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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 expansion of blood vessels on the surface of your eye due to inflammation.
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-tie-vuh), and inflammation of the conjunctiva is called conjunctivitis (kun-junk-tih-VY-tis).
Many other diseases and eye conditions can cause red eye or conjunctivitis. Potential causes of red eye may include infections, allergic reactions, irritants, foreign objects or a lack of sleep.
- 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.
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