On this page
Dr. Chrysoula I. Liakou MD, PhD
- Treated online: Yes, usually. Most red eyes come from conjunctivitis, a burst blood vessel, dry eyes, blepharitis or an allergy, which a doctor can treat by video; a painful red eye with blurred vision needs in-person care.
- Usually not serious: if the eye does not hurt, your sight is normal and you feel well, a red eye is probably minor and may clear in a few days.
- Warning signs: real pain rather than grittiness, blurred vision, light hurting the eye, one pupil bigger than the other, an injury, or a red eye in a contact lens wearer.
- Redness-relief drops: using them for more than about 3 days can cause rebound redness, making the eye redder.
- Emergency: call 112 for a red eye with a change in your sight, light that hurts, a severe headache with feeling sick, a chemical or an injury, or a very dark red eye.
Do not book a video appointment if you have a red eye with any change in your sight, such as blurring, wavy lines or flashing, if it hurts to look at light, if you have a severe headache and feel sick, if one pupil is bigger than the other, if your eye is very dark red, or if you have injured your eye or got a chemical in it. Call 112 or go to an emergency department, and do not drive yourself. After a chemical splash, rinse the eye with clean running water while you wait.
Can an online doctor treat a red eye?
Yes, usually. Most red eyes are caused by conjunctivitis, a burst blood vessel, dry eyes, blepharitis or an allergy, and a doctor can work out the likely cause by video from how the eye looks, how it feels and what came with it, then treat it. A painful red eye with blurred vision or light sensitivity, a red eye in a contact lens wearer, and any injury need an examination in person, and the doctor tells you where to go and how quickly.
How an online consultation helps with a red eye
- Warning signs first: Pain, vision, light sensitivity, the pupils and contact lenses are checked before anything else.
- The cause, named: The pattern of redness, discharge, itch and pain tells conjunctivitis, allergy, dry eye and a burst blood vessel apart.
- Treatment only when it helps: Antibiotic drops only for a bacterial infection, and antihistamine drops for allergy.
- A clear next step: Which changes mean you need an eye examination, and how quickly.
What the doctor checks in an online red eye consultation
The doctor checks the warning signs first, then the pattern of the redness. The doctor asks about:
- Warning signs: real pain, blurred or reduced vision, light hurting your eye, a severe headache, feeling sick, an injury or a chemical.
- Contact lenses: whether you wear them, what type, and whether you sleep, shower or swim in them.
- The redness: one eye or both, a bright red patch or redness all over, and whether it is around the coloured part of the eye.
- Discharge and itch: watery, sticky or glued shut in the morning, and whether it itches.
- What came with it: a cold, hay fever, a lump on the eyelid, crusty eyelids, or a recent coughing or sneezing fit.
- Your health: blood thinners, high blood pressure, past eye problems or surgery, and the medicines and drops you use.
Before the call, take photos of both eyes in daylight, before you wipe them, and take out any contact lenses.
Is a red eye serious? Reassuring signs and warning signs
Usually not. If your eye does not hurt, your sight is not affected and you do not feel unwell, it is probably minor and may clear in a few days. The signs below separate the common causes from the ones that can damage sight:
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Usually reassuring | Warning sign | |
|---|---|---|
| Pain | Gritty, itchy or burning | Real pain, a deep ache, or pain that is getting worse |
| Vision | Normal once you blink | Blurred or reduced vision, wavy lines, flashing, or loss of vision |
| Light | Comfortable | It hurts to look at light |
| Pupils | Equal and normal | One pupil bigger than the other, or a pupil that looks distorted |
| Discharge | Watery, or sticky lashes in the morning | Large amounts of pus |
| Contact lenses | No lenses | A painful red eye in a contact lens wearer |
| How it started | Slowly, or with hay fever | After an injury, a chemical, or something stuck in the eye |
| Colour | Pink, or a bright red patch on the white | Very dark red eyes |
A painful red eye in a contact lens wearer is treated as an infection of the cornea until an eye examination shows otherwise, because that can damage sight. The keratitis page explains why.
