7 yr old bloodshot dull eyes - now getting poorly

[Corblimeyguvnor1]

About a week ago, the corner of DS's eye became pink/bloodshot. No pain, swelling, discharge, irritation. I noticed that both his eyes looked a bit dull - as in the whites aren't as white as normal. A few days later, the other eye became very slightly pink. He does wear glasses but has done for about 3 years.

He's been absolutely fine other than that but tonight he says he feels like he has no energy and a bit achey with a slight headache.

Any ideas what's up with his eyes? And would it be connected to him feeling poorly today even though I first noticed his eyes a week ago?

Covid can start with issues with the eyes with children - a lot got conjunctivitis as a first symptom early on in the pandemic. Headache, aching and tiredness are also symptoms, and people do not always necessarily develop a cough as a first symptom, or sometimes ever. This is just what I have seen with other people's children and covid.
I am not medically trained in any way though so I would contact a doctor for reassurance if you are worried.

It sounds like a viral conjunctivitis and yes it's probably connected with him feeling unwell. As it's been over a week, I'd let your gp have a look.

It should clear up by itself the usual drops for conjunctivitis only work against bacterial.

Thank you, all. Would conjunctivitis have other symptoms? He's had no discomfort in his eyes at all.

He only felt poorly for a day. His eyes seemed to get a bit better but now they look a bit pink again. This might sound really obvious but is he just having too much screen time? He plays handheld computer games for an hour a day - could he just be straining his eyes and that's causing them to look bloodshot??

Conjunctivitis usually makes the eyes a bit itchy or gunky too, but probably like anything it can be different for different people.
My DC have daily time on devices too, but have never experienced what your DS is experiencing. The only other thing I could think is, has he had his eyes tested at all? Because maybe it's eye strain from potentially needing glasses?
I would take him to a Dr or optician if it continues to be on the safe side and to reassure yourself.

Sorry I just noticed you said he already wears glasses - has he had his eyes retested recently?

I 2nd the Covid test suggestion

Actually, skip that. You'll only usually get a positive Covid test result in the first 5 days but keep it in mind if anyone else gets vague symptoms

Thank you all. Definitely will keep an eye out for any symptoms in the rest of the family. We are home testing regularly anyway so hopefully that should pick it up.

He had his eyes tested earlier this year.

My DDs covid started with both eyes becoming bloodshot which I thought was conjunctivitis but they weren't itchy and no discharge. She then became under the weather/tired and tested positive for covid 2 days later. Definitely worth considering. Overall she wasn't really ill with it but the bloodshot eyes took around a fortnight to clear.

Wow, so many of you pointing to covid. I had no idea that could be a sign of it. But, yes, too late to test him now - hopefully that's not what it was!

Both my young kiddos have conjunctivitis at the mo & a shocker of a cough.. I did test them both for covid & it was negative thankfully! I also tested myself as I’m a bit snotty & very minor cough
.. also negative, so I am fairly convinced even if I didn’t do a great job on the kids, it’s gagged & swabbed my brain 🙈

Both seem really under the weather with it all though ☹️

Could it be an allergy/hay fever? I’m not saying it isn’t Covid or conjunctivitis, but it sounds like my response to pollen allergy.

Hmmm, I'm thinking it's eye strain. He spent ages on the ipad today and his eyes look terrible!

mild viral conjunctivitis can just make your eyes a bit dry. You can also get a gritty feeling or watery discharge.
Being on the ipad reduces your blink rate so tends to exacerbate dryness symptoms such as redness.

Would he have discomfort with dry eye or mild conjunctivitis- because he hasn't complained of anything at all? And the pinkness keeps coming and going.

Ring 111?

@janFebAnyMonth I've got an eye check booked for him. Just wanted to hear about any experiences ahead of that.

Not necessarily OP - the slight dryness that you get after a viral conjunctivitis can last a few weeks.

He needs seeing though as it’s been more than a week and I can’t diagnose - a picture won’t suffice in this one. GP or optom is fine.

@underneaththeash are you an optician? (That's not meant to sound sarcastic - it's just you said "I can't diagnose" which makes it sound like you might be?)

Sorry to sound OTT but I get a bit anxious about things like this - is it most likely to be some kind of irritation/ infection rather than anything serious?

Yes!

Honestly, it's been over a week, it's probably what i suggested (dryness secondary to some viral infection), but I don't know. If you do have a regular optician ask them to have a look - you'll need to explain the progression of symptoms over the week.
It's very unlikely to be anything serious - but it still needs looking at. It's not even one where you could post me a picture, i'd need to have a closer look.

Thank you @underneaththeash - I will let you know what the optician says.

...and thank you @underneaththeash for being willing to have a look at a photo - I know you say that it would be pointless as you'd need a closer look but I appreciate that you would've been happy to do so

Before you take him into an optician please get him tested. My ds currently has covid and his only symptoms are exactly as you describe your ds'

My ds had this. Tested positive for covid. He did go on to develop other symptoms too though.