How to fix Red Eyes
What Causes Red Eyes?
Red eyes are more common than you might think. Whether it’s dry air, allergies, screen time, or something more serious, that tired, irritated look can be a sign that your eyes need a little extra care.
In today’s fast-paced world, we spend hours in front of screens and are exposed to dust, pollution, and allergens, all of which contribute to eye irritation. The good news? Once you understand the cause, there’s often a simple fix that protects your comfort and long-term vision.
1. Dry Eyes (Protection)
When your eyes don’t produce enough quality oils or tears, they can feel gritty, sore, and red. This is especially common in air-conditioned environments or during the summer and winter months.
Before it gets bad, use preservative-free artificial tears to keep your eyes hydrated. For evaporative dry eye where the oil layer on the front of the eye is reduced, I recommend Tears Again as my first choice. It has a easy spray function, perfect if you're wearing makeup or if you don't like seeing the eye drop fall in to your eye. Highly effective, spray on the closed eye, preservative free and suitable for use with contact lenses. For Aqueous deficiency - menaing you dont have enough tears produced naturally, Hylo-Forte, is my go-to. It's gentle, effective, and safe for regular use. Been used by thousands of my patients, I highly recommend it. The bottle however has what i feel to be a clunky dispensing technique where you have to use a pump action on the bottom to get the drop out. It is however a superb overall product and the sodium hyaluronate in it works beautifully.
You can also consider a humidifier to reduce dryness at home or work.
Now these are the things I've found to work for patients:
1. Wear glasses to create a micro-hydrated-environment between your eye and the lens. (even if they have no prescription)
2. Massage your oil glands gently under your top and bottom lid once a week.
3. Check the ingredients in your cosmetics and face washes and stay away from the nasty chemicals. Check out our Eye Conscious Rating system for cosmetics.
If your cosmetics contain any of these listed ingredients, I'd highly recommend you look at the cosmetics on this website and use the filters on the left of the page (while searching) to select bronze, silver or gold rated products.
2. Allergies (Prevention)
Seasonal allergies like pollen or pet dander can make your eyes red and itchy. These flare-ups are most common in spring and summer.
Use antihistamine eye drops during allergy season and avoid rubbing your eyes, it only makes inflammation worse.
Naturally our eyelashes are oily and 'catch' dust, pollens, and allegens. Due to the oily nature of them, regular face washing with water doesn't completely clean the lashes. For a more thorough, effective method use lid wipes from biorevive or blephadex to get rid of pollens and other allergens like animal hair.
3. Infections (Preservation)
Infections like conjunctivitis (pink eye) often cause redness, discharge, and irritation. These are more common during colder months when germs spread easily.
Good hygiene is key. Always wash your hands before touching your eyes, and don’t share towels or pillowcases during an infection.
4. Screen Time (Protection)
Prolonged screen use causes digital eye strain, dryness, and blurred vision, often showing up as red, tired eyes. If you're working late or scrolling before bed, your eyes will tell you.
Follow the 10:10 Rule: Every 10 minutes, look at something 10 feet away for 10 seconds. It’s simple, practical, and makes a noticeable difference for most people within days.
5. Contact Lens Use (Preservation)
Wearing contact lenses longer than recommended or not cleaning them properly can lead to redness, dryness, or even infection.
Stick to wearing schedules, replace cases regularly, and use lens-specific cleaning solutions, your eyes will thank you.
Simple Steps to Keep Your Eyes Healthy
Use Artificial Tears: Especially if you spend long hours indoors or on screens. Try BIoRevive's Tears Again or Hylo-Forte for preservative-free relief.
Hydrate: Drinking water supports your tear film and keeps your eyes lubricated.
Stick to the 10:10 Rule: It’s easy, and it works. Remember to close the eye, squeeze the lids shut for a second or 2, then open. Repeat. Watch this quick youtube clip that walks you through it.
Manage Allergies: Treat symptoms early with eyelid wipes drops or oral antihistamines.
Keep Your Hands Clean: Especially if you wear contacts or touch your face often.
Emily's eyes would burn and itch by the end of day.
Emily, a graphic designer and mum of two, found herself dealing with red, dry eyes daily. “I was working 10-hour days on a screen. By the afternoon, my eyes would burn,” she told us.
After seeing an eye care professional, she started using preservative-free lubricating drops and began following the 10:10 rule. “Honestly, the difference was immediate. It’s such a small shift but it’s made a massive impact on how I feel and focus.”
Final Thoughts
Red eyes aren’t just cosmetic, they’re your body’s way of saying your eyes need attention. Whether it’s dryness, allergies, screen time, or an infection, there are simple and effective ways to protect your vision in every season of life.
Fundamentally red eyes are a sign of irritation and inflammation.
If redness persists or worsens, make sure to consult your eye care provider. At Eyehouse, we believe that caring for your eyes today is one of the best ways to protect your wellbeing tomorrow, so use eye drops when you need them and use eyelid wipes before the itching gets too worse.