Why are your eyes red? Learn the four major causes of congestion

I believe that everyone has more or less seen classmates or colleagues with red eyes. Since students and office workers use their eyes more frequently, it is common to have bloodshot and red eyes. However, if you notice bloodshot in your eyes, you will find that they become more and more numerous over time, so you should pay attention. Be careful of eye problems caused by eye congestion diseases.

1. Reticular conjunctival hyperemia

Individual dilated blood vessels can be seen in the palpebral conjunctiva, crisscrossing into a network. The conjunctiva is still transparent, so the Meibomian glands can still be seen through the conjunctiva. This is simple congestion without tissue changes, which generally indicates that the inflammation is mild or the disease course is short.

2. Diffuse conjunctival hyperemia

The conjunctiva is uniformly red, the blood vessels are unclear, the conjunctiva is thickened and has enlarged papillae. The Meibomian glands could not be visualized due to thickening of the conjunctiva. Hypertrophy of the papillae makes the conjunctival surface rough, uneven, dull and velvety. This type of congestion indicates that the inflammation is more severe or lasting; it may be accompanied by tissue infiltration, edema, proliferation, or degeneration.

3. Conjunctival congestion

Congestion of the posterior conjunctival artery (and vein). Its characteristics are obvious congestion of the bulbar conjunctiva near the dome, which becomes lighter as it approaches the corneal margin. The blood vessels are bright red like tree branches, and they move when the conjunctiva is pushed. Conjunctival hyperemia is common in acute or chronic conjunctivitis.

4. Ciliary congestion

The anterior conjunctival artery (and vein) is congested. The hyperemic band surrounds the cornea, about 3 to 4 mm, and the outer edge of the hyperemic band gradually disappears, showing the normal sclera color. Blood vessels are divided into two layers, deep and shallow, so they have two different appearances. Superficial blood vessels are congested and appear bright red, and may move with the conjunctiva, indicating superficial corneal lesions. The deep blood vessels are congested and appear rose-red and do not move with the conjunctiva, indicating deep corneal lesions, irido-ciliary body lesions, and glaucoma. In severe cases, both layers may be congested at the same time.

It is a manifestation of simultaneous presence of conjunctival hyperemia and ciliary hyperemia. Severe conjunctivitis may extend to the corneal limbus and present as mild ciliary congestion. Similarly, severe iridocyclitis or stromal keratitis may be accompanied by conjunctival congestion in addition to obvious ciliary congestion.

What causes red eyes? I believe everyone has a certain understanding of this. Here I would like to remind everyone that eyes are a very important organ of our body. No matter what causes our eyes to become red, if it continues for a long time and affects our vision and senses, we must go to the hospital to consult a doctor and take effective measures to alleviate the symptoms.