How To Get Rid Of Bloodshot Eyes

Those with allergies will be very familiar with bloodshot eyes, but they can also be a sign of other issues like lack of sleep, allergies, and infections (via Web MD). Whatever the cause, bloodshot eyes are actually pretty easy to take care of.

According to Web MD, the bloodshot appearance is a result of "tiny blood vessels on the surface of the whites of your eyes" expanding, which in turn causes one or both eyes to appear with a "pink reddish tint." Obviously, you're pretty limited as to what you can put into your eye to get rid of that bloodshot appearance. But as long as you know the cause, there are a few simple tricks to get your eyes looking bright and back to normal in no time.

Eye drops are often the main go-to for those with allergies, ones that specifically stops irritants like pollen from reacting to the chemical histamine which can cause the blood vessels in your eyes to swell according to MedlinePlus. Allergies aren't always the root cause of bloodshot eyes, though. So here's what you can do to get your eyes back to normal.

Surprisingly, eye drops are still the main course of action even if you don't suffer from allergies. Bloodshot eyes can often be the result of dryness which comes with a lack of tear production. In that case, you can buy drops to lubricate the eyes and even artificial tears to resolve the problem. Dry eyes can be a result of eye strain and not blinking enough, which is often a direct result of looking at screens for too long (via Benjamin Optical).

Dry and bloodshot eyes can also be caused by dry eye disease, a common condition when tears "aren't able to provide adequate lubrication for your eyes," according to the Mayo Clinic. In this case, eye drops and lifestyle changes can resolve the issue, as well as taking long breaks from screens and even adding moisture to the air with a humidifier.

In some cases, using a warm or cold compress can alleviate bloodshot eyes – especially if you're dealing with a painful infection. According to Healthline, a warm compress "can increase blood flow to the area" and "increase oil production in the eyelids," whereas a cold compress can "relieve any swelling and reduce itchiness from irritation." As always, if the problem persists or you notice changes in your vision, contact your doctor for further information as it could be a symptom of a more serious problem.