Red eyes?

When people realize it's not just in photographs that their eyes look red, they often begin to bemoan this unfortunate condition. Not only is it often viewed as unsightly, but the accompanying pain can also be more of a pressing concern.
Red eyes can be the result of hayfever, conjunctivitis, an eye injury, overuse of contact lenses, smoking or many other maladies and complaints.

Although understanding the root of your problem is key to finding an effective treatment, most people long for fast relief from their symptoms.

First of all, let's take a step back and remember the old adage: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." So let's see what can be done:

• Take care of your eyes by avoiding smoky or polluted environments. This type of environment will irritate your eyes, causing blood vessels to dilate, resulting in redness. If you're planning to spend a long time in such an environment, then it's worth looking for some type of eye protection, such as sunglasses or swimming goggles if you're spending a lot of time in the water.
• Avoid over-wearing contact lenses, particularly hard or gas-permeable varieties. Your optician will be able to recommend the optimum time for you to wear them, as under-wearing lenses can also cause redness as your eyes struggle to adjust properly.
• Keep blinking to ensure that your eyes don't become dry and sore. Sometimes very watery eyes can be a sign of dry eyes, as your eyes are attempting to lubricate the motion of the eyelids and prevent foreign bodies such as dust and pollen from entering the eye. Blinking will help whisk contaminants out of the eye.

When your eyes begin to sting and you want to relieve redness quickly, you can try any number of home remedies and techniques, such as:

• Cucumber: Although more commonly used in salads, cool cucumber slices placed over your eyes can help reduce inflammation and soothe any irritation. Leave the cucumber on your eyes for at least 15 minutes with your head tilted back slightly. Please do not try to multitask with cucumber over your eyes as you are quite likely to incur a spectacular range of bruises and injuries.
• Chamomile: Many people have found that placing cold chamomile teabags over sore eyes can help relieve redness and puffiness. In a shallow dish, pour boiling water over the teabags, then allow them to cool completely before placing them over your eyes. As with cucumber, this is best performed sitting down.
• Water: This is a wonderful remedy for many minor complaints, and its value should not be underestimated. If your red eyes have been caused by an irritant or foreign body, then washing it out with water is often the best course of action. Water can also be used to cool the eyes, by soaking a facecloth in cold water and placing it over your eyes. You can also place ice cubes over your eyes, but only if you wrap them in a cloth first to avoid damaging the delicate skin around your eyes.

After the initial rush of relieving red and painful eyes, consider looking for a more longterm solution for your red eyes. If it's a recurring problem, it's always worth seeking the advice of a doctor to rule out any underlying health conditions requiring treatment.
With this out of the way, you may find relief from moisturising eyedrops. Euphrasia, also known as eyebright, is a herb with a long history of use in easing inflammation and redness in the eyes. Fresh extracts of this herb can be found in A.Vogel Eye Drops, which are also safe for use by contact lens wearers.