Red eyes: What's causing these broken capillaries?

They also have these specialized contact lenses designed for people who spend all day staring at screens—some kind of oxygen-permeable thing, blah blah blah. My wife offered them to me while I was grabbing my own, but I passed because they’re pretty pricey.😢
If you use monthly or quarterly lenses past their expiration date (which, let’s face it, most people do🤣), you can end up getting those broken capillaries in your eyes😉.

Sean Hernandez5 said:They even have those specialized contact lenses designed for people who stare at screens all day—something about oxygen permeability and all that. A lady offered them to me while I was picking up my order, but I passed since they’re pretty pricey.😢
If you wear your pads or tampons past their recommended monthly or quarterly window—which, let's be honest, most people do—you should stay mindful of hygiene.🤣Then you might run the risk of developing broken capillaries.😉

I use two-week contact lenses, replacing them strictly every fourteen days. I recently started using a new mascara—could that be the issue?

rustymarlin39 said:I use two-week contact lenses—I wear them for exactly fourteen days, toss them, and start fresh. I just started using a new mascara a few days ago; maybe that's the issue?

Yeah, that could definitely be the culprit.🙂
Maybe just stop using it for a week or two. If things don't clear up after that, you should probably go see an eye doctor.😉

the ambassador said:that could potentially be an issue🙂
Just avoid using it for a little while (maybe a week or two). If the problem persists, go see a doctor.😉

I tried a different mascara today to see if things improve. I'm planning to take my contacts out when I get home from work and give my eyes a rest for a day or two to see how it goes. I didn't have these broken capillaries before; they showed up right after I started using that new mascara (which makes me suspicious...). If it turns out to be the mascara, I'll toss it straight in the trash.

rustymarlin39 said:I really need some advice here—I've been wearing my contacts for a month now. I use the J&J Acuvue Oasys lenses, which honestly feel great. I've been using Blink drops whenever they start feeling a bit dry—which happens a lot after staring at my computer screen all day. I wear them basically from 6:30 AM until 10 PM... and I use Aquaphor solution, which is awesome. Everything feels fine except for one thing: over the last few days, I've noticed visible blood vessels in my eyes. They aren't bright red or anything, but there are definitely more than usual. My sister doesn't even wear contacts, but she has the exact same thing going on with her eyes, so I’m not totally panicking. Is this dangerous? Any way to fix it? Drops? Solutions? Thanks in advance..🙏

Wearing contacts for more than 8 hours a day isn't really recommended—soft lenses don't let enough oxygen reach your eyes, and that's likely why you're seeing redness and stinging. Some eye drops might help ease the irritation, though.

Lawrence Wells said:You shouldn't wear your contacts for more than 8 hours a day. Soft lenses don't let enough oxygen reach your eyes, which causes redness and stinging. Using some lubricating drops might help.

I can't use those drops while I have my contacts in. My eyes aren't actually stinging or itchy, and they aren't red. It's just that the blood vessels are more visible...🙄

rustymarlin39 said:I can't use the drops while I'm wearing my contacts. My eyes don't even sting or itch—they aren't red, either. It’s just that the tiny blood vessels are really visible...🙄

Honestly, you should probably switch to glasses when you're at work just to give your eyes a break.

I've been wearing soft contact lenses for several years now. They never really bothered me, so I jumped straight into wearing them all day from the very beginning, but I dealt with those bloodshot eyes just like you. My eye doctor advised me to stick to contacts during work hours while switching back to glasses once I got home. He also suggested a gradual transition: increasing my wear time by about an hour each week and taking a five-minute break away from the computer screen roughly every hour—just enough time to grab a coffee or run to the restroom. It was all about letting the eyes acclimate slowly. Following that routine worked; today, I can wear my lenses all day without seeing any redness.
Also, make sure you're being diligent about cleaning your lenses and replacing them on schedule.

goldenowl said:I've been wearing soft contacts for years. They never bothered me, so I jumped straight into wearing them all day from the start, but just like you, I dealt with bloodshot eyes. My eye doctor suggested I wear my contacts at work but switch to glasses when I'm home. He also told me to increase my wear time by just one hour each week and take a five-minute break from the computer every hour or so—just enough time to grab some water or step away. Gradually, my eyes adjusted. Now, I can wear them all day without much redness at all.
And definitely make sure to clean them regularly and replace them on schedule.

Phew, so it’s not just me. This is great advice, and I am definitely going to try it! Adding an hour each week sounds doable. I'm very strict about hygiene and following the schedule—exactly two weeks and then they go straight in the trash! Thanks, this was so helpful!🙏

I’ve got the same eye issues, even though I’ve been wearing contacts for 17 years. It all started because I overdid it with the lenses and wore them way too much in front of the computer. You blink way less when you're staring at a screen, which messes up your tear film, irritates everything, and makes those capillaries pop out. Seriously, try to cut back on the contact hours, especially when you're working. If you can manage it, just switch to glasses while you're at the desk. That ointment only gives you maybe 20 minutes of relief before you're right back where you started. Plus, your eyes get used to the drops, so then you're stuck needing them constantly. Whenever you aren't out and about—like when you're just chilling at home—take the lenses out and wear glasses. Give your eyes a break. It'll be worth it.

