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Red and Sore Eyes? It May Be Episcleritis!

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Have you ever experienced waking up in the morning with red eyes? Most likely, your very first reaction is anxiety because the last thing you want is sore eyes. Not only is sore eyes “sore” or painful and very uncomfortable, but it is also a contagious disease. People will avoid you, and who likes that?

But is it really sores eyes? And how will you know what it is?

Do you know that red eyes do not necessarily mean sore eyes or conjunctivitis? There are other eye conditions with symptoms almost similar to sore eyes or conjunctivitis, and one of these is what is known as episcleritis.

What Is Episcleritis?

Basically, episcleritis makes your eyes turn reddish or red; some also describe the eyes as pink or pinkish. It is a common condition that is usually mild. Episcleritis may affect either eyes or one eye only.

Episcleritis is defined by medical experts as an inflammation of the episclera or the thin membrane that covers the sclera or the white of the eye.

What Are the Common Symptoms of Episcleritis?

If you feel any of the following, then it is likely that you have Episcleritis. The common symptoms are the following: a pink or purple color to the normally white part of the eye, eye tenderness, pain in the eyes, light sensitivity, and tearing of the eye.

What Causes Episcleritis?

The cause is usually unknown, but medical experts say that it also occurs with certain diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, herpes zoster, syphilis, Sjogren syndrome, and Tuberculosis.

What Should You Do?

If you are really bothered by your red eyes, it is best to see a doctor for proper medical intervention. The basic test doctors perform in order to find out what it is you have – whether it’s sore eyes (conjunctivitis) or episcleritis – is an eye examination.

Here’s the good news! Episcleritis usually goes away even without medication in a week or two. However, doctors may prescribe some eye drops to relieve the symptoms and to make the symptoms disappear faster. In some special cases, doctors may prescribe artificial tears in order to relieve the eye.

Taking a bath or a shower regularly will also help alleviate the symptoms. When one has episcleritis, the common complaint about the eye or eyes are that they normally feel hot and “sandy”. Taking a bath or a shower, or even washing the face with cold water gives instant relief. Just be sure that the water which will be used to wash the face or in bathing is clean.