shared eye makeup
- Swimming without goggles
Get it checked
When to get help
Most red eye gets better within a few days. Book an appointment with an Opticare optometrist if:
- The redness lasts more than a few days
- You have pain or changes in your vision
- Your symptoms get worse, or don't improve with home care
- You wear contact lenses and your eye is red or sore. Take your lenses out and don't wear them until you've had advice
Get urgent help if your red eye comes with:
- Severe eye pain or a severe headache
- Feeling sick (nausea)
- Halos around lights, or a sudden change in your vision
- New sensitivity to light
- An eye injury
- If you have any of these, contact eye casualty, go to A&E or call NHS 111
What causes it
Common causes of red eye
Most red eye is caused by something minor, like an allergy or irritation. A few causes are more serious and need treatment quickly.
Allergies
Hay fever, dust, mould or pet dander can make your eyes red, itchy, watery and puffy. This is called allergic conjunctivitis.
Conjunctivitis
An infection or inflammation of the thin layer covering the white of your eye. Infectious conjunctivitis spreads easily.
Dry eye
When your eyes don't make enough good-quality tears, they can feel gritty, burning and look red. Screens can make it worse.
Burst blood vessel
A sub-conjunctival haemorrhage leaves a bright red patch on the white of the eye. It looks alarming but isn't infectious.
Contact lens infection
Keratitis is a serious infection of the cornea that can cause redness, pain and discharge, and can affect your sight if it isn't treated.
Acute glaucoma
Rare but serious. A sudden rise in eye pressure can cause a red, painful eye with a headache, nausea and halos around lights.
Is red eye contagious? Only if it’s caused by an infection, such as viral or bacterial conjunctivitis. Allergies, dry eye, smoke and a burst blood vessel don’t spread to other people.
Good to know
Red eye in children
Children often get red eye, usually from viral conjunctivitis, which spreads easily in schools and nurseries. Good hygiene habits, like regular handwashing and not sharing towels, matter especially at this age.
Keep an eye on their symptoms, and see your GP or an optometrist if the redness lasts more than a few days, or comes with pain or changes in their vision.
Getting better
Treatment for red eye
Red eye usually clears up on its own within a few days. If it needs treatment, what helps depends on the cause, so it’s worth getting it checked rather than guessing.
How red eye is treated
Home care
Many cases, especially allergies, can be eased with artificial tears or a warm compress. Use a clean cloth each time to avoid further irritation.
Allergy treatment
For severe allergies, your optometrist may recommend antihistamines or steroid eye drops.
Antibiotics
If your red eye is caused by a bacterial infection, you may need antibiotics on prescription to clear it up.
Treatment at Opticare
Our director, Amar-Kaash Gandecha, is a therapeutic optometrist. He can diagnose many acute eye conditions and prescribe treatment, so you may not need a hospital referral.
Using eye drops safely
Avoid using eye drops you’ve chosen yourself without advice. Some can make red eye worse if they’re not the right ones or aren’t used correctly.
- Wash your hands before using drops
- Don’t let the nozzle touch your eye, eyelashes or eyelid
- Never share your eye drops
- Leave 5 minutes between different drops in the same eye
- Note the date you open the bottle and check the expiry date
Read our guide to using eye drops.
If you wear contact lenses
Contact lenses can contribute to red eye, especially if they’re not cleaned properly, are worn for too long, or don’t fit well.
If your eye is red, sore or your vision is blurred, take your lenses out and don’t wear them until you’ve had advice. Don’t keep wearing lenses through pain or marked redness, as it could be an infection such as keratitis.
- Never sleep in lenses unless they’re approved for it
- Never rinse lenses or cases with tap water
- Don’t swim in your lenses
- Have regular contact lens check-ups
Prevention
Looking after your eyes
A few simple habits can help stop red eye spreading, ease irritation and lower the risk of infection.
Stop infection spreading
If your red eye is caused by an infection:
- Wash your hands often
- Don't share towels or face cloths
- Try not to touch or rub your eyes
- Don't share eye makeup
Ease irritation
Smoke, pollution and long screen time can irritate your eyes or make dry eye worse.
- Take regular screen breaks: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds
- Avoid smoky places where you can
- Wear goggles when you swim
- Read about hay fever and your eyes
Eye makeup and lenses
Makeup and contact lenses are common causes of eye infections.
- Stop using eye makeup if your eyes become red, sore or watery
- Put contact lenses in before makeup and take them out before removing it
- Clean lenses with contact lens solution, never water, and replace your case monthly
- Read about makeup hygiene and your eyes
FAQs
Frequently asked questions about red eye
What is red eye?
Red eye is when the white of your eye (the sclera) looks red or bloodshot. It’s very common and often clears up on its own, but it can sometimes be a sign of a more significant eye or health condition.
Is red eye contagious?
It can be, if it’s caused by an infection such as viral or bacterial conjunctivitis. To help stop it spreading, wash your hands often, don’t share towels or face cloths, and don’t use other people’s eye makeup. Red eye caused by allergies, dry eye, smoke or pollution, or a burst blood vessel isn’t contagious.
How long does red eye last?
It depends on the cause. Usually it goes away on its own within a day or two if you look after your eyes. If it’s caused by something like bacterial conjunctivitis, it may last longer and need antibiotics to clear up.
When should I worry about red eye?
Book an appointment if the redness lasts more than a few days, gets worse, or comes with pain or changes in your vision. Get help straight away if you have severe eye pain, a severe headache, feel sick, see halos around lights, or your vision changes suddenly.
Are there any home remedies for red eye?
Many cases, especially from allergies, can be eased with artificial tears or a warm compress. Use a clean cloth each time to avoid further irritation. Avoid using eye drops you’ve chosen yourself without advice, as some can make things worse if they’re not used correctly.
Can children get red eye?
Yes. Children often get red eye, usually from viral conjunctivitis, which spreads easily in schools and nurseries. See your GP or an optometrist if the redness lasts more than a few days, or comes with pain or changes in their vision.
Can wearing contact lenses cause red eye?
Yes, particularly if lenses aren’t cleaned properly, are worn for too long, or don’t fit well. If your eye is red or sore, take your lenses out and get advice. Following good lens hygiene and having regular check-ups helps avoid problems.
What can trigger red eye?
Smoke, air pollution and long periods using digital devices can all irritate your eyes or make existing conditions such as dry eye worse, leading to redness. Allergies such as hay fever are another common trigger.
Is a burst blood vessel in the eye serious?
A sub-conjunctival haemorrhage, where a small blood vessel bursts on the surface of the eye, leaves a bright red patch. It can look alarming, but it isn’t infectious. If you’re worried, or it happens after an injury, get it checked.
Can an optometrist treat red eye?
Yes. Our director, Amar-Kaash Gandecha, is a therapeutic optometrist who can diagnose many acute eye conditions and prescribe the right treatment at Opticare, so you may not need a hospital referral.
Medically reviewed by Amar-Kaash Gandecha, BSc(Hons) MCOptom DipTp(IP), Prof Cert Glauc, Director and Optometrist. Last reviewed 14 August 2026.
Worried about a red eye?
Book an appointment at our Newark, Anstey, Birstall or Sileby practice and we’ll find out what’s causing it. If you have severe pain, a severe headache, feel sick or your vision changes suddenly, get help straight away.