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My Eyes Are Only Red at Night: What Does It Mean?

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Red eyes are often treated as more of an annoyance than anything else. Sometimes called bloodshot, red eyes occur when the blood vessels in the eyes start to swell. Of course, if you have chronic red eye in Champaign, IL, you may wonder what’s going below the surface. We’ll look at some common symptoms and causes, and why your eyes only turn red after a certain hour.

What to Know About Red Eyes

In addition to enlarged blood vessels, red eyes may be uncomfortable or sensitive to light. This is not normally cause for concern, though. Most red-eye problems are related to irritants in the air, including things like pet dander or dust. If you only see red eyes at night, say after you return home from work, it may be because your home needs a good cleaning or because your contacts have been irritating you all day.

Red Eye vs. Dry Eye

Dry eyes can often be confused with red eyes, and this is because your eyes may start to become red if dry eyes plague them. With dry eye, the problem is often with your glands. If your meibomian gland doesn’t produce enough oil, your tears will only be salty. You need both the saline and the oil for healthy tears. While neither dry nor red eye are serious issues, dry eye is more likely to develop into a more serious condition (e.g., a scratched cornea).

What to Do About Red Eye

The best thing to do about red eye is to make a few adjustments in your home or routine. This may mean cleaning your air filters or switching out your contact lenses. If you don’t see an improvement after these changes, you may want to consult with an eye doctor in Champaign, IL to get more detailed answers.

How Diabetes Poses a Threat to Eyesight

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Millions of people around the world have diabetes, either Type I or Type II. Those same millions of people are living with the threat of damage to their eyesight, due to the underlying disease of diabetes. It doesn’t matter whether a person has one type or the other; the risk is the same. If you have diabetes or pre-diabetes, you should be seen by an optometrist in Champaign, IL for a comprehensive eye exam. During this appointment, the eye doctor will determine if your eyes are damaged or on the cusp of being damaged.

Diabetic Retinopathy

There is such a thing as diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that damages the blood vessels in the retina, which is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. When blood sugar levels are consistently high, these vessels can swell, leak or even close off, leading to vision problems that will almost certainly impact the way you’re able to live your life.

Diabetic Macular Edema, Cataracts and Glaucoma

That’s not all. Another condition associated with diabetes is diabetic macular edema, where fluid builds up in the central part of the retina (called the macula), further impairing vision. People with diabetes are also at higher risk for cataracts and glaucoma, both of which can damage vision. Glaucoma often has no outward symptoms, so this one in particular is one to be wary of.

Managing Diabetes

You don’t have to suffer vision loss on account of your diabetes. It’s manageable if you follow your primary physician’s orders, and check in regularly with your optometrist in Champaign, IL for comprehensive eye exams. If you have any questions about how diabetes affects your vision, please don’t hesitate to ask. In the meantime, contact us today to book your next appointment.