13 Causes of Red Eye

7. Foreign object in the eye

Another cause of eye redness could be a foreign object in the eye, such as an eyelash, sand, dust, or anything else that does not belong in the eye. If you do have a small foreign object in your eye, don’t stick your fingers in there to get it out—this will only cause more irritation. Instead, wash your eye out with an eye wash solution or with tap water. If this doesn’t work, you may attempt to remove the object manually with a cotton swab. Be sure to look in the opposite direction to protect the cornea. For larger foreign objects, seek immediate medical attention.