What causes a red eye? Causes by pattern
Most red eyes come from the surface of the eye or the eyelids. These are the common causes and the ones not to miss, with how much of their care works online:
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Cause | What points to it | Online care |
|---|---|---|
| Conjunctivitis | Gritty or burning, sticky or watery; often starts in one eye and spreads to the other within 1 to 2 days | Treated online |
| Burst blood vessel | A bright red patch on the white of the eye, painless, with normal vision | Handled online |
| Dry eyes | Sore, gritty, watery or blurry eyes, usually both | Treated online |
| Blepharitis | Itchy, sore, red, crusted eyelids, worse on waking | Treated online |
| Itchy eyes and allergy | Intense itching in both eyes, watery discharge, often in the pollen season | Treated online |
| Stye or chalazion | A lump on the eyelid with redness around it | Treated online |
| Snow blindness | Painful eyes that start well after strong sun on snow, water or sand | Treated online |
| Pinguecula or pterygium | A raised yellowish or fleshy patch on the white of the eye that becomes red at times | Partly online |
| Scratched eye | Pain, watering and light sensitivity after something got into the eye | Partly online |
| Episcleritis | A red patch on the white of the eye, tender, with mild or no pain; settles within about 3 weeks | Usually settles by itself |
| Uveitis | Pain and redness around the coloured part of the eye, light sensitivity, blurred vision | Assessed online |
| Keratitis | A painful red eye, light sensitivity, reduced vision, often a contact lens wearer | Assessed online |
| Scleritis | Severe, boring pain, worse at night and when moving the eye | Urgent in-person care |
| Acute glaucoma | Severe pain, blurred vision, coloured rings around lights, headache, vomiting | Emergency: call 112 |
| Chemical injury | Pain and redness after a splash | Emergency: call 112 |
Allergy is one of the most common reasons for bloodshot eyes: irritants such as pollen, chlorine, pet dander, dust, mould, cigarette smoke or perfume make the small blood vessels on the eye widen.
Why is only one eye red?
Redness in both eyes usually comes from allergy, dry eyes, blepharitis or viral conjunctivitis, which often starts in one eye and reaches the other within 1 to 2 days. Redness in one eye only has a wider list of causes:
- a burst blood vessel: a bright red, painless patch
- a scratch or something in the eye: pain and watering after a speck, a nail or a branch
- a stye, chalazion or episcleritis: redness in one area
- keratitis, uveitis or acute glaucoma: a painful red eye with blurred vision or light sensitivity, which needs urgent in-person care
How do you get rid of bloodshot eyes?
Treat the cause and rest the eye. For mild redness without pain or blurred vision:
- Do not touch or rub your eye.
- Leave contact lenses out until the eye is better.
- Place a cool, damp cloth over your closed eyes a couple of times a day.
- Use lubricating eye drops, preservative-free if you need them more than about four times a day.
- Avoid what sets it off, such as smoke, dust or pollen, and wash your hands often.
- For allergy, ask a pharmacist about antihistamine eye drops.
Should you use redness-relief eye drops?
Only briefly. Decongestant drops that whiten the eye should be used for 3 days or less: longer use can cause rebound redness, which makes the eye redder than before. They hide redness rather than treat its cause.
How long does a red eye last?
It depends on the cause: conjunctivitis usually gets better in a couple of weeks, a burst blood vessel fades over a few weeks, and episcleritis settles within about 3 weeks. See a doctor if redness or discomfort lasts more than a week despite home treatment, and urgently if pain or vision changes appear.
Which red eye treatment might the doctor recommend?
Treatment follows the cause. This is the framework the doctors use:
Swipe sideways to compare →
| What you have | Likely first step | Suitable for online care? | When in-person care is needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gritty, watery red eyes with a cold | Cool compresses, lubricating drops and hand hygiene; no antibiotics | Yes | If it lasts more than 7 to 10 days, or pain or vision changes start |
| Sticky red eye, lashes glued shut in the morning | Bathing the lids; antibiotic drops only if it is severe or not settling | Yes | If there is no improvement after a week |
| Itchy, watery red eyes in both eyes | Antihistamine drops or tablets, and avoiding the trigger | Yes | If treatment does not help |
| A bright red patch on the white, no pain | Reassurance; no treatment is needed | Yes | If it follows an injury, or keeps coming back |
| Crusty, sore eyelids with red eyes | Daily lid hygiene for blepharitis | Yes | If it does not improve |
| A painful red eye in a contact lens wearer | An urgent eye examination | No | Urgently, in person |
| A painful red eye with blurred vision or light sensitivity | An urgent eye examination | No | Urgently; call 112 for severe pain with vomiting |
| A red eye after an injury or a chemical | Rinse with clean water; emergency care | No | Call 112 now |
A red eye and not sure what it needs? A doctor can tell you in one consultation.
