Red eyesRed, sore or sticky eye? Know when to worry.Most red eyes are caused by infection, allergy, dryness or a burst blood vessel, and settle on their own. A few need an eye specialist the same day. We can check your eyes properly, treat what’s treatable and refer you quickly if needed.Book a GP appointmentCall 07857 761328Chemical in the eye, a sharp or high-speed injury, sudden loss of sight, or severe eye pain with headache and vomiting: call 999 or go to A&E now.Same & next-day appointmentsEyes examined properlyUrgent referral when neededYou keep your NHS GPGP appointment £1201What is a red eye?2Symptoms3Causes4Who is at risk5Your appointment6Self-care7Get help now8FAQs Medically reviewed by Dr Sam R Bandularatne, MBBS, DFMS, MRCGP · GP Partner & GP Trainer · GMC 5208303OUR GP Dundee · Last reviewed November 2026Seen by a GPVision and eyes checkedAntibiotics only when neededFast eye referral if seriousStart hereWhat a red eye is, and when it mattersA red eye happens when the tiny blood vessels on the white of the eye widen or leak. It is one of the commonest eye problems we see.It can affect one eye or both, and may come with watering, stickiness, itching, grittiness or soreness. Most red eyes are caused by something minor, such as conjunctivitis, an allergy, dry eyes or sore eyelids, and get better within a week or two.A small number of red eyes are caused by conditions that can damage sight, such as acute glaucoma, iritis (uveitis), a corneal ulcer or an eye injury. These usually cause real pain, blurred vision or discomfort in bright light, and need to be seen the same day.Usually minorInfection, allergy, dryness and burst blood vessels are by far the commonest causes.Pain is a warning signGritty or itchy is common. True pain, especially with blurred vision, needs checking today.Contact lenses change thingsA red eye in a lens wearer can be an infection of the cornea and needs prompt review.Most settle on their ownConjunctivitis usually clears within one to two weeks, often without antibiotics.Back to top ↑SymptomsWhat you might noticeThe pattern of symptoms gives useful clues to the cause, and to how quickly you need to be seen.Redness on the white of the eye, in one eye or bothWatery, sticky or crusty eyes, often worse on wakingItching, especially with sneezing or a runny noseA gritty or burning feeling, like sand in the eyePuffy, sore or red eyelids with flaky lashesA bright red patch on the white of the eye, without painPain, or bright light feeling uncomfortableBlurred vision that does not clear when you blinkPain and vision are the key questions. A red eye that is only gritty, itchy or sticky, with normal vision, is usually minor. Real pain, blurred vision, sensitivity to light or haloes around lights need a same-day check.At OUR GPGet a red eye checkedFor a red, sore or sticky eye that is not getting better, or keeps coming back.A 30-minute face-to-face appointment to examine the eye and agree treatment.Good to know: a painful red eye with blurred vision or light sensitivity needs same-day eye care from an NHS optometrist or A&E.About GP appointments →£12030 minutes face to face · video £110 · phone £60 Book nowBack to top ↑CausesWhat can cause a red eyeMost causes are common and mild. A few are less common but can threaten sight, which is why an eye check matters if you have pain or blurred vision.CauseWhat it is likeInfective conjunctivitisRed, gritty eye with watery or sticky discharge, often spreading to the other eye. Viral and bacterial types are very catching. Vision is normal.Allergic conjunctivitisItchy, watery, red eyes, usually both together, often with hay fever, pets or dust.Dry eyesGritty, burning, tired eyes that may water. Worse with screens, air conditioning, wind, older age and some medicines.Blepharitis (sore eyelids)Red, crusty, itchy eyelid edges with flaky lashes. Long-lasting, but improves with daily lid care.Burst blood vesselA bright red patch on the white of the eye, sometimes after coughing or straining. Painless, and clears in one to two weeks. Your blood pressure should be checked.Scratch or foreign bodyPain, watering and blinking after grit, an eyelash, a fingernail or a branch catches the eye. Most scratches heal in a day or two.EpiscleritisA patch of redness on the white of the eye, mildly uncomfortable. Usually harmless and settles on its own.Serious causesAcute glaucoma, iritis (uveitis), corneal ulcer, contact lens infection, scleritis, chemical or penetrating injury. Usually painful, with blurred vision or light sensitivity, and need same-day specialist care.Who is more at riskAnyone can get a red eye, but some causes are more likely if you:wear contact lenses, especially overnight or when swimminghave hay fever, eczema or other allergiesare in close contact with someone with conjunctivitisspend long hours at screens, or are oldertake blood thinners or have high blood pressurehave arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease or psoriasisDoing DIY, metalwork or gardening? Wear