Red eye is a common condition and quite disturbing. However, there are several ways to deal with red eye that you can try, ranging from natural ways to the use of drugs. Come on, find out more about how to deal with red in the following article.
Pink eye is most often caused by irritation or infection of the eye (conjunctivitis). However, in addition to these two conditions, red eyes can also be caused by bleeding or dilation of the eye blood vessels, dry eyes, allergic reactions, to eye injuries.
Complaints of red eyes are quite disturbing, especially for people who routinely move. Therefore, not a few people try various ways to deal with the red eye complaints they experience.
Various Ways to Overcome Red Eyes
Treatment for pink eye varies, depending on the cause. To relieve mild red eye symptoms, you can try the following tips:
1. Compress warm water
Wet a towel with warm water, then wring it out. Next, place the warm compress on the red eye for 10-15 minutes. This method can increase blood flow around the eyes and overcome irritation in the eyes, so that the red eye condition can subside.
2. Cold water compress
If the red eye does not go away after being given a warm compress, you can try another method, namely with a cold compress. Cold compresses on the eyes are usually more effective for red eyes that are swollen and itchy due to irritation or allergies.
3. Use humidifier
The use of air conditioning in a closed room can make the air dry. Such air conditions can make the eyes red and dry. To fix this, you can use a humidifier or humidifier.
In addition to humidifying the air, this tool can also clean the air from dust and dirt so that the eyes are at a lower risk of exposure to dust that causes irritation or allergies.
4. Put artificial tears (artificial tears)
The use of artificial tears is useful for lubricating and cleaning the eye. Red eyes that arise from wearing contact lenses for too long or dry eye syndrome will also feel more comfortable and cool if treated with artificial tears.
In addition to the natural methods above, you can also use eye drops on the market. However, before you buy and use it, first look at the contents and uses of these eye medications.
Antihistamine eye drops are intended to relieve red eyes caused by allergies. Meanwhile, eye drops containing decongestants are used to reduce red eyes due to dilation of eye blood vessels.
Use eye drops according to the directions on the package. Both types of eye medication should not be used in the long term or more than 3 days.
If you do not know what is causing your red eyes, you should consult an ophthalmologist before using eye drops.
Red Eye Prevention Steps
To avoid red eye, you can take the following preventive steps:
- Wash hands regularly with soap and running water.
- Avoid touching or rubbing your eyes.
- Stay away from red eye triggers, such as cigarette smoke, dust, or soap. If you want to move outside the house, use sunglasses to protect your eyes from dust and sunlight.
- Change sheets, pillowcases, and towels regularly every week.
- Replace and care for contact lenses that are worn regularly to prevent irritation and injury to the eyes. Don't forget to also clean your contact lenses regularly.
- Take a break after staring at a computer screen for too long.
Mild red eyes or not caused by serious eye disease, generally can heal on its own within a few days or subside by overcoming the red eye that has been mentioned above.
However, if your red eye condition does not improve within 1 week or if your red eye appears accompanied by other complaints such as pain, discharge of pus or blood, blurry vision, or sensitivity to light, you should immediately consult a doctor. eye.
After the cause is known, the doctor will treat your red eyes by prescribing eye pain medication that suits the cause.