This may have been caused by a lot of things from conjunctivitis to sun exposure, dusts to name a few.
It may also have resulted from something very serious that will need urgent or emergency care.
Let's rule out anything that require urgent or emergency care before seeing what a pharmacist recommend over-the-counter for red eye relief.
Know that this is rare in children. So don't panic.
Note:
You should only continue if your child is not experiencing the question asked.
Note:
You should only continue if your child is not experiencing the question asked.
Note:
You should only continue if your child is not experiencing the question asked.
Note:
You should only continue if your child is not experiencing the question asked.
Note:
You should only continue if your child is not experiencing the question asked.
If this does not apply to your child, let's continue and rule out other things that causes redness of the eyes that be dangerous to the child.
Here is why:
One of the problems with cellulitis is that it spreads rapidly, which makes it a very serious infection requiring immediate medical care.
This is a medical emergency if your child is experiencing this, seek urgent care or go to the emergency room.
If not, let's continue.
Expand more on keratitis
If this does not apply to the child, let's continue.
Discuss blepharitis briefly.
If you suspect your child might be looking at blepharitis, call the pediatrician for a complete evaluation or seek urgent care.
If that is not the case, then let's continue and check something else out.
Swelling of the conjunctiva (the thin layer that lines the white part of the eye and the inside of the eyelid) is common with pink eye.
Would you like to see the entry for pink eye or Continue?
Would you like to see our entry for pink eye for a more detailed discussion or Continue?
Would you like to see our entry for pink eye for a more detailed discussion or Continue?
Pink eye is very contagious, so if you suspect your child is experiencing one, see our entry on pink eye for a more detailed analysis so you can make the best decision on what to do.
If you don't think so, then let's continue.
Introduce cornea abrasion.
Symptoms of a scratched cornea include:
If you suspect your child might be looking at a scratched cornea, take the child to the nearest urgent care center or hospital. Do not attempt to wait it out. It is very painful.
You don't know how bad the scratch is and severe complications can develop.
Know that the signs and symptoms of a cornea abrasion may not show up until later. So you won't know when the child poked the eye or had the incident that scratched the cornea.
If the child is complaining of severe eye pain, seek urgent care. Else let's continue.
If the child is looking at symptoms listed below, seek urgent care immediately.
It could be bacterial, viral, or fungal. It can lead to corneal scarring that impairs vision, and may lead to the need for a cornea transplant.
Symptoms include:
Sometimes called CLARE (Contact lens acute red eye), this type of keratitis is often bacterial and your child would need antibiotic eye drops urgently. How urgent, see it as bacteria invading your child's eyes. They spread very fast. The more you delay, the more bacteria is going to colonize the eye and do more damage. So hurry to the nearest children's urgent care center.
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Your child may be looking at a minor eye irritation or subconjunctival hemorrhage
Subconjunctival hemorrhage is like a bruise of the eye. It usually appears as a single, concentrated spot of red, or many scattered red splotches, on the white of the eye. The redness is blood under the conjunctiva.
Treatment of a subconjunctival hemorrhage is generally not necessary. Over time, the blood spot will slowly disappear, clearing up on its own. This may take days or weeks.
Let's see what a pharmacist recommend to help get rid of this red eye that is available over-the-counter.