Skip to main content
Clear
  • Find a store
  • Menu
Specsavers logo
  • My account Sign in
    • Favourites
    • Express re-order
    • Easypay
    • Orders
    • My details
    • Payment methods
    • Sign out
  • Re-order contact lenses
    • Glasses
        • Glasses
        • Type
        • Glasses
        • Sunglasses
        • Designer glasses
        • Non-prescription glasses
        • Guides
        • Lens guide
        • Buyer’s guide
        • Afterpay
        • #LoveGlasses blog
        • FAQs
    • Contact lenses
        • Contact lenses
        • Type
        • Monthly
        • Fortnightly
        • Daily
        • View all
        • Tips for contact lens wearers
        • Buyer's guide
        • Pay with your health fund
        • Subscribe and save
        • Express re-order
    • Eye health
        • Eye health
        • View all FAQs
        • Information
        • Your eye health
        • Eye test information
        • What are your eyes worth?
        • Services
        • Book an eye test
        • Eye care at work
        • Keepsight
    • Offers
    • Health funds
    • Audiology
        • Audiology
        • About hearing
        • Understanding an Audiogram
        • Hearing loss and telltale signs
        • Ear conditions
        • How do hearing aids work?
        • Hearing services program
        • Products and prices
        • Hearing aids
        • Using and maintaining
        • Buyer's guide
        • Batteries
        • Accessories
        • Our services
        • Why choose Specsavers?
        • Book an appointment
        • What to expect
        • FAQs
    • Book appointment
    • Find a store
    • Re-order contact lenses
    • Sign in
    • My account
    • Favourites
    • Sign out
  • Book appointment Book appointment
Type
  • Glasses
  • Sunglasses
  • Designer glasses
  • Non-prescription glasses
Age and gender
  • Women
  • Men
  • Teens
  • Kids
Guides
  • Buyer’s guide
  • Lens guide
  • #LoveGlasses blog
  • Afterpay
  • FAQs
Lens types
  • Single vision
  • Multifocal
  • Bifocal
Buy glasses online
Buy Glasses Online
Did you know you can now enter your prescription and buy online?
Buy now
Type
  • Daily
  • Fortnightly
  • Monthly
  • Multifocal
  • Toric
Brand
  • Acuvue
  • Air Optix
  • Specsavers
  • easyvision
  • View all
Guides
  • Buyer's guide
  • Tips for contact lens wearers
  • Pay with your health fund
  • Subscribe and save
  • FAQs
Specsavers express reorder
Express reorder
Already have an account? Reorder your lenses here
Reorder now
Services
  • Book an eye test
  • Eye care at work
  • Keepsight
Information
  • Your eye health
  • Eye test information
  • Do I need an eye test?
  • Eye conditions
  • Your prescription explained
  • What are your eyes worth?
Help
  • Peripheral distortion
  • Contact lenses storage
  • Anti-glare glasses
  • Experiencing flashing lights
  • Wearing glasses all the time
  • View all FAQs
Specsavers health funds
Health funds
Check out what your health funds cover
Find out more
Our services
  • Why choose Specsavers?
  • What to expect
  • FAQs
  • Book an appointment
Products and prices
  • Hearing aids
  • Batteries
  • Accessories
  • Buyer's guide
  • Using and maintaining
About hearing
  • Hearing loss and telltale signs
  • Ear conditions
  • How do hearing aids work?
  • Hearing services program
  • Understanding an Audiogram
  1. Home

Red eye

Red eyes can indicate a number of conditions. They may look alarming, but they’re most likely to be caused by a minor eye condition, like conjunctivitis.

Red eyes can indicate a number of conditions. They may look alarming, but they’re most likely to be caused by a minor eye condition, like conjunctivitis.

Did you know?

Specsavers optometrists provide a range of eyecare services covered by Medicare to help maintain the health of the eyes. Because these services are bulk billed there is no cost to you*.

Book an appointment
 

What causes red eye?

If your red/eye-health/eye-conditions/less, it is most likely caused by a minor eye problem, such as conjunctivitis or a burst blood vessel. These conditions don’t tend to affect your vision and many often get better within a week or two with minimal intervention.
Your Specsavers optometrist will identify your symptoms and suggest treatments.

Common causes

  • Conjunctivitis
  • Burst blood vessel
  • Iritis
  • Acute glaucoma
  • Corneal ulcer
  • Scratch to the cornea or grit in the eye

See below for more details

See FAQs

Common causes of red eye

Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the thin layer of tissue covering the eyeball and inner surfaces of the eyelids. Blood vessels swell, making one or both eyes look bloodshot and feel gritty. Other symptoms can include itchiness, watering eyes and sticky eyelashes.

It can be caused by an infection, an allergy (for example, to pollen), or an irritant, such as chlorine or dust. Treatment will depend on what is causing the condition. Sometimes no treatment is needed, because it may get better on its own.

Burst blood vessel
Burst blood vessels on the eye surface are sometimes caused by straining, coughing or injuring your eye, resulting in a bright red blotch.

It can look alarming, especially if you’re taking medication such as aspirin or warfarin, but it’s not usually serious and should clear up on its own within a few weeks.

What if your red eye is painful?
If your red eye is painful or you have other symptoms such as reduced vision, the cause could be one of the conditions below.

Iritis
Iritis is inflammation of the iris, the coloured part of the eye. You may have a red eye, sensitivity to light, blurred vision and/or a headache. Iritis usually responds quickly to treatment with steroid medication to reduce the inflammation. It rarely leads to severe problems.

Acute glaucoma
Acute glaucoma is an increase in pressure inside your eye. Your eye may be very red and painful, and you may feel sick and see haloes around lights. Your vision may be blurred or cloudy. This is a serious condition and could lead to permanent loss of vision if not treated quickly.

Corneal ulcer
An ulcer on the cornea can cause the eye to become red and sensitive to light and it can feel like there’s something in your eye. Bacterial corneal ulcers are more common in people who wear contact lenses. Viral corneal ulcers are more common in people who frequently get cold sores. More severe ulcers could lead to permanent loss of vision if not treated quickly.

A scratch to the cornea or grit in the eye
A red and painful eye can sometimes be caused by a particle, such as a piece of grit, getting in your eye. If there’s something in your eye, your optometrist will try to remove it with the assistance of an anaesthetic drop.

These can be serious and could threaten your sight if not managed appropriately. Contact your optometrist, GP or local eye emergency department immediately for appropriate advice if:

  • You have a painful red eye
  • You have other symptoms, including reduced vision, sensitivity to light, a severe headache and feeling sick
  • You recently injured your eye – particularly if something has pierced your eye
See more eye conditions Book an appointment
Book an appointment

Why do I need an eye test?

Find out more

Your store visit explained

Find out more

Eye test information

Find out more

*Listed on a valid Medicare card without Optometry restrictions

  • Shop
    • Glasses
    • Sunglasses
    • Designer glasses
    • Contact lenses
    • Hearing aids
    • Offers
    • Student discount
    • #LoveGlasses blog
  • Services
    • Eye tests
    • Hearing tests
    • Corporate eye care
  • Health
    • Your eye health
    • Eye test information
    • Your hearing health
    • Hearing check information
    • FAQs
  • About
    • Customer care
    • Community Program
    • Contact lenses FAQ
    • About Specsavers
    • News
    • Annual review 2018-19
    • Careers
  • © Specsavers 2020
  • Legal policies
  • International sites
  • Sitemap
  • 20.12.0