Your eye can become red and irritated by common items such as cleaning products, air fresheners, cosmetics, animals, dust, or mould spores.

Allergic conjunctivitis can also be seasonal (hay fever). Although there is no cure for this, a systematic approach to finding the source can be time well spent and in cases of true allergy antihistamine tablets and eye drops may be recommended.

Additional comfort can be provided with lubricating tear drops to help keep the front surface of the eye hydrate

Allergies usually affect both eyes making them itchy and watery. Rubbing the eye will make the eye redder and more itchy.

Try to identify the things that you are allergic to so that you can avoid them.

Hay fever is a common allergy during the summer months. Use cool compresses over closed eyes, eyewashes or artificial tear drops when your eye is particularly itchy. 

Anti-histamine tablets and or anti-allergy eyedrops are available over-the-counter from the pharmacy and can be very helpful.

This usually affects both eyes and can be very contagious – often happening after you’ve had a cold.

The eyes are irritated and very red and can be watery or sticky (especially when you wake up in the morning).

The best treatment is keeping the eyes cool and clean, but over-the-counter antibiotic drops are available at the pharmacy too.

Because it is very contagious it is important not to share towels and to keep your hands clean to avoid it spreading.

This affects the edge of the eyelids making the eye and lids feel uncomfortable and red.

It can be related to other skin conditions or autoimmune conditions.

It usually affects both eyes and can cause dandruff-like flakes in the lashes and lumps on the lid; chalazia (also known as a Stye).

Long-term regular use of warm compresses with massage, eyelash wipes and artificial tear drops will keep it under control, but Blepharitis never goes away completely.

Dry eye has many causes and is usually worse when you are tired or after spending time in air-conditioning or central heating.

It usually affects both eyes causing grittiness, burning and scratching of the eyes . The irritation can even make the eyes water occasionally.

Regular use of artificial tear drops and/or gels before the eyes are sore will help and it is import that you drink enough water to keep hydrated.

Even a tiny piece of grit in the eye can be very painful but is usually easily removed in clinic. Sometimes a foreign body can scratch the eye and feel uncomfortable for a while even after it has been washed out or removed.

You may need antibiotics or ointment afterwards. Building plaster is particularly serious and needs urgent removal and washing.

Marginal Keratitis causes redness and pain and can affect one or both eyes. It is usually related to blepharitis or contact lenses.

You will normally need to control the blepharitis with lid hygiene or stop using the contact lens.

Antibiotic eye drops and possibly steroid eye drops maybe prescribed by your clinician.

These usually affect one eye causing irritation and pain which is often worse when the lens is in the eye. The eye may be red, watery and light sensitive.

You will normally need to stop wearing the contact lenses until the infection is gone and use antibiotic eye drops prescribed by a clinician.

This usually affects one eye making it very red, achy and possibly painful, even making sleep difficult. Early treatment is important. You will normally need anti-inflammatory eyedrops and in some cases tablets.

This is an inflammation of the inside of the eye – Usually at the front – causing redness, ache, light sensitivity and stinging. It can affect one or both of the eyes and can come back even after a few years. It is often related to other inflammatory or autoimmune conditions such as arthritis or asthma.

You will normally need prescribed anti-inflammatory eye drops from a specialist clinician for many weeks for it to settle.

Herpes simplex keratitis is related to the cold sore virus, and  Herpes Zoster ophthalmicus is related to the chickenpox virus.

They usually affect one eye on the front surface and can be very painful. Early treatment is important, and they will normally need anti-viral eyedrops and/or tablets.

Contact lens wearers are prone to more serious eye infections which can cause rapid sight loss, especially if the lenses are not replaced each day, slept in, not kept clean or exposed to water which is not sterile.

If you are a contact lens wearer with a sudden onset red eye, then please seek urgent care at Eye Casualty or call our urgent care line on 0800 112 0070.

If your GP or optician suspects you may have an eye condition that requires further investigation, they will refer you for a comprehensive assessment. Evolutio conducts thousands of ophthalmology  assessments annually under the NHS.

To be referred to Evolutio, your GP or optician will need to send your referral directly to us.

All appointments and treatments are fully funded by the NHS.