Eye - Red or Painful

Is this your symptom?

• Red or pink color of the white part of the eye(s). Eye may be painful
• May have increased tears (watery eye)
• If the symptoms are caused by an injury, see the Eye Injury care guide.

Causes of Pinkeye (Red Eye)

• Pinkeye. When the white of the eye becomes pink or red, it's called pinkeye. Conjunctivitis is the medical name for pinkeye.  It becomes pink or red when it is infected or irritated. Pinkeye has many causes.
  • Viral Pinkeye is the main cause of pink or red eyes without pus. Most often, it is part of a cold.
  • Bacterial Pinkeye. Pinkeye, plus the eyelids are stuck together with pus.  Most likely, this is a secondary infection of viral conjunctivitis.
  • Allergic Pinkeye is from pollens. It causes red, itchy and sometimes gritty eyes. Most people with eye allergies also have hay fever. Symptoms include sneezing and clear nasal discharge. Easy to treat with eye drops.
  • Irritant Pinkeye from sunscreen, soap, chlorine in pool water, smoke, or smog. Irritants can also be transferred by touching the eye with dirty fingers. Irritants can be food or plant resins.
  • Contact Lens Pinkeye is caused by poor use of disinfectant solution or lenses kept in too long or overnight.
• Eye Drop Abuse happens when people use daily OTC eye drops to remove mild redness. After the medicine wears off, the blood vessels become larger than they were to begin with. This is similar to the rebound nasal congestion seen in chronic nose drop abuse.
• Dry Eye Syndrome happens when not enough tears are made by the eye. The eyes feel gritty and painful, but are not red. It is more common with age. It can be caused by medicines or other health problems. Pinkeye with pus can be common with dry eyes.
• Broken Blood Vessel in Eye may be from an injury, coughing, or from high blood pressure. It can also happen with no known cause. It will look like blood in part or all of the eye. It does not change your vision and is often painless. Goes away on its own in about two weeks. It may turn yellow before going away. Go to the ER if the blood vessel breaks from a hard hit.
• Foreign Object. If only one eye has pinkeye, it might be from an object in the eye.
• Palpebral Cellulitis (serious) is a bacterial infection of the eyelids and skin around them. Causes the lids to be very red and swollen.

Causes of Eye Pain

• Quick Onset Glaucoma (serious) happens when the normal flow of fluids in the eye is blocked. Pressure builds up in the eye that can cause long-term vision loss. Symptoms include pain that starts quickly, seeing haloes around lights, light bothers your eyes, watery eyes and headache. Get these symptoms checked right away. More common in people older than 50 years of age.
• Keratitis is inflammation of the cornea. It can be caused by an injury, wearing contacts or past eye infection. Symptoms are eye pain and redness; vision can be affected. Needs care right away.
• Scleritis (serious) feels like severe, dull eye pain which may spread to the jaw or forehead. Light may bother the eyes. You may have changes in vision. More common in people 50 years or older who have other health problems.
• Endophthalmitis (serious) feels like a painful, red eye and poor vision after a surgery or injury to the eye. May also be linked to drug use or a weak immune system. Needs to be treated by a doctor right away to save the eye.
• Photokeratitis and Snow Blindness are like having a sunburn of the cornea (the front clear part of the eye). The eyes can be very painful and it may be hard to keep them open. Eye drops may be needed to help with the pain. Sunglasses and goggles can keep the eyes safe from these types of injuries.