Noah Harris50 said:I’m dealing with the exact same eye issues, even though I've worn contacts for 17 years. It all started from overusing them, especially while staring at a computer screen. You blink way less when you're working, which dries out your tears and causes irritation and those visible blood vessels. I really suggest cutting back on your contact lens hours, particularly when you're at the desk. If you can, try switching to glasses while using the computer. These drops only provide about 20 minutes of relief before you need more. Plus, your eyes get used to them, so you end up needing them constantly. Whenever you aren't busy, like when you're just relaxing at home, take the lenses out and wear glasses to give your eyes a break. It'll be worth it.

I'm only wearing my contacts for work this week and taking them off as soon as I get home. That means I'm only wearing them for about 10 hours. I'm hoping I can eventually push that an hour or two longer. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow to get my eyes checked out; I want to see if things are as bad as I fear. It's so frustrating because I wore them all day without any trouble for a month, and now suddenly I can't. How did these blood vessels just appear? And everyone told me these were the best lenses available.

The whole thing is that standard drops are basically just meant to bleach out redness, whereas Proculin actually works on fighting inflammation.

Does anyone know how I can get rid of the blood in my eyes from burst capillaries?

I've been dealing with bloodshot eyes for a long time now—like 4 or 5 years—and it all started during this one stretch where I was basically glued to my computer screen all day long.

Are there any specific eye drops or something else I could just grab at a CVS?

I am seriously over this... it's getting embarrassing because people keep noticing it.

Nicholas Patel52 said:Does anyone know how I can get rid of the blood in my eyes from burst capillaries?

I've been dealing with bloody eyes for quite a while now—maybe 4 or 5 years. It all started during a stretch where I was glued to my computer screen all day long.

Are there any specific eye drops or something else I can pick up at a drugstore?

Honestly, I'm sick of it because people keep noticing it..

You can't just drop some liquid in your eye and expect burst capillaries to vanish instantly. However, if you're staring at a monitor for more than three hours a day, you really need to be using lubricating drops—the kind contact lens wearers use to prevent dryness, like Refresh.
If there's actual inflammation involved, an ophthalmologist or your primary care doctor can prescribe something like Systane drops. Just go see a professional and handle this the right way. You should never mess around with your eyes on your own.

Angela Wright said:You aren't going to fix broken capillaries with eye drops—that's just not how it works. But if you're staring at a computer screen for more than three hours a day, you really should be using lubricating drops meant for contact lens wearers to stop your eyes from drying out, like Refresh.
If you're dealing with an actual infection, you need an ophthalmologist or your primary care doctor to prescribe something like Systane. Just go see a professional and get it handled right. You should never mess around with your eyes on your own.

Seriously, go to an ophthalmologist. No over-the-counter drops are going to give you a permanent fix. Let a doctor take a look; the exam doesn't even hurt.

For a few years now, I’ve had this permanent blood vessel in my eye that stays visible. It’s about a centimeter long, ending just a couple of millimeters before the iris. I’m wondering if there is actually a way to have a vessel like that removed. None of the doctors I've seen have suggested anything about it, and honestly, I haven't given it much thought until now. I'm 20 years old. Regarding my vision, I only wear glasses with prism lenses when I'm working at my computer.

Your doctors—ophthalmologists, I assume—likely haven't suggested anything because they view this as a purely cosmetic issue. If it’s truly bothering you, you might want to check in with your specialist (you mentioned prisms, so I'm guessing they were prescribed for some kind of heterophoria?). You could discuss whether surgical options are even on the table, though I suspect they won't be your first recommendation.

I’m not being tracked by any ophthalmologists or anything; I actually got prescribed prism glasses a few years back and have been wearing them ever since 😁. If this is just a matter of how they look, then I guess it's fine.

Thanks for getting back to me.

Chloe Hughes2, I might have misread your situation. I assumed you were seeing an ophthalmologist for routine checkups—since you wear glasses—and that they were already aware of these blood vessel issues but just hadn't flagged them yet.

It’s likely just a cosmetic concern, but I’d still suggest getting it looked at by a specialist. We can't offer certainties through a forum.

Does anyone have advice on how to stop blood vessels in my eyes from popping when I wear contacts?

I rarely wear daily contacts, but I finally put them in today after six months off. I only had them in for about two hours, but once I took them out, I saw a red spot—a burst capillary. To be fair, I think it might have happened because I rubbed my eyelid right after removing the lens. My doctor claims it wasn't the contact itself, just the rubbing. It’s possible, but I rub my eyes all the time and this has never happened before, so I suspect it was a combination of the lenses and the rubbing.

Alright, I'll try to stop rubbing. My doctor suggested taking Vitamin C, so I'll start doing that. Any other tips? I'm really hoping to switch to wearing contacts every day this summer.

I have some Visine and Bepanthen on hand. Would it be smart to apply those before putting my lenses in? Also, what kind of drops would you recommend for refreshing my eyes while the contacts are actually in?

Realizing now that I'm in the wrong thread.🤦 There's another thread about burst capillaries, but it's even shorter.😳

I have one more "dumb" question regarding prevention. For example, those Visine drops constrict the blood vessels to make the whites of the eyes look clearer. Do those decongestant drops increase or decrease the risk of a vessel popping? I always assumed that using those drops alongside contacts might increase the risk, but maybe it's the opposite.🤷