What should you know about brown red eyes?

Redness usually comes from widened or broken surface blood vessels. Dryness, smoke, dust, rubbing, contact lenses and minor irritation can make the whites look pink, red or brownish. Allergic Conjunctivitis often causes itching and watering, while Conjunctivitis may cause discharge and eyelids that stick together.

A sharply defined red patch can be a small bleed beneath the clear surface of the eye. It may look alarming without affecting sight, but recurrent episodes, trauma or use of blood-thinning medicine deserve review. Colour alone cannot distinguish a minor surface problem from a deeper eye condition.

Avoid rubbing the eye and remove contact lenses until symptoms have settled or a clinician advises restarting them. Wash hands, avoid sharing towels, and use clean water to rinse out an irritant. Do not use someone else's drops or leftover antibiotic treatment. Arrange assessment if redness persists, recurs or is accompanied by discharge.

Seek urgent eye care for moderate or severe pain, reduced or blurred vision, light sensitivity, injury, chemical exposure, a bulging eye, severe headache with nausea, or redness in a contact-lens wearer.

Ask whether the redness is on the surface or deeper, whether an infection is likely, whether drops are suitable, and when contact lenses can be used again.