What should you know about eye sclera red?

The sclera is the white outer coat of the eye. It can look pink or red when small surface blood vessels widen. Dry air, dust, smoke, rubbing, contact lenses, or long periods of close work may irritate the surface. Itching and watering can occur with Allergic Conjunctivitis, while sticky discharge and eyelids that cling together can occur with Conjunctivitis. A sharply defined bright-red patch may follow a small surface blood vessel breaking and may not affect vision. Redness with marked pain, light sensitivity, a foreign-body feeling, or reduced vision is more concerning than colour change alone.

Stop rubbing the eye and wash your hands before touching your face. If a particle may be present, rinse gently with clean water; do not try to remove something embedded. Remove contact lenses and leave them out until the eye feels normal or a clinician advises otherwise. A cool clean compress may ease irritation or itch. Avoid sharing towels, pillows, eye cosmetics, or eye drops, especially when discharge is present. Preservative-free lubricating drops may help dryness, but avoid using someone else’s prescription drops.

Arrange prompt medical assessment for severe or increasing pain, blurred or reduced vision, strong light sensitivity, a significant injury, chemical exposure, or redness around a contact-lens-wearing eye. Seek urgent help if redness comes with severe headache, nausea, unequal pupils, weakness, confusion, or sudden vision loss. A clinician should also assess redness that persists, keeps returning, or is accompanied by thick discharge or swelling.

Ask whether the redness is on the surface or deeper in the eye, whether your contact lenses or medicines could contribute, and which drops are suitable. Mention when it began, whether one or both eyes are affected, any discharge or vision change, recent injury, and exposure to dust, smoke, or chemicals.