Dr. Callahan is extremely patient, great at explaining things, and does not try to pressure you to take a particular course of action.
Gloria Federico
How to Get Whiter, Clearer-Looking Eyes
Safe Ways to Reduce Redness and Brighten Your Eyes
Most everyday redness responds well to simple, consistent habits. When those are not enough, there are safe, doctor-recommended options that target the actual source of the problem rather than just masking the appearance.
Placing a cool, damp washcloth over your closed eyes for five to ten minutes, a few times a day, can noticeably reduce surface redness. The cool temperature gently constricts the small blood vessels on the eye surface without any medication involved.
Drinking enough water throughout the day also matters. Good hydration supports healthy tear production, which keeps the eye surface moist and clear. Getting seven to eight hours of sleep per night gives your eyes the recovery time they need to replenish their natural tear film.
Not all redness-relieving drops work the same way or carry the same risks. Brimonidine 0.025% eye drops reduce surface redness by narrowing small blood vessels without triggering the rebound effect that makes eyes look redder between doses. This makes them a safer option for occasional use compared to older decongestant drops.
Traditional decongestant drops containing tetrahydrozoline work quickly but cause a rebound effect after just a few days of use, where the blood vessels dilate larger than they were before. Our eye doctors can help you choose a drop that suits your situation and carries fewer long-term risks.
Treating the underlying cause of redness produces far better results than masking it. Preservative-free artificial tears are a good starting point for dryness-related redness. If allergies are the culprit, over-the-counter antihistamine eye drops target the immune response driving your symptoms.
- Use a humidifier indoors to slow tear evaporation in dry environments
- Follow the 20-20-20 rule during screen time: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds
- Wear UV-blocking sunglasses outdoors, especially wraparound styles that block wind and peripheral light
- Wash your hands before touching your eyes and replace eye makeup every three months to reduce bacterial exposure
These habits address the daily triggers that contribute to chronic low-grade redness and help your eyes maintain a clearer, healthier appearance over time.
Approaches to Avoid
Some popular methods for whitening eyes are ineffective at best and genuinely dangerous at worst. Knowing what to skip is just as important as knowing what works.
Older redness-relieving drops that constrict blood vessels can create a cycle that makes things worse over time. After repeated use, the blood vessels develop tolerance and dilate even more when the drop wears off. This leaves your eyes redder than before you started, which leads to using the drops more often and deepening the cycle.
If you have been using these drops regularly and notice your redness returning faster each time, let our eye doctors know. We can guide you through tapering off and transitioning to a safer approach, though you may notice a temporary increase in redness during that adjustment period.
Some clinics advertise surgical procedures that claim to whiten the sclera by removing or altering conjunctival tissue. These procedures are not endorsed by major ophthalmology organizations because they carry serious risks, including infection, scarring, chronic inflammation, and lasting damage to the eye surface.
If scleral discoloration concerns you, the right step is to have one of our eye doctors evaluate the underlying cause. Treating what is actually causing the discoloration is both safer and more effective than cosmetic surgery on the eye surface.
Putting lemon juice, honey, baking soda, or other household substances directly into your eyes can cause chemical burns, corneal damage, and serious infections. There is no credible evidence that any food-based substance whitens or brightens the sclera, and these methods regularly result in emergency eye care visits.
Safe options include preservative-free artificial tears, cool compresses, and any treatment your eye doctor recommends based on an actual examination. Applying unverified substances to your eye surface is never worth the risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some of the questions we hear most often about eye appearance, redness, and what patients can realistically expect from different approaches.
A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and foods containing lutein and omega-3 fatty acids supports overall eye health and may help reduce the kind of chronic low-grade inflammation that contributes to persistent redness. However, no specific food can change the actual color of your scleral tissue or produce a rapid whitening effect. Think of good nutrition as part of a long-term strategy rather than a quick fix.
Preservative-free artificial tears can reduce redness that is caused by dryness by restoring a healthy tear film over the eye surface. Unlike drops with whitening agents, lubricating drops address the source of the problem when dry eye is to blame. If your redness comes from something other than dryness, lubricating drops alone may not make a visible difference, which is why identifying the cause matters.
Colored contacts alter the appearance of your iris, not the sclera, so they will not affect the whiteness of your eyes. Prescription-fitted colored contacts obtained through a licensed eye care provider are generally safe when worn and cared for properly. Costume or decorative lenses sold without a prescription are a different matter entirely and carry real risks, including corneal scratches, infections, and permanent vision damage. Always get a proper fitting and prescription before wearing any contact lens.
Yellow discoloration of the sclera, known as jaundice, should prompt a medical evaluation even if your eyes do not hurt and you feel otherwise well. The yellowing reflects a buildup of bilirubin in your bloodstream, which signals that something in your liver, gallbladder, or blood cell function needs attention. This is not something to monitor at home or treat with eye drops. Your primary care provider or a specialist will use blood tests and imaging to identify the cause.
Most redness-reducing eye drops begin to take effect within one to five minutes of application. The duration varies by formula but typically lasts between four and eight hours. Brimonidine 0.025% drops act at a similar speed to older decongestant drops but carry a much lower risk of rebound redness with occasional use. Neither type of drop treats the underlying cause, so they are best reserved for specific situations rather than daily use.
Yes, consistently wearing UV-blocking sunglasses has a meaningful protective effect on the appearance and health of your eyes. UV exposure and wind are two of the primary contributors to pinguecula and pterygium growths, both of which visibly discolor the white part of the eye. Preventing or slowing those growths helps maintain a cleaner eye appearance long-term. Wraparound styles with lenses that block UV rays offer the most complete coverage for outdoor use.
Schedule an Eye Exam at NewView Eye Center
If the whites of your eyes look persistently red, yellow, or discolored, our team is here to help you find out why and what to do about it. At NewView Eye Center, our eye doctors take the time to evaluate the actual cause behind changes in your eye appearance and recommend treatments that are safe, effective, and right for you. We welcome patients from throughout Northern Virginia and would be glad to see you at either of our convenient office locations.
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