I have Red Eyes, how serious is this? by Ms Evgenia Anikina

If your eyes become red, how can you tell if this is serious and requires treatment?

The answer is, it can be very difficult to know without an eye examination by a qualified eye doctor. Most cases of red eye are mild and temporary, however, occasionally red-eye is a sign of a serious problem that requires prompt attention, especially if it is painful.

Ophthalmologists are trained to distinguish between the many possible causes of redness. When you come for a consultation, we will take a thorough history and examine your eyes. We may need to use special drops during the examination to assess the eye surface. We will piece together all of the information to pinpoint the specific problem and tailor the treatment to the diagnosis and your lifestyle. The treatment can consist of advice, different types of drops, eyelid hygiene techniques, or, more rarely, specialist surgical or laser procedures for more unusual red eye causes.

Clinica London is open every weekday for urgent and emergency eye problems including red eyes, by appointment.

Note: If you have a concern about your red-eye in the evenings or weekends, you should attend your local accident and emergency department or local eye hospital immediately.