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.