What should you know about redness in the inner eye?

The inner corner can look red when the conjunctiva is irritated by dryness, dust, rubbing, or a small amount of discharge. Allergic conjunctivitis commonly presents with itching, watering, and redness, often affecting both eyes. Conjunctivitis can cause redness with gritty discomfort, watering, or sticky discharge and may spread between eyes. A sharply defined red patch can follow a small surface blood vessel breaking. Redness with deep pain, light sensitivity, blurred vision, or nausea is a different pattern and should not be managed as simple irritation.

Wash your hands before touching the eye and gently rinse away irritants with clean water if needed. A cool clean compress may soothe itching, while a warm compress can loosen crusts. Do not rub the eye, share towels, or use someone else’s drops. Pause contact lenses and eye makeup while the eye is red. If allergy is suspected, reduce exposure to the trigger and ask a pharmacist or clinician which treatment is suitable for you.

Seek urgent medical care for severe pain, reduced or blurred vision, strong light sensitivity, an injury or chemical splash, or a red eye with severe headache or nausea. Prompt assessment is also needed for swelling around the eye, thick discharge, or symptoms in a contact-lens wearer. Arrange review when redness persists, keeps returning, or is not settling with simple measures.

Ask whether the redness fits allergy, conjunctivitis, dryness, or another eye problem, and whether the cornea needs checking. Tell the clinician about contact lenses, discharge, pain, vision change, recent injury, and exposure to a new product.