How to fix red eyes without eyedrops

By Amanda Woodard; reviewed by Brian Boxer Wachler, MD

What causes bloodshot eyes? Bloodshot eyes have various causes, ranging from allergies and lack of sleep to eye irritants, sun damage and conjunctivitis.

If you want the whites of your eyes (the sclera) to return to their natural state, you can take allergy medication, get more sleep, use eye drops and seek out other natural solutions.

So how do you get rid of bloodshot eyes?

The causes of bloodshot eyes

Prolonged redness of the eyes has different meanings that could indicate a more serious eye condition, like conjunctivitis, glaucoma or a corneal ulcer.

Here are some things that could cause your eyes to be red or irritated:

Crying

If you’ve been crying, then your eyes are probably going to turn red. This will clear up on its own, but if you don’t want people to know you’ve been crying, you can always use eye drops to clear the redness.

Lack of sleep

You should get anywhere between seven to nine hours of sleep each night, depending on your age range. If you wake up before you finish your sleep cycle, one of the many side effects can be bloodshot eyes.

Allergies

If your eyes are red, itchy, swollen and/or tearful, you could be experiencing an allergic reaction. If you can’t avoid the allergens, try taking out your contact lenses, using eye drops, and using over-the-counter antihistamines or decongestants. (Note: If your eyes also have discharge, contact your eye doctor immediately — it may be a sign of conjunctivitis or other eye infection. )

Eye strain

If your eyes seem strained, they’ll likely become bloodshot. Eye strain can result from exposure to sunlight or blue light. Protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses outside and computer glasses in front of screens.

Debris

It’s easy to get an eyelash, dust or makeup in your eyes, but it can be difficult to remove that debris. If you have something annoying in your eye, try blinking to remove it, use a mirror and a cotton swab to carefully pull it out, or flush your eye with water.

Contact lens irritation

If you wear contact lenses and one of your eyes is bloodshot, you might have a problem with your lens. It’s possible your contact is inside out, torn or has debris trapped under it. If you wear reusable contacts, take out the offending lens and check to make sure it’s right-side-up and hasn't been ripped. If all that checks out, rinse your contact lens with solution before returning it to your eye.

If you wear daily disposable contact lenses, you’re better off tossing the bothersome lens and replacing it with a new one. If you continue to have issues with your contacts, talk to your eye doctor. It might be time to try a new brand.

Dry eyes

Whether you have inflamed oil glands in your eyelids (due to blepharitis or meibomian gland dysfunction) or you aren’t making enough tears, dry eyes can cause chronic eye redness.

Sun damage

If you go for years without wearing sunglasses, it’s possible to develop ultraviolet light damage on the clear membrane covering your eyes, which in turn can lead to chronic red eyes.

SEE RELATED: 19 red eye causes and how to treat red eyes

How to treat bloodshot eyes

If you don't have eye drops handy, try these simple tricks to get rid of your bloodshot eyes:

Cold compress

Try soaking a hand towel in cold water, ringing it out and placing it over your eyes to remove the redness.

Water rinse

A water rinse is a great substitute for eye drops. However, make sure that the water you’re using is filtered. Tap water can cause additional irritation.

Get better rest

It’s important to get the recommended amount of sleep for your age range. Not only will you feel better rested, but you may also get rid of the redness in your eyes without eye drops.

Change your contact lenses

If your multi-use contact lenses are getting old, changing them could remove the redness from your eyes. If you sleep in your contact lenses, consider not doing that anymore.

Blink more often

It’s easy to forget to blink, especially when you are glued to your smartphone. Blinking more often can relieve eye strain and make eye redness less likely. When you work on the computer or phone for long periods of time, studies show you do 50% to 66% less blinking than usual, which can dry out your eyes and make them red.

Take allergy medication

If allergies are the cause of your bloodshot eyes, allergy medications (such as antihistamines) could clear up that redness.

Get relief for your dry eyes

These treatments can range from oral flax oil capsules to punctal plugs and prescription eye drops.

Treat sun damage

Chronic redness from sun damage may be treated with a procedure called conjunctivoplasty.

When to call a doctor

No matter what’s causing your bloodshot eyes, you should consult with your eye doctor if your eyes are red for more than a few hours.

RELATED READING: Can I use Lumify eye drops for red eyes?

Page published on Thursday, March 19, 2020

Page updated on Wednesday, August 3, 2022

Medically reviewed on Thursday, April 29, 2021

The worst thing about waking up with red, bloodshot eyes isn't the fact that they instantly make you look sick and/or hungover. It's that usually they're accompanied by itching (if it's allergies or irritation) or a headache (if you maybe had too much wine the night before).

"Eye 'redness' can be caused by several factors, including genetics, anatomy, past surgery, overuse of vasoconstrictive eye drops, allergy, infection, etc., and exacerbated by irritation or inflammation on the eye's surface," says optometrist Jeffrey Kegarise. In short, bloodshot eyes aren't fun—particularly if you're already not feeling great. To see how to prevent and deal with red eyes, we consulted Kegarise and Andrew Iwach, MD. Of course, if your symptoms are unusual or last longer than a few days, contact your eye doctor.

Below are eight expert-approved ways to deal with red eyes that don't require a trip to the doctor's office.

01 of 08

"Heat helps the oil go through the glands," says Iwach, which should help reduce irritation. 

