Eye Health
Red and painful eyes
Eyes can become red and painful for a number of reasons - including some that require immediate treatment - so always take a red, painful eye seriously, especially if the vision is affected.
Chemical burns, especially from caustics, can destroy an eye very quickly. Immediate copious flushing of the eye with saline or tap water for at least 15 minutes should be done even while waiting for emergency care.
Some Red Eye Causes
- Trauma - sharp or blunt, leaving foreign bodies, scratches, cuts, bruises, bleeds and internal eye effects
- Radiation - welding flash, sun exposure
- Chemical burns
- Acute glaucoma - raised fluid pressure in the eye. Most people with glaucoma have the slow, symptomless kind, but if the eye pressure rises suddenly, the eye will be red and sore.
- Complications from contact lens wear
- Infections
- Inflammation
- Allergy
- Growths on the eye
- "Dry" eyes - poor tear quality
Sorting out the cause, and therefore the treatment, for a sore, red eye requires careful examination.
Never delay getting a red eye seen to.
Further information
British Medical Journal summary of red eye
Eye Health Facts
"I've had my eyes lasered"
Laser light has found many uses in eye surgery, as it can deliver precise amounts of energy to pinpoint locations around the eye to remove, reshape or remodel tissue.
In different intensities, colours and locations in the eye, laser can be used for treatment in:
- Refractive surgery to correct for short- or long-sightedness and/or astigmatism
- As a followup treatment after cataract surgery
- In diabetic eye disease
- In macular disease
- Repairing tears in the retina or eyes at risk of retinal detachment
- In acute angle closure glaucoma
- In open angle glaucoma
- At low intensity as an 'activator' for certain medical treatments.
So don't be surprised when you get asked a few more questions about your eyes if you tell us 'I've had my eyes lasered'.