5 Reasons to Seek Expert Care for Your Red Eyes

Red eyes can be caused by lots of things, including late nights, allergies, and dryness. But sometimes, red eyes are caused by more serious underlying issues, including problems that can threaten your eye health and vision. 

Rodrigo Belalcazar, MD, PLLC, has extensive experience determining the cause of red eyes and uses advanced testing to develop a management plan focused on preventing complications and helping your eyes stay healthy. 

If you have red eyes, here are five reasons you should schedule an evaluation at Advanced Eye Center in Hialeah, Florida.

1. Redness is persistent or recurrent

Occasional, temporary redness can happen for a variety of reasons, such as eye strain and exposure to allergens or other irritants. 

In most cases, this kind of redness fades once your eyes get a chance to recover — whether with rest, lubricating drops, sleep, or by stepping away from whatever is irritating them.

On the other hand, if your eyes stay red for more than a couple of days or if the redness keeps coming back, that’s a sign something else is going on, and it's time to seek medical treatment. You could be dealing with an eye infection, chronic dry eye, or inflammation, each of which poses a more serious threat to your eye health and vision.

2. You wear contact lenses

Once again, occasional, mild redness typically isn’t anything to worry about. Contact lens wearers can experience mild irritation from airborne pollutants, like smoke or pollen. These symptoms tend to resolve once you’re away from the irritants (and you give your lenses a good cleaning).

If, however, you have redness that persists or is accompanied by itching, eye drainage, or discomfort of any type, you might be dealing with the early stages of an infection or a tiny corneal scratch. 

Because these conditions can progress very quickly — and lead to permanent vision loss — seeking prompt medical attention is critical.

3. Redness is accompanied by eye discharge, pain, or fever

If your red eyes occur without any other symptoms, it’s probably OK to see how they feel after a day or so. But if other symptoms accompany the redness, it’s time to call the office to talk about next steps.

Thick discharge, pain, or even fever can all be signs of infection or inflammation that needs urgent medical attention. Early treatment helps ward off serious, vision-threatening complications while also helping you feel better faster.

4. You’re extra-sensitive to light

Also known as photophobia, light sensitivity often goes hand in hand with eye allergies or mild irritation. But sometimes, extreme photosensitivity or sensitivity accompanied by other symptoms can be a sign of something more serious, like corneal abrasions or uveitis. 

These conditions can affect deeper structures inside your eye, meaning they require prompt medical evaluation and treatment. Early evaluation is the best way to protect your eyes and vision while also reducing uncomfortable glare.

5. Redness after an eye surgery or treatment

If you have any persistent or worsening redness after an eye procedure, such as eye surgery, injections, or another treatment, that redness should absolutely be taken seriously. Even after a routine eye exam, any persistent or worsening redness should be evaluated.

While mild, temporary irritation may be normal right after an eye treatment, persistent or worsening redness, pain, or vision changes can definitely be a sign of developing complications or a serious allergic reaction.

Prompt medical attention is important for ruling out complications and supporting healthy recovery and healing. 

Don’t ignore those red eyes

Red eyes can show up for simple reasons — like dryness, mild irritation, or even too much sun exposure — and often aren’t a sign of anything serious.

But sometimes redness is a result of serious eye conditions that shouldn't be ignored. The only way to know for sure is to schedule an eye exam with our team, so we can help prevent complications and provide much-needed treatment and relief.

To find out what’s causing your red eyes and how we can help, request an appointment with Dr. Belalcazar and our team at Advanced Eye Center today by calling 305-707-6011 or scheduling online.