See available times →Treatment options for a red eye
What you can do yourself
- Keep your hands away from your eyes, and wash them often.
- Use lubricating drops and cool compresses for comfort.
- Leave out contact lenses and eye make-up until the eye is better.
- Use your own towel and pillowcase if conjunctivitis is possible.
- Ask a pharmacist about cleaning solutions, eye drops and antihistamines.
Prescription treatment
A prescription is never issued without a consultation. Treatment depends on the cause: the doctor may prescribe antibiotic drops or ointment for bacterial conjunctivitis that is severe or not settling, antihistamine drops or tablets for allergy, and treatment for blepharitis. Steroid eye drops are started only by eye specialists after an examination with a slit lamp. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
What does not help
Redness-relief drops for more than 3 days. Rubbing the eye. Wearing contact lenses with a red eye. Using leftover eye drops, especially steroid drops, from an earlier problem.
Special situations
Contact lens wearers
Take the lenses out at the first sign of redness. A red eye in a lens wearer could be an infection, and a painful one needs an urgent eye examination in person.
Blood thinners
If you take warfarin and have a burst blood vessel in the eye, your INR may need checking, and bleeds that keep coming back need tests.
Pregnancy
Tell the doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, so any eye drops are chosen with that in mind.
Red eyes while travelling in Europe
Chlorine in pools, smoke, dust and pollen can all redden the eyes on holiday. Swimming goggles, sunglasses and lubricating drops help, and the snow blindness page covers painful eyes after a day on snow, water or sand.
Children
Mobi Doctor consultations are for adults aged 18 and over. A child who is unwell needs a paediatrician or a local doctor in person, and emergency signs in a child mean 112.
When a red eye is treated online, and when you need in-person care
Treated online: conjunctivitis, a burst blood vessel, dry eyes, blepharitis, allergy, styes and chalazia, and deciding how urgently any red eye needs to be seen.
In-person care: a painful red eye with blurred vision or light sensitivity, a painful red eye in a contact lens wearer, injuries and chemicals, suspected uveitis, keratitis, scleritis or acute glaucoma, and redness that does not settle.
When to get in-person care
Call 112 or go to an emergency department now for:
- a red eye with any change in your sight, such as wavy lines, flashing or loss of vision
- a red eye that hurts to look at light
- a red eye with a severe headache and feeling sick
- one pupil bigger than the other
- very dark red eyes
- an injury to the eye, something stuck in it, or a chemical in it: rinse it with clean water while you wait
Get medical advice the same day for:
- a red eye that is very painful
- a red eye if you wear contact lenses
- a red, sticky eye with large amounts of pus
- redness around the coloured part of the eye with blurred vision
- a red eye in a newborn baby
How Mobi Doctor works
- Book a time that suits you: daily 7am–11pm CEST. You can see a doctor over video, usually within 15 minutes. No subscription, and the exact price is shown before you pay.
- Speak to a licensed doctor about your eye: show it on camera in good light, say whether it hurts or affects your sight, and mention contact lenses, discharge, itching or an injury.
- Leave with a plan: what to do, what to take and for how long, and which signs mean you should be seen in person. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
No sign-up needed
A red eye can have more than one cause. Tick every symptom you have to see each condition page that mentions it. It finds the right page, not a diagnosis: a doctor gives you that on a video call.
Tap the body — an area or a point — to browse symptoms anywhere
Similar symptoms, different condition? Conjunctivitis can start the same way. Compare them, or look up any other symptom in the full symptom checker.
Frequently asked questions about red and bloodshot eyes
What are bloodshot eyes a symptom of?
A red eye is usually a sign of something on the surface of the eye or the eyelids: conjunctivitis, an allergy, dry eyes, blepharitis or irritation from smoke, dust, chlorine or pollen. Less often it is a burst blood vessel, an infection of the cornea, uveitis or acute glaucoma.
Is a red eye serious?
Usually not. If the eye does not hurt, your sight is normal and you feel well, it is probably minor and may clear in a few days. Pain, blurred vision, light sensitivity, an injury or a red eye in a contact lens wearer need urgent care.
What causes a bloodshot eye in one eye?
