Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Basic Information
• Method 2 of 3: Treatment at home
• Method 3 of 3: Prescription Drugs
• Tips
• What do you need

Eye redness, officially known as conjunctivitis, is an unpleasant eye condition caused by allergies or infections. Your body is able to heal itself, but there are several measures you can take to speed up this process - it all depends on the form of the disease. Here's what you need to know to get rid of eye redness quickly.

Attention:the information in this article is for informational purposes only. Before using any methods, consult your doctor.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Basic Information

1. 1 Determine the cause of the disease. Conjunctivitis can occur due to viruses, bacteria, and allergies. With any type of conjunctivitis, the eyes turn red, watery and itchy, but other symptoms differ depending on the cause of the disease.
   • Viral conjunctivitis can affect one or both eyes, and the affected person may suffer from sensitivity to light. Viral conjunctivitis is highly contagious and difficult to treat. The course of treatment usually takes one to three weeks. The best way to treat viral conjunctivitis is to prevent its complications.
   • Bacterial conjunctivitis is accompanied by a sticky, yellow, or green discharge in the corner of the eye. In extreme cases, discharge can stick the eye together. One or both eyes may be affected, while keeping in mind that the disease itself is contagious. Bacterial conjunctivitis should be treated by an ophthalmologist. You may be able to cope on your own, but antibiotics will significantly shorten the duration of the illness.
   • Allergic conjunctivitis is usually accompanied by other allergy symptoms, including nasal congestion, and both eyes are affected. This conjunctivitis is not contagious. It is usually treated at home, but patients with severe allergies need professional medical attention to quickly improve their well-being.
2. 2 Know when to see your doctor. Talking to an ophthalmologist doesn't hurt at all, especially since the doctor can give you good advice on what to do. We strongly recommend that you consult an ophthalmologist if conjunctivitis is accompanied by more alarming symptoms.
   • See your doctor if you experience moderate to severe eye pain or vision problems that persist after clearing the discharge.
   • If the redness becomes more intense and deeper, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible.
   • Call your doctor right away if you suspect you have severe viral conjunctivitis, such as caused by the herpes simplex virus, or if you have weakened immune systems due to HIV infection or cancer treatment.
   • See your doctor if antibiotic treatment for bacterial conjunctivitis does not improve the situation after 24 hours.

Method 2 of 3: Treatment at home

1. 1 Try allergy remedies. For mild allergic conjunctivitis, an over-the-counter anti-allergic drug should be enough to relieve your symptoms in a few hours or days.If you don't get better quickly, you may have viral or bacterial conjunctivitis.
   • Try antihistamines. The body reacts to allergens by producing chemicals called histamines. They are the culprits of red eyes and other allergy symptoms. Antihistamines reduce levels of these substances or block histamines completely, thus relieving your symptoms.
   • Use decongestants. These drugs do not stop the allergen, but control inflammation, so they can prevent eye inflammation.
2. 2 Clean the infected eye regularly. Anytime a discharge begins to build up in the eye, it must be cleaned out to prevent the spread of bacteria.
   • Start rubbing your eye from the inner corner, next to your nose. Gently walk over the entire eye to the outer corner. This will help keep the discharge from the eye safe for the tear ducts.
   • Wash your hands before and after cleaning your eyes.
   • Use a clean material for each eye pass to avoid bringing the discharge back into the eye.
   • Throw away any tissue or disposable wipes you used to clean your eyes immediately. If you have used a cloth, put it in the washing machine immediately.
3. 3 Use over-the-counter eye drops. Artificial tears can relieve symptoms and flush out the eyes.
   • Most over-the-counter eye drops are mild saline lubricants designed to replace tears. They can soothe dry eyes and flush out contaminants that can aggravate and prolong viral, bacterial, or allergic conjunctivitis.
   • Some over-the-counter eye drops also contain antihistamines, which are helpful in treating allergic conjunctivitis.
4. 4 Apply a cold or warm compress. Dampen a soft, clean, lint-free cloth with water. Squeeze and apply to closed eyes with light pressure.
   • Cold compresses are generally better for allergic conjunctivitis, but warm compresses can improve the condition and reduce swelling in viral or bacterial conjunctivitis.
   • Note that warm compresses increase the risk of infection spreading from one eye to the other, so you must use a clean compress and a different compress for each eye each time.
5. 5 Remove contact lenses. If you wear contact lenses, they should be removed for the duration of the illness. Lenses can irritate the eyes, causing further inflammation.
   • Most likely, disposable contact lenses will have to be thrown away if they have been used during bacterial or viral conjunctivitis.
   • Reusable contact lenses must be thoroughly cleaned before further use.
6. 6 Prevent the spread of the disease. Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis is contagious and you can get sick again after recovering if the disease has spread to other family members.
   • Do not touch your eyes with your hands. If you touch your eyes or face, wash your hands immediately. Also, wash your hands after applying eye medications.
   • Use a clean washcloth and towel every day. Change your pillowcase daily during infection.
   • Don't give other people things that touched your eyes. This includes eye drops, towels, bedding, eye cosmetics, contact lenses, lens solutions and containers, and handkerchiefs.
   • Do not use eye makeup until you have completely eradicated the condition. Otherwise, you can re-infect yourself through cosmetics. If you were wearing makeup when conjunctivitis started, throw it away.
   • Abstain from school or work for a few days. Viral conjunctivitis may take 3-5 days, and bacterial conjunctivitis only 24 hours if an antibiotic was used for treatment.

Method 3 of 3: Prescription Drugs

1. 1 Use prescription eye drops. Over-the-counter eye drops are effective and helpful for many people, but prescription drugs are much more powerful and can help faster.
   • Treat bacterial conjunctivitis with antiseptic eye drops. It is a topical treatment that targets bacteria directly. As a rule, such drops get rid of the infection after a few days, and the first improvements occur within 24 hours. Follow your doctor's directions for use.
   • Treat allergic conjunctivitis with antihistamines or steroid eye drops. Although some antihistamine eye drops are available over the counter, stronger medications can only be prescribed by an ophthalmologist. In severe cases of allergies, drops containing steroids are sometimes prescribed.
2. 2 Try an antibiotic eye ointment. It is easier to apply than drops, especially for children.
   • Note: the ointment blurs vision for 20 minutes after application, but after this time the patient should see normally.
   • With the right treatment, bacterial conjunctivitis should go away in a few days.
3. 3 Discuss antiviral medications. If your doctor suspects your viral conjunctivitis is caused by a herpes simplex virus, he or she may prescribe antiviral medications.
   • Antiviral medications may also be prescribed if your health condition may have weakened your immune system.

Tips

• After your ophthalmologist prescribes antibiotics, stay at home for at least 24 hours. Inflamed eyes are more prone to infection.

What do you need

• Over-the-counter allergy remedies
• OTC eye drops
• Soft tissue, handkerchiefs, or disposable eye wipes
• Prescription eye drops
• Prescription eye ointment
• Antiviral drugs