Fouad Melamed, OD Los Angeles Eye Doctor

Don’t hesitate to see your optometrist for red eyes. There are many causes for red eyes, some very minor and some severe. If your eyes are painful and red or if you have any vision disturbances, you will need to see your eye care professional without delay.

The summertime seems to be hard on our eyes with all the blooming trees, flowers and grasses. Depending upon the allergen, irritation can start in early spring and continue on through the first really cold weather in fall. Your optometrist can provide the medication to make allergy season bearable.

Dry eyes are also a cause for red eyes. You may have tried several treatments at home without much success for dry eyes. Some patients think this is really not a problem that is serious enough to go see the optometrist for. However, the truth is, your optometrist can prescribe the correct lubricating drops that will finally provide relief.

Pink eye is a highly contagious disease that may need antibiotic treatment to be resolved. Pink eye is commonly seen in children and spreads rapidly as it is hard to keep kids from sharing the bacteria. However, adults can also have pink eye, especially if they have been exposed to a child who has the disease. Viral infections can also cause eyes to be red. Your optometrist can make a proper diagnosis and start the proper treatment

Another cause of red eyes is blepharitits. This is an infection of the skin around the eye lashes. Lashes may be crusty or you may notice little white specks at the base of the lashes. Some patients complain of greasy lashes. Your optometrist can help you get rid of this problem which can be especially troublesome if you wear contact lenses.

Eye redness can also be caused by sunburn to the face and eyes. This can be very painful. Foreign substances in the eye at the beach can also cause a whole myriad of problems. From misplaced sunscreen, especially from the spray bottles to abrasions from sand, there are lots of reasons for eyes to be red. If you have any question about the cause of the redness of the eyes or how to handle an issue, call your optometrist. It is much easier to prevent an issue from getting out of hand, than trying to resolve the problem after the fact.

Contact lens over use can cause eyes to be red. Changing contact lens solutions can also cause red eyes. Usually these are easy to treat but there can also be more serious conditions that occur with contact lens over use. If your symptoms persist for more than a day or two, see your eye care professional.

Rarely does glaucoma come on quickly, but when it does it is a true emergency. Symptoms include eye redness, pain and visual disturbances. If you have any of these symptoms call your optometrist immediately.

Seeing your optometrist for red eyes can save you time and money. Trying over the counter treatments can be expensive, especially if the treatment does not work. Let your eye care professional treat the cause of the problem and resolve the issue. Prompt treatment is key to keeping your eyes healthy.