Red eye
Introduction
A red eye can be alarming, but isoften just a sign of a minor eye condition, such asconjunctivitis or a burst blood vessel. If it's painful, there may be a more serious problem.
See your GP for advice if your red eye doesn't start to improve after a few days.
Contact your GP or NHS 111 immediately, or go to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department ,if:
- you have a painful red eye
- you have other symptoms, including reduced vision, sensitivity to light, a severe Headaches and feeling sick
- you recently injured your eyeparticularly if somethinghas pierced your eye
This page aims to give you a better idea of what might be causing your red eye. However, it shouldn't be used to self-diagnose your condition. Always seea doctorfor a proper diagnosis and treatment.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 16 Jun 2016
Introduction
A red eye can be alarming, but is often just a sign of a minor eye condition, such as conjunctivitis or a burst blood vessel. If it's painful, there may be a more serious problem.
Common causes of a painless red eye
The most likely causes ofa painless red eyeare minorproblems such as conjunctivitis ora burst blood vessel. These conditionsdon't tend to affect your vision andnormally get better within a week or two
Common causes of a painful red eye
If your red eye is painful or you have other symptoms such asreduced vision, the cause is likely to be one of the below conditions. These conditions can sometimes be serious and could threaten your s
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