Are Your Red Eyes from Too Much Alcohol?

I got red eyes a few days back. If you are wondering if I made my eyes red from excessive drinking, then no. In my defence, I can’t handle a few shots, let alone drinking, till my eyes turn red.

To treat my red eyes, I got eye drops that are sold over the counter. They worked but got me wondering why my eyes turned red in the first place. Should I even use the eye drops? Well, the label ‘clearly’ mentioned consulting an eye doctor before, which I blatantly ignored. Who has got the time for the doctor? Let’s take a step back and consider why this could turn bad for my eyes.

Why do your eyes turn red?

Excessive drinking is not the only reason for red eyes. There can be many reasons that will make your eyes turn red. The best call for you is to consult your doctor before remedying it yourself.

Your eyes can turn red because of -

1. An allergy — Pollen, dust, pollutants, anything can make you allergic. And a common reaction to allergies is sneezing. And sneezing can make your eyes turn red.
2. Overworking — If you are diligent and take your work too seriously, getting dark circles around your eyes might be a routine. And redness on eyes is also quite usual for you.
3. Conjunctivitis — An infection that turns your eyes red. If the redness persists, you probably have this infection.
4. Abrasion — Wear and tear in your eyes can turn them red. You might have got some dirt particles in your eyes, and you accidentally rubbed them, causing a tear in your eyes. This can lead to redness of your eyes.
5. Subconjunctival haemorrhage — (Medical terms are such a mouthful.) This is a condition when a blood vessel breaks in your eyes. It will appear as a bruise inside your eyes. Funny enough, you can sneeze and break a blood vessel in your eyes. You can simply wake up with ruptured blood vessels in your eyes for no apparent reason. This is mostly not harmful to your eyes or vision if the vessel ruptures anywhere in the white part. If you get a bruise in your iris, then you should visit an ophthalmologist. This can impact your vision if your eye condition does not change within 2–3 weeks.
6. Computer Vision Syndrome — Your eyes strain after spending long hours exposed to the blue lights of the computer. You get red eyes that make it difficult for you to keep your eyes open. Prescription blue light glasses will help you with this eye condition.
7. Dry Eyes — Also a symptom of computer vision syndrome. You can get dry eyes for reasons other than computers or digital devices. You can be in a dry atmosphere like a mountainous region, desert. Wear your protective eyewear or sunglasses to avoid getting dry eyes and red eyes.

If you can’t find the reason, an ophthalmologist is the first person you should consult. Rather than asking Google, you should look for free eye tests in the UK. If you are eligible for NHS eye care, go check out.

How Does Eye Drops for Red Eyes Work?

There are many kinds of eye drops. There are usual eye drops that soothe your eyes by giving you a cooling sensation. These are meant for relieving eyes from digital strain and dry eyes. They are made from compositions of teardrops. These are artificial tear drop solutions. Using these will not hurt your eyes.

Eye drops for red eyes contain a solution called naphazoline. This makes your eyes appear white by narrowing down the vascular congestion of your eyes. This provides brief relief from redness, puffiness, itchy and watery eyes. The solution is temporary and probably doesn’t cure your eyes of the ailment. Your eyes will turn back red after some time.

Consequences of Using Eye Drop Without Prescription

When your eyes are infected, the blood vessels in your eyes swell to tackle the infection. Inhibiting the blood vessels interferes with the natural process of healing. You might be doing harm by using red eyes relieving eye drops. If you are going for an important meeting or interview, use these eye drop solutions for cosmetic purposes. Do not use them too frequently.

If you get red eyes too often, consult an eye doctor. If you are straining your eyes and, that is, causing your red eyes, you can try using blue light glasses, even if you do not have any prescription. Order glasses online for these types of lenses. Non-prescription blue light glasses will only block blue lights and give you a comfortable vision. You will strain your eyes a lot less.

Side effects of eye drop for red eyes -

1. Blurriness
2. Itching
3. Headaches
4. Dizziness
5. Gritty sensation in your eyes
6. Watery eyes

Much worse side-effects include -

1. Much worse redness than before
2. Eye pain
3. Chest pain
4. Uneven heartbeat
5. Severe headaches
6. Anxiety
7. Breathlessness

If you get any such side effects, you should call a doctor ASAP. Side-effects are rare. It is rarer to get worse side effects. You might suffer severe side effects if you have health conditions that can aggravate your situation. Consult a doctor before using eye drops if you have glaucoma, heart diseases, diabetes, thyroid problems or any injury or infection in your eyes.