Redness or pinkness of the white of the eye and inner eyelids.
May have increased tearing (watery eye).
No pus or other discharge.
Causes
Main cause: viral infection (part of a cold).
Other common causes: eye allergies from pollens or eye irritation from chlorinated pool water, smoke, smog, sunscreen, etc.
See More Appropriate Topic (instead of this one) If
Feels like something got in eye, see EYE, FOREIGN BODY IN.
Yellow or green pus in eye, see EYE, PUS OR DRAINAGE.
Main symptom is itchy eyes, see EYE, ALLERGY.
(To go directly to these topics, click on the links following this document.)
WHEN TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR FOR EYE, RED (WITHOUT PUS)
Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If
Your child looks or acts very sick.
Eyelid is very red or very swollen.
Constant tearing or blinking.
Eye pain or blurred vision.
Age less than 12 weeks with fever above 100.4°F (38°C) rectally.
Age less than 1 month old.
Only 1 eye is red and present for more than 24 hours.
Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9am and 4pm) If
You think your child needs to be seen.
Call Your Doctor During Weekday Office Hours If
You have other questions or concerns.
Parent Care at Home If
Red eye as part of a cold and you don't think your child needs to be seen.
Red eye caused by mild irritant (e.g. soap, sunscreen, food) and you don't think your child needs to be seen.
HOME CARE ADVICE FOR VIRAL EYE INFECTIONS
1. Eye Cleansing: Cleanse eyelids with warm water and a clean cotton ball at least every 1 to 2 hours while your child is awake and at home. This usually will keep a bacterial infection from occurring.
2. Eye Drops: Neither antibiotic nor vasoconstrictor eye drops help viral eye infections.
3. Contacts: Children with contact lenses need to switch to glasses temporarily (reason: to prevent damage to the cornea).
4. Contagiousness: Pink eye with a watery discharge is harmless and mildly contagious. Children with colds in the eye do not need to miss any day care or school.
5. Expected Course: Pink eye with a cold usually lasts about 7 days.
6. Call Your Doctor If:
Yellow or green discharge develops.
Redness lasts for more than 1 week.
Your child becomes worse or develops any of the "Call Your Doctor" symptoms.
HOME CARE ADVICE FOR MILD EYE IRRITANTS (e.g., smoke, smog, chlorine, perfume, food, soap, sunscreen)
1. Face Cleansing: Wash the face, then the eyelids, with a mild soap and water. This will remove any irritants.
2. Eye Irrigation: Irrigate the eye with warm water for 5 minutes.
3. Vasoconstrictor Eye Drops: Red eyes from irritants usually feel much better after the irritant has been washed out. If they remain uncomfortable and bloodshot, instill artificial tears or some long-acting vasoconstrictor eye drops (no prescription needed). You can ask your pharmacist to recommend a brand. Use 1 drop every 8 to 12 hours as necessary.
4. Expected Course: After removal of the irritant, the eyes usually return to normal color in 1 to 2 hours.
5. Prevention: Try to avoid future exposure to the irritant.
6. Call Your Doctor If:
Develops pus in the eye.
Redness lasts for more than 7 days.
Your child becomes worse or develops any of the "Call Your Doctor" symptoms.
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital is located in Palo Alto, adjacent to Stanford University Hospital, approximately 20 miles north of San Jose, CA and 40 miles south of San Francisco.
