Red Eyes

Red eyes could be the result of many conditions, and the term “red eye” can actually refer to several areas of the eye. Children can get any type of red eye symptoms that are seen in adults.

Among the most common problems that cause children to have red eyes are infection of the eye, allergies, and injuries to the eye.

Viral/Bacterial Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, is one of the most common causes of red eyes. Viral /Bacterial Conjunctivitis is an eye infection that is frequently seen in children and is extremely contagious. Due to its contagious nature, it is generally seen in school age children or in children who have a lot of contact with other kids their age. Your child’s doctor might recommend eye drops and antibiotics to treat the pink eye. Your child should also keep away from other kids until the condition is treated in order to keep it from spreading.

Allergies are another common reason for red eyes in children. The allergens in air can affect the eyes in the same way that they affect the respiratory system. Eyes that are being affected by allergens may also become itchy. Doctors may prescribe antihistamines to children who have red eyes from allergies.

Injury to the eye can cause the eyes to become red. It is important that a child see an eye doctor any time that an injury has occurred to the eye to ensure that vision will not be affected.