A red eye is often caused by an infection or dry eyes, but there are lots of possible causes, and the NHS advises not trying to diagnose it yourself.
If your eye does not hurt, your sight is not affected and you do not feel sick or unwell, it is probably nothing serious and may get better on its own in a few days. Until then, try not to touch or rub your eye, and do not wear contact lenses.
Common causes of a red eye
| Symptoms | Possible cause |
|---|---|
| Bright red area in the white of the eye | Burst blood vessel |
| Gritty or burning feeling, sticky eyes | Conjunctivitis |
| Sore, blurry or watery eyes | Dry eyes |
| Itchy, sore or red crusted eyelids | Blepharitis |
| Feels like something is in your eye, or an eyelash problem | Ingrowing eyelash |
| Swollen, drooping or twitching eyelid, or a lump on the eyelid | Eyelid problems |
When to see a GP or optician
- Your child is under 2 and has a red eye
- You have red eyes with a sticky discharge
- You have red patches in your eye or a problem with your eyelids or lashes for more than a few days
- You are worried about your eyes
When it is urgent
Ask for an urgent GP or optician appointment, or get help from NHS 111, if your baby is less than 28 days old and has red eyes, your eye is very painful and red, or you have a red eye and wear contact lenses. Call 999 or go to A&E if you have a red eye and any change to your sight, it hurts to look at light, you have a severe headache and feel sick, your eye is very dark red, you have injured your eye or something is stuck in it, a chemical caused it, or one pupil is bigger than the other.