eye protection. Any injury from hammering, grinding or glass should be treated as serious until checked.Back to top ↑Your appointmentWhat the GP will doThe aim is to find the cause, rule out anything that threatens your sight, and get you the right treatment.Ask the right questionsWhen it started, one or both eyes, pain, discharge, itch, light sensitivity, contact lenses and any injury.Check your visionUsing a letter chart, and look at your eyelids, the white of the eye, the cornea and your pupils.Look for scratchesA drop of orange dye (fluorescein) shows up any scratch or ulcer on the surface of the eye.Treat or referTreatment and advice for common causes, or a same-day referral to the eye specialists if anything looks serious.Back to top ↑Self-careHow you can help your eyesFor mild red eyes with normal vision and no real pain, these simple steps help them settle.Wash your hands oftenDo not share towels, pillows or eye make-up while your eye is infected.Clean sticky eyesWipe gently from the inside corner outwards with cooled boiled water and clean cotton wool.Try not to rubRubbing makes redness, itching and soreness worse, and can spread infection.Leave lenses outUntil your eyes are completely back to normal. Use a fresh pair when you restart.Soothe your eyesA cool compress for itchy eyes, or warm compresses and lid cleaning for sore eyelids.Ask a pharmacistLubricating drops help dry eyes; antihistamine drops help allergies. Red eyesDownload our red eyes leafletA free two-page guide for patients, families and carers: common causes, how to look after your eyes, what the doctor will do and when to get help quickly.PDF · 2 pages · A4 · 223 KBDownload leaflet (PDF)Open to printBack to top ↑Get help nowWhen it can’t waitCall 999 or go to A&E ifa chemical has splashed in the eye (rinse with running water for at least 15 minutes first) · something sharp or high-speed has hit the eye · you suddenly lose some or all of your sight · severe eye pain comes on with headache, nausea or vomitingContact a GP or optometrist the same day, or NHS 24 on 111 out of hours, ifyour eye is painful rather than just gritty, your vision is blurred, bright light hurts, you see haloes around lights, you wear contact lenses and your eye is red, something is stuck in your eye, or a baby under 4 weeks old has red or sticky eyes.A private appointment is not a substitute for emergency care. If you are unsure, call 999 or NHS 24 on 111.Back to top ↑FAQsCommon questions Do I need antibiotics for conjunctivitis?Usually not. Most conjunctivitis is viral or clears by itself within one to two weeks. Antibiotic drops may help if it is severe or not improving, so ask a pharmacist or GP. Do I need to stay off work or school?In most cases no, but conjunctivitis spreads easily. Wash your hands often, avoid sharing towels and pillows, and avoid swimming until it has cleared. Is a bright red patch on my eye serious?A burst blood vessel (subconjunctival haemorrhage) looks dramatic but is painless and harmless, and fades over one to two weeks. It is worth having your blood pressure checked, and seeing us if it keeps happening or you take blood thinners. Can I wear contact lenses with a red eye?No. Take them out and leave them out until your eye is completely normal. A painful red eye in a lens wearer needs a same-day check, because infection of the cornea can damage sight. Could a red eye be glaucoma?Rarely. Acute angle-closure glaucoma causes a painful red eye with blurred vision, haloes around lights, headache and sometimes vomiting. It is an emergency: go to A&E or call 999. Should I see a GP or an optometrist?Either can help. Optometrists have specialist equipment for examining the eye and see eye problems free on the NHS in Scotland. We can assess you quickly, look at your general health and refer you urgently if needed.Worried right now?Sudden loss of vision, a chemical or penetrating injury, or severe eye pain with vomiting: call 999 or go to A&E. Out of hours, call NHS 24 on 111.Back to top ↑EvidenceWhere this information comes fromThis page follows UK guidance on assessing and managing red eye in primary care.NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries: Red eyeBMJ Best Practice: Assessment of red eyeBMJ Best Practice: Acute conjunctivitisBMJ Best Practice: Dry eye diseaseBMJ Best Practice: Corneal abrasionsBMJ Best Practice: Angle-closure glaucomaBMJ Best Practice: UveitisBack to top ↑Worried about a red eye?Book a GP appointment and we will check your eyes, treat what we can and refer you quickly if needed.Book a GP appointmentWhatsApp 07857 761328This page is general information and is not medical advice or a diagnosis. What’s appropriate is a clinical decision made with a GP at your appointment. OUR GP is a trading name of SRS Health Group Limited, regulated by Healthcare Improvement Scotland. All doctors hold a licence to practise with the General Medical Council. Meet our team. We see patients from Dundee, Angus, Perthshire and Fife. More questions? See our FAQs.