Free
E-newsletter
Subscribe to Housecall
Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date
on a wide variety of health topics.
close window
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffRed eye is a common problem that can affect one or both eyes. The redness associated with red eye comes from expanded blood vessels on the surface of your eye due to inflammation, usually from some form of irritation or infection.
Most often the inflammation that causes red eye occurs in the membrane covering the white of your eye and lining your eyelid. This membrane is called the conjunctiva (kun-JUNK-tih-vuh); inflammation of the conjunctiva is called conjunctivitis (kun-junk-tih-VY-tis).
References
- Jacobs DS. Evaluation of the red eye. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 3, 2010.
- Koby M. Conjunctivitis. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2011. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=aboutPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..C2009-0-38600-6--TOP&isbn=978-0-323-05610-6&uniq=210978719. Accessed Sept. 3, 2010.
Share on:
Find Mayo Clinic on