How to Treat and Get Rid of Red Eyes

Cold Compresses

Cold compresses work to treat red eyes by constricting blood vessels in the eyes. Not only will this help to erase redness, but it'll also reduce fluid retention around the eyes.

How to Use

• Fill a bowl with ice and water.
• Submerge a clean washcloth in the water to soak it up.
• Remove it and wring out the excess.
• Apply to closed eyes for between five and 10 minutes.
• Repeat a few times per day. 

Small bags of frozen peas or corn make effective compresses for red eyes as well, as they conform to the eye area and tend to stay colder longer than a cloth.

Artificial Tears

Artificial tears, clinically known as demulcent drops, are over-the-counter eye drops formulated to restore moisture to dry, inflamed eyes. Artificial tears are a common red eye treatment and should be applied fairly often; most people tend to under-use them.

Causes of dry eye include:

• Environmental conditions (wind, smoke, dry climate)
• Age (being over 50)
• Screen use
• Medications (antihistamines, decongestants, blood pressure medications, antidepressants)
• Medical conditions (diabetes, thyroid disease, Sjögren's disease)

How to Use

To get rid of red eyes, try using artificial tears:

• Insert every hour for the first six hours.
• Use six times per day for the rest of the week.

Vasoconstrictors

Vasoconstrictors (decongestants) work by shrinking the small blood vessels in the conjunctiva. Examples of vasoconstricting eye drops include:

• Visine Original (tetrahydrozoline)
• Clear Eyes (naphazoline)
• Neofrin (phenylephrine)

Vasoconstricting eye drops are not popular with eye doctors for treating red eye because, when used for too long, they wear off quickly and prompt too-frequent use. This can cause "rebound redness"—when the drops wear off, blood vessels dilate even larger than they were before, making eyes appear bloodshot.

How to Use

Apply eye drops to treat red eyes no more than twice daily. Use them once in the morning and once before bedtime.

Vasoconstrictors reduce redness and may be used safely for up to 72 hours.

More frequent use of this type of eye drop is not good for your eyes. If you find yourself needing them every morning, consult your healthcare provider.

Precautions

Do not use vasodilator eye drops without consulting your healthcare provider first if you're pregnant or have:

• A heart condition
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Hyperthyroidism

People who have narrow-angle glaucoma should not use vasodilator eye drops.

Antihistamine Eye Drops

Antihistamine eye drops contain medications designed to treat symptoms of eye allergy (allergic conjunctivitis)—chief among them itching, but also redness, soreness, stinging, and/or swelling. Symptoms are triggered by the immune system's response to an allergen.

Once available only by prescription, antihistamine eye drops can now be purchased over the counter. Brands include Opcon-A and Naphcon-A; both contain an antihistamine to control itching and a vasoconstrictor to shrink swollen blood vessels to reduce redness.

How to Use

Antihistamines are short-acting, so they must be used:

• Use them at least four times per day.
• Alternatively, follow a healthcare provider's direction.
• Don't use them for more than two to three consecutive days, as this can increase irritation and other symptoms.

If you wear contact lenses, wait 10 minutes after using antihistamine eye drops before inserting them.

Precautions

If your eye allergy symptoms don't improve or worsen, see your eye doctor. Ask your healthcare provider before using an antihistamine/vasoconstrictor eye drop (such as Opcon-A) if you have:

• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Enlarged prostate
• Narrow angle glaucoma