A burst blood vessel, a scratch or something in the eye, a stye or episcleritis are common causes. A painful red eye with blurred vision or light sensitivity can be keratitis, uveitis or acute glaucoma, which need urgent care.
How do you fix bloodshot eyes at home?
To fix a red eye, treat the cause. For mild redness, avoid rubbing, use cool compresses and lubricating drops, leave contact lenses out and avoid smoke, dust and pollen. Allergy responds to antihistamine drops. See a doctor if it lasts more than a week or hurts.
What deficiency causes bloodshot eyes?
A deficiency is rarely the reason. Red eyes usually come from irritants such as smoke, chlorine, pollen or dust, from allergy, dry eyes or an infection. A doctor can look for the cause if the redness keeps coming back.
Should I use redness-relief eye drops?
Only for a short time. Decongestant drops that whiten a red eye should be used for 3 days or less, because longer use can cause rebound redness. They hide the redness rather than treat the cause.
How long does a red eye last?
How long a red eye lasts depends on the cause. Conjunctivitis usually gets better in a couple of weeks, a burst blood vessel fades over a few weeks, and episcleritis settles within about 3 weeks. See a doctor if it lasts more than a week despite home care.
When is a red eye an emergency?
Call 112 for a red eye with a change in your sight, light that hurts, a severe headache with feeling sick, one pupil bigger than the other, very dark red eyes, an injury or a chemical in the eye.
Can I wear contact lenses with a red eye?
No. Take them out at the first sign of redness and leave them out until the eye has been normal for a day or two. A painful red eye in a lens wearer needs an urgent eye examination.
How can I prevent red eyes?
Wash hands before touching the eyes, never share towels, pillows or eye make-up, replace mascara every 3 months, take contact lenses out before sleep and swimming and clean them as instructed, use lubricating drops in dry or air-conditioned rooms and during long screen spells, wear goggles in chlorinated pools and glasses in wind and dust, treat hay fever before the season, keep the lid edges clean if you have blepharitis, and limit alcohol. Redness-relief drops used daily cause the red eye they hide.
Why are my eyes red when I wake up?
Red eyes with crusted, itchy eyelids that are worse on waking point to blepharitis, and lashes glued shut in the morning point to bacterial conjunctivitis. A doctor can tell them apart from photos and a short video call.
Is a red eye contagious?
A red eye is contagious only when it is caused by infective conjunctivitis: conjunctivitis with sticky pus is contagious, so wash your hands often and do not share towels or pillows. Allergy, dry eyes, blepharitis and a burst blood vessel are not contagious.
Can an online doctor treat a red eye?
Yes, usually. A doctor can work out the likely cause by video and treat conjunctivitis, allergy, dry eyes and blepharitis. A painful red eye with blurred vision, light sensitivity or an injury needs an eye examination in person.
- Red eye, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 27 October 2025.
- Diagnosis and management of red eye in primary care, Cronau H, Kankanala RR, Mauger T. American Family Physician, 2010.
- Home remedies for bloodshot eyes, and when to see a doctor, American Academy of Ophthalmology, 7 April 2023.
- Acute angle-closure glaucoma, Khazaeni B, Zeppieri M, Khazaeni L. StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf, updated 10 January 2026.
- Blepharitis, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 12 June 2025.
- Conjunctivitis, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 23 April 2024.
- Eye injuries, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 12 March 2026.
- Evaluation and management of corneal abrasions, Wipperman JL, Dorsch JN. American Family Physician, 2013.
- What is photokeratitis, including snow blindness?, American Academy of Ophthalmology, 16 May 2023.
- Pinguecula and pterygium, Johns Hopkins Medicine (US), accessed 15 October 2026.
- Eyelid problems, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 17 November 2023.
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for a medical consultation. Guideline links are provided for transparency; treatment decisions are made with your doctor.
Related conditions
Related reading from the Mobi Doctor blog
Pink Eye Explained: Understanding The Causes And Symptoms Of Conjunctivitis
What Is Pink Eye And What Causes Conjunctivitis? Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, is inflammation of the eye lining caused...
Read article → Health and WellbeingThe Difference Between Pink Eye And A Stye
What's the difference between a stye and pink eye? Pink eye (conjunctivitis) is inflammation of the eye's outer membran...
Read article →Speak to a doctor about a red eye over video, usually within 15 minutes
Licensed doctors · open daily 7am–11pm CEST · exact price before payment
See available times →