Red, or bloodshot, eyes are a common occurrence that everyone will experience at some point. Many different triggers can cause the tiny blood vessels in the sclera, or white part of your eyes, to expand. This causes a pink or red color to appear in the sclera.

Common triggers of this disruptive symptom include:

• Tiredness
• Allergies
• Dry eyes
• Environmental triggers, like smoke or contact lens irritation
• Eye infection, like conjunctivitis (pink eye)

To reduce redness, your doctor or pharmacist may suggest redness-relieving eye drops to clear your eyes up. Before you reach for these eye drops, however, learn more about the different types, how to use them, and other causes of redness that may be more serious.*

What types of redness relief eye drops are there? Are there any risks?

Eye drops that clear redness from the sclera may contain a decongestant, which reduces swelling of the blood vessels in your eye. This reduction in swelling gets rid of the red or pink hue. 

When decongestant drops wear off, they can sometimes make your eyes redder than before, causing “rebound redness,” due to your eye’s dependence on the decongestant. For this reason, many doctors select lubricating eye drops, or “artificial tears,” as a first-line option. The lubricant can remove redness and also prevent dryness caused by irritation.

If you do use decongestant eye drops first, it is recommended that you use them occasionally and only for a short time, up to 72 hours. If you have been diagnosed with narrow-angle glaucoma (or narrow-anterior chamber glaucoma), you should not use redness-relieving eye drops made from decongestants. They can increase your risk of developing angle-closure glaucoma, a serious medical emergency.

When does redness indicate a serious issue?

Because redness is more commonly caused by irritants, such as smoke, pollen, or pet dander, redness-relieving eye drops are generally a safe option to reduce swelling. If redness becomes a recurring symptom, you should visit your doctor as soon as you can. 

Some signs that may warrant a trip to the ophthalmologist, such as:

• Your eyes are seeping or encrusted with yellow, brown, or green mucus. This can be a sign of an infection that needs urgent medical treatment.
• You are experiencing pain in or around your eyes or unusual tenderness.
• You have an unusual sensitivity to light.
• You have a fever or feel sick overall.
• You have redness or discomfort that lasts more than a week after having tried home remedies.
• Your child has been exposed to pink eye (conjunctivitis) somewhere, such as at school, camp, or similar.

Through an eye examination, your ophthalmologist will determine the cause of your red eyes and the best treatment for them, taking into account your general and eye health.

*Boyd, K. (2018, Aug. 31). Redness-Relieving Eye Drops. American Academy of Ophthalmology. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/treatments/redness-relieving-eye-drops