Red dry eyes..........

Why do eyes get red and irritated when you have dry eyes?  And as the dry eyes get better will the redness ever clear up? Has anyone gotten better....  
Any advice would be great.......................

[Joan M Pernoud, MD]

Check out the "dry eye" health topics.

Eye tissue is very delicate and fragile and needs lubrication. Dry injured surface tissue sets off an inflammatory chemical cascade which causes red and irritated eyes.

If the problem is only dry eyes, proper lubrication will decrease the redness and irritation. Remember that if you need artificial tears more than four times a day, any preservative in an artificial tear will cause irritation itself. I would start with preservaative free artificial tears every hour for three days and decrease a drop or two every day until your eyes feel dry again then you will know how often you need them. Stay out of drafts.
Keep your environment humid.

Ask your eye MD ophthalmologist if you have anything else contributing to the redness. You may have blepharitis (see posts about that). That would need to be addressed too.

There are many other treatment possibilities. Sometimes it takes several months to find the right treatment modalities for any individual.