{"id":5003,"date":"2019-03-20T05:47:15","date_gmt":"2019-03-20T05:47:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=5003"},"modified":"2021-05-28T17:41:46","modified_gmt":"2021-05-28T17:41:46","slug":"12-frequent-causes-of-bloodshot-red-eyes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/12-frequent-causes-of-bloodshot-red-eyes\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Frequent Causes of Bloodshot Red Eyes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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There are many reasons why you might be wondering about the causes for bloodshot eyes: First, it might be your own \u2013 and you might be experiencing it together with symptoms that could help to tell you more about the root cause; if it\u2019s not your own, you might be an employer or teacher wondering if there\u2019s a need to be concerned about someone\u2019s health, or if they might just be coming to work or class stoned.
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You should know that there are plenty of reasons why someone could have bloodshot red eyes, and not all of them are related to inebriation or drug use, which is often the first thing people will think of. Sometimes bloodshot eyes could be indicative of a serious medical condition \u2013 or point to something that\u2019s less severe and instead related to something as simple as allergies.
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Here are 8 frequent causes of bloodshot red eyes.
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1. Drug Use<\/strong>
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Drug use and inebriation are often the first possible causes that you might think of if you spot someone with bloodshot eyes, and this can be true if it\u2019s combined with other obvious symptoms of inebriation \u2013 vomiting<\/a>, the general loud-ness of a drink and the persistent smell of alcohol. Just the same way, if it\u2019s combined with certain signs of drug use, such as constant sniffing and mysterious behavior (but not obvious flu), it can be a sign of inebriation.
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This is due to the effect many drugs has in affecting the blood vessels, and these blood vessels fill up fast \u2013 almost like in hyperdrive \u2013 bloodshot eyes becomes the unfortunate symptom. Combined with too much pressure in the sinuses, it can lead to burst blood vessels in some rare cases, but it usually doesn\u2019t and will usually very easily fade with the effects of the drug or alcohol wearing off.  
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2. Irritation to the Eyes<\/strong>
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Some type of irritation <\/a>to the eyes is one of the most common potential causes of bloodshot eyes, and it will usually happen together with other symptoms that are related to the irritation or allergy \u2013 a running nose, tearing up of the eyes and constant itching of the eyes are the most commonly experienced symptoms; you might also experience other allergy symptoms such as a localized allergic reaction that restricts the itching to other parts of the body.
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Irritation directly to the eyes can be caused by various different factors, sometimes particles landing directly in the eye if it\u2019s a windy day and the eyes are unprotected; the best thing to do is to rinse the eye out with only clean water instead of rubbing it, which might cause further damage.
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If irritation eye irritation becomes chronic, it can be \u201cdry eye\u201d syndrome and require chronic use of eye drops.
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3. Blood Pressure<\/strong>
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High blood pressure<\/a> can be one of the causes for bloodshot eyes; it can also be said the same way that bloodshot eyes can be a potential symptom of high blood pressure, and if you experience several symptoms of blood pressure issues together with bloodshot eyes, it\u2019s best to make an appointment with your doctor to have your blood pressure checked and discuss a further possible course of action.
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Other signs of high blood pressure can include headaches, feeling faint \u2013 and actually fainting; it might also come with a sharp increase in heart rate, pain and discomfort in the extremities and fatigue.
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High blood pressure, if it\u2019s the cause, is usually easy to treat with a few small lifestyle changes (such as following a healthier diet and reducing your salt intake), and through the use of medication prescribed by your doctor. If you suspect high blood pressure, see your doctor.
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4. Allergies<\/strong>
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Allergies <\/a>are one of the most common causes of bloodshot eyes, and if you\u2019re allergic to anything around you, you\u2019ll usually manifest with other symptoms that are common of allergy cases; these symptoms can include itching and reddening of the skin, and it\u2019s not always restricted to the site where the allergic component touched the skin in the case of a contact allergy.
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Allergies can happen because of many different things, including allergies to pollen (which sees hay fever happen as the wind picks up, or one is exposed to any type of pollen from flowers, fruit or plants through other ways), or it can happen because of something you touched (like poison ivy) or something you ate (like shellfish or nuts).
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Remember that you can be exposed to especially food allergies just through mild content, even when the physical meal or snack only contains a trace of the allergen.
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5. Fatigue<\/strong>
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Bloodshot eyes can also commonly be caused by simple fatigue <\/a>\u2013 that is, over-tiredness \u2013 that usually happens when you\u2019re pushing your through the stress that\u2019s more than it\u2019s used to handling, or happens when you aren\u2019t getting enough sleep for your body. It\u2019s recommended that you get at least eight hours of sleep per night, but this can be a little more or a little less depending on each individual \u2013 and might be a little different for you.
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Once you\u2019re tired enough for your eyes to be bloodshot, you\u2019ll usually notice that the eyes also start to burn \u2013 and it\u2019s normal for the vision to become blurry. By this point, focus will seriously start to wane \u2013 and this is the point of tiredness where it becomes dangerous, especially when you\u2019re driving or operating heavy machinery while you\u2019re far too tired to be doing it.  
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Sleep is the only long-time cure for this.
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6. Contact Lenses<\/strong>
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If you experience the symptom of bloodshot eyes on a frequent basis and you wear contact lenses<\/a> at the same time, it could be that your contact lenses are the cause of the bloodshot eyes themselves. Speaking to your optometrist or doctor is usually the best thing you can do \u2013 and they can help to find the root cause of why your contact lenses are giving you trouble.
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Just some of the reasons why your contact lenses could be causing you pain and discomfort include the shape or size of your contact lenses \u2013 they might not be right for the shape of your eye. Sometimes, it could also be due to the fact that you aren\u2019t cleaning your contact lenses properly (or often) enough; and sometimes, if you are cleaning them more than enough, it could be the contact lens cleaning solution itself that\u2019s causing the irritation to the eye.