"It is these tear glands that, when partially blocked (think: candle wax or toothpaste), increase inflammation on the surface of the eye and promote a redness response," adds Kegarise. "It may take a few weeks, yet heat will effectively improve the appearance of the eyelids and eyes by minimizing the inflammation and hyperosmolarity (less water/increased salts and stuff) in the tear film that promotes a redness response in the body." 

Kegarise's DIY heat therapy entails placing a warm hard-boiled egg, a potato in a warm water-soaked paper towel, or a microwaved rice bag (make sure it's not too hot) on the surface of your closed eyelids. "Do this as hot as you can (without any burning of the lids!), as often as you can, for as long as you can. Ideally, even one time per day for 10 minutes is effective. Once completed, press inward (with clean fingers), on the eyelid, rolling the fingers toward the middle plane of the eye in an upward direction for the lower lids and a downward direction for the upper lids," instructs Kegarise. However, if you're not a fan of creating your own compress, you can also try eye masks. Spacemasks makes a Self-Heating Eye Mask, which is one of our faves.

02 of 08

On the other side of the temperature spectrum, Iwach says applying cold temperatures to your eyes can help reduce inflammation and redness and make your eyeballs feel better. This can be a cool washcloth (just ensure that it's soft and clean to reduce/prevent irritation) or even cucumber slices. Simply place your cucumber slices in the fridge beforehand for maximum cooling relief.

03 of 08

When you don't blink enough, your eyes aren't properly lubricated, which can cause redness: "We live in a digital world and when we do close work on a computer, laptop, tablet, or cell phone, we tend to stare and this decreases the blink rate. It also tends to cause cramping-like fatigue in the focusing and converging muscles of the eye," says Kegarise. If you spend a lot of time on your phone or computer, try taking "blink breaks" every few minutes to keep the moisture balance of your eyes intact.

Kegarise explains how the simple, yet effective "20/20 blink rule" will help you work longer and more comfortably, as well as minimize a common cause of redness in the eyes. "When on the computer, every 20 minutes, look away for 20 seconds at a distance target and squeeze-blink your eyes firmly two times. Firm blinking also forces tear glands to release the oily output as a contribution to the tears. This oily layer reduces dry eye by keeping the tears in contact with the eye and not allowing them to evaporate. Dry eyes naturally force a body response to increase permeability of the blood vessels and, thus, redness." 

Blue light glasses are also a great way to help prevent dry eyes, as they reduce the strain on them when using screens.

04 of 08

Unfortunately, according to Iwach, your makeup could be causing your red eyes. And he doesn't just mean makeup like eyeliner and mascara. Even your face powder might be a culprit. Try weaning yourself off different products one at a time for several days and take note of the state of your eyes to pinpoint what's bothering you. It's also a great idea to look into hypoallergenic makeup to see if that helps.

05 of 08

Be sure to clean the base of your lashes, as this may be where irritants congregate because there are oil glands along the margins of your eyes. Sometimes this oil accumulates, which attracts irritants: "Ultimately, cleaning the lids regularly will minimize the base of the eyelash buildup of oils, flakes, follicle mites (yuck)-all of which can get onto the surface of the eyes and cause redness," says Kegarise. "Once you have successfully noticed an improvement in feeling or decreased redness, you can reduce to a maintenance level of two times per week or whatever seems to be appropriate for your eyes."

To get started, "Wash and scrub your eyelids with warm water and a washcloth every morning," he says. "Take a clean, warm washcloth, close your eyes, and rub vigorously on the upper and lower eyelid margins and base of the eyelashes for 20 seconds. Baby shampoo or other 'non-tear, gentle' liquid soap can be added. Rinse with warm water. You may feel less scratchiness right away, and/or it may take some time to feel a less gritty sensation."

06 of 08

Taking preventative measures, while not a treatment per se, is just as important (if not more so) when it comes to proper eye care. This feels intuitive, but some people don't love the look of sunglasses, so they grin and bear it without paying attention to the damage the sun might be causing. If you're dealing with red eyes, it's time to let that notion go.

07 of 08

If you're inside, Iwach says to make a note of where you sit in your office or your home. Are you near a fan? A vent? A window? If you notice you have red, irritated eyes, it could be from the air blowing in your face, causing dry eyes. Removing yourself from the irritant may be your best bet for avoiding red eyes in the first place.

08 of 08

The most obvious—and probably least time-consuming—option is to use artificial tears (aka eye drops). Iwach calls them the safest, simplest solution for irritated eyes because they can help flush irritants out and combat dryness. In most cases, you can use lubricating drops as often as you need. Some are even specific to contact-wearers.

According to our experts, these simple techniques work to remedy eye redness by combating its major causes: surface inflammation, hyperosmolarity, and irritation. However, they're neither foolproof nor magic. "It goes without saying that no amount of natural therapy can overcome redness associated with too little sleep, too much alcohol, or certain medicinal or recreational drug use," says Kegarise. "Get enough sleep, take care of your body, and use these tips to take care of your eyes."

FAQ

• What is the main cause of dry eyes?

  Many factors can come into play when it comes to dry eyes, like excessive screen time, dehydration, contact lenses, and more.

• Can dry eyes cause blindness?

  Dry eyes rarely lead to blindness.

• Which supplements can help with dry eyes?

  Vitamin A and omega-3 fatty acids can help with eye inflammation.

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1. Cleveland Clinic. Photokeratitis. Updated December 16, 2020.