Why have my eyes gotten more bloodshot with age?

Eye redness is usually a sign of irritation. In many cases, eye-surface irritation is caused by a lifetime's exposure to sun, wind, dust, smoke, pollen, heat, chemicals, and other irritants. These changes can be exacerbated by increasing eye dryness and hormonal changes with advancing age. Chronic exposures can cause the eyes to be more irritated and have more visible blood vessels. Many eye, skin, and systemic conditions can cause your eyes to be red and irritated.

Avoid the regular use of get-the-red-out drops. These drops are short-acting blood-vessel constrictors, and their use beyond a few days may actually cause your eyes to appear more bloodshot than they would otherwise. Upon discontinuing their use, it may take several weeks for the tone of the muscles in the blood vessels to return to normal. You may wish to increase your eye's lubrication with artificial-tear supplements. If you are unable to make your eyes comfortable with four drops per day, you should consider making an appointment with your eye doctor. There are other treatments that only your eye doctor can prescribe.