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7. Eye Infection<\/strong>
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If you experience red, itching and swollen eyes frequently and you\u2019ve ruled out most of the potential symptoms on this list already then you should start looking towards something else more serious as the cause \u2013 and especially when persisting for a few hours to days at a time, it\u2019s almost certainly an eye infection like conjunctivitis <\/a>causing it.
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Eye infections can be picked up in a variety of different ways, usually through rubbing or touching the eye and transferring the bacteria that causes the infection \u2013 but sometimes an eye infection can also be a manifestation of an infection elsewhere in the body or irritation that became trapped in the eye for long enough to cause the eye to become infected.
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You might have a few other symptoms along with the eye infection, including a fever and night sweats.
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See your doctor for a prescription if you suspect an eye infection.
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8. Glaucoma<\/strong>
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Glaucoma <\/a>is one of the most common possible causes for redness and swelling of the eyes if you have ruled out everything else. If you\u2019ve tried to treat the potential cause of your bloodshot eyes and haven\u2019t had success with curing it \u2013 or any relief to speak of \u2013 then it\u2019s likely that it could be something more severe; this can sometimes but not always mean an eye infection, and if you\u2019ve ruled even this out as a potential cause for your bloodshot eyes, then you\u2019re almost certainly dealing with something else like glaucoma.
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Glaucoma is a condition that leads to a build-up of pressure within the eye \u2013 and it\u2019s this build-up of pressure that causes pain, sometimes swelling and usually redness of the eyes. It\u2019s usually treated with a lifelong regimen of eye drops to treat the condition\u2019s symptoms \u2013 and in some cases, surgery is needed to treat it properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Impact<\/strong>
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A common and straightforward cause of bloodshot looking eyes is a direct trauma or impact. If you should be struck in the eye, then this can actually cause the blood vessels to break. When this happens, they can release blood which may appear red in color if oxygenated. This can cause the whole eye to appear red, along with the actual blood vessels <\/a>themselves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, the trauma may cause swelling in the eye itself or in the surrounding area. Should this happen, then blood flow will increase to the region as the body attempts to repair the damaged tissue and fight possible sources of infection. As this happens, it means an increase in blood flow to the region, which in turn can cause the blood vessels to swell with more blood and make the eyes appear redder.
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10.  Tiredness<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Excessive tiredness <\/a>can have a number of different effects on the body, which also includes bloodshot eyes. The reason for this is that being very tired can actually reduce the amount of oxygen getting to the eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s more, is that the eyes themselves can become tired. A condition called \u2018tired eyes\u2019 describes tiredness that affects the eyes, with common causes being excess straining, as well as being awake too long. This can cause a number of symptoms including red eyes, watery eyes, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Essentially, using the eyes all day requires work and effort on your part and your body\u2019s part. Eventually, you will state to give up the ghost, and that\u2019s when symptoms of tired eyes \u2013 and similar effects \u2013 can begin to show.
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11. Allergy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

An allergy <\/a>is caused by your body incorrectly responding to a substance as though it were a toxin. In this situation, your body will mistake harmless substances such as animal dander, pollen, or other things as being harmful. To deal with this, it will then direct more blood flow to the area, with the intention being to restore the eyes to their normal health while battling the pathogen with antibodies and making the area less hospitable through swelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both these things can actually cause more discomfort than the substance itself of course! How allergies come about is not fully understood, though at least one theory suggests that they are the result of having a reaction to an actual <\/em>toxin, while the allergen is present. The body then mistakes one for the other. It can be possible to treat allergies with gradual exposure to the substance introduced over time \u2013 but this doesn\u2019t always work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the most part, dealing with hayfever and an allergy to cats and dogs is best handled by simply avoiding the offending substance. This can be done by installing blinds, by buying short-haired pets, etc. Using antihistamines may also be helpful, but could cause drowsiness seeing as histamine is actually an excitatory neurotransmitter.
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12. Sunlight Exposure<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sunlight exposure without sunglasses can cause irritation in the eyes that cause them to become bloodshot. We all hear a lot about the damage that the sun can do to the skin via ultraviolet rays<\/a>. What we often think less about is the damage it can also do to the eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Essentially, ultraviolet light causes fluctuations in the electromagnetic spectrum which can excite electrons. These can pass through any surface and at high enough frequencies cause damage to any tissue they come into contact with \u2013 in much the same way as a microwave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The eyes being white are at particular risk too, seeing as they don\u2019t absorb any of the spectra of the light, in turn allowing them to get more damage. It\u2019s important to always wear shades them if you will be in the sun all day, which will allow you to avoid the damage caused by prolonged exposure. And no, closing your eyes and staying in the shade is not enough to protect you!
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13. Dehydration<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another reason your eyes are probably red after a day in the sun is that they are dehydrated<\/a>. As we become dehydrated, everything tends to constrict and thereby increase blood pressure. The result, in this case, is that the blood moves more forcefully through those small blood vessels in the eyes, making it appear closer to the surface so the eyes look redder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, dehydration also prevents the normal production of tears as these are of course made from fluids. Without those tears, the eyes become dry and irritated and you can thereby see them look redder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many other things that can happen as a result of dehydration. Headaches, confusion, tiredness, dry skin, bad breath, constipation, indigestion and more all come from dehydration. Most of us don\u2019t get enough water, so make sure you are drinking plenty of large glasses at all times!
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14. Individual Differences<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Finally, keep in mind that some people\u2019s eyes are redder than others and some are more prone to the bloodshot look. This is due to differences in pigment, as well as the number of blood vessels, blood pressure<\/a> and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people have chronically red eyes and may find that using whitening drops or even just moisture can help to some degree.
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