Your eyes are one of the first things people notice about you, so it’s understandable that you don’t want to have red and crusty eyes. Unfortunately, eye redness happens when the surface blood vessels on the eye expand or even break. This can happen for many reasons—due to a foreign object, certain substance, dirt or infection. In most cases, eye redness lasts for a short time, clearing out quickly, but in case it ends up being chronic, you might need to take action toward removing that redness. Here are a few things you can do to prevent red eye syndrome and make your eyes healthy and beautiful.
Warm or Cold Compresses
Eye redness can be temporarily made better with warm compresses. To perform this, simply grab a towel, soak it in warm water and wring it out well. Make sure to use warm-temperature water but be sensible because eyes are quite sensitive. Once the towel is prepared, place it over the eyes and keep for 10 minutes. Thanks to the heat, your eyes can get a boost in blood flow and oil production on your eyelids (less redness and more lubrication).
If you don’t see any benefits from hot compresses, you can try the opposite approach with cold compresses. Take a towel, soak it in cold water and place it over the eyes. This is also a short-term solution that can relieve any swelling to the eyes, reduce itchiness and irritation and reduce red eye syndrome. Once again, try to be mindful of the temperature, otherwise, you’re risking making your problem even worse.
Eye Lubrication
Did you know that the tears we produce are not just there to state your sadness or happiness? Tears actually have many eye benefits, from lubricating the eyes to keeping them squeaky clean. If you often experience eye dryness, it can be followed by redness of the eye. This can be solved with over-the-counter artificial tears. Some artificial tears have a cooling effect and should be kept in the fridge, so make sure to check the storage instructions.
Choose the Right Contacts
People who are battling chronic eye redness and have to wear contact lenses often complain about their eyewear. There are certain lenses made with materials that can cause irritation or infection in certain people. Also, suppose you often forget to buy new lenses and resort to wearing your disposable ones for longer than recommended. In that case, it’s a great idea to invest in practical fortnightly contact lenses you can wear for two weeks. These can be reused for up to 14 days with proper storage and cleaning. These are usually soft and allow great comfort and practicality, especially for busy people. Of course, you still have to take any type of contacts out when sleeping to let your eyes recover.
Additionally, you might want to try to change your contact solution. Certain solutions where you store your contacts might contain ingredients that cause allergies in your eyes. Plus, not all solutions are compatible with all contacts. If you experience irritation, try to change your contact solution and get one that’s compatible with your preferred type of lenses.
Control Your Environment
The environment you spend the most time in can greatly affect the health of your eyes. If you spend a lot of time in smoke, pollen and allergen-filled spaces, this might be what’s causing your redness problems. High humidity, air dryness and wind can also be harmful to the eyes and boost your sensitivity. Try to get plenty of fresh air every day and make sure to wear eye protection when you’re working with dangerous substances or spending prolonged time in cold winds. Regular room ventilation is a must, just stay out of the breeze.
Practice Good Hygiene
One of the main sources of eye redness is infections with dirt and bacteria. Therefore, make sure to avoid touching your eyes, especially before washing them thoroughly. Next, try to use a special face towel that won’t come in contact with any other body part. And finally, try to change your bedding regularly. Clean sheets and pillowcases can help your face and eyes avoid many nasty things.
Eye redness doesn’t have to be something you need to live with. With proper eye care, protection and quality eyewear, you can make your windows to the soul beautiful and clear once again.
Diana Smith is a full time mom of two beautiful girls interested in health and beauty related topics and alternative medicine. In her free time she enjoys long walks in the woods, hard exercising and preparing healthy meals for her family.
