Why do pictures have red eye

Many cameras have a " red eye reduction " feature. In these cameras, the flash goes off twice -- once right before the picture is taken, and then again to actually take the picture. The first flash causes people's pupils to contract, reducing "red eye" significantly.

Another trick is to turn on all the lights in the room, which also contracts the pupil. Another way to reduce or eliminate "red eye" in pictures is to move the flash away from the lens.

On most small cameras, the flash is only an inch or two away from the lens, so the reflection comes right back into the lens and shows up on the film. If you can detach the flash and hold it several feet away from the lens, that helps a lot. A child has more red-eyes in photos than adults because their eyes dilate faster in low light. It can also be an indication of an eye infection or retinal detachment.

Red-eye photos are not the indicator of an eye condition, it is just caused by the reflection of light from the retina. If you feel that you have any black spots, or floaters when you are exposed to flash then you should contact a doctor. At Eyemantra care you will get a comprehensive eye exam by experienced and well-trained ophthalmologists.

You may also contact us through our website- www. Our team of great and experienced ophthalmologists will always suggest the best option for your eyes. Skip to content. Book Appointment. Related Posts.

A white or yellowish glow in one eye could be even more serious, signaling an eye condition such as cataract, retinal detachment, or infections inside the eye. In children, this white or yellowish shine could also be a warning sign of a rare but serious childhood cancer called retinoblastoma.

Barnet Dulaney Perkins can help you manage your eye health and can provide surgical care when advanced eye treatments are needed. Contact us today to keep your eyes healthy. Patient Login Referring Doctors. Why Eyes Look Red in Photos, and What You Can Do Whether they show up in a cherished moment or in a random snap during a night on the town, red eyes can ruin otherwise frame-worthy photographs.

What Causes Red Eyes? In fact, it's a good sign that your child's retina is unobstructed and their eyes are healthy. What's more, a child will be more likely than an adult to display red eyes in photos, because children's eyes naturally dilate faster in low-light environments. A family photo helped reveal this little boy's eye disease. Image: Megan Webber. There are, however, certain things to be mindful of when it comes to kids and the red-eye effect.

For example, if only one of your child's eyes is red in photos, it's possible he or she has misaligned eyes, or strabismus. A white or yellowish glow, called leukocoria, in one eye could signal a serious eye condition or disease, including cataract, Coats' disease, eye infection and retinal detachment. A white or yellow reflex eye shine also could be a warning sign of a rare but serious childhood cancer called retinoblastoma.

If you notice anything unusual about your child's eyes in photos, always notify your eye doctor to rule out a serious children's vision problem. The iris — colored portion of your eye — has little effect on how likely you are to have red eyes in photos. It is actually the amount of melanin, located in the retinal pigment epithelium and the choroid of your eye, that controls how much of the light is reflected back out, and not the iris.

Melanin absorbs light, so the more melanin you have, the less red light you will reflect back at the camera. Fair-skinned and blue-eyed people tend to have less melanin and typically have red eyes in photos more often than those with dark skin and brown eyes. Eyeshine, or the white, yellow or green glow reflected in many animal eyes, including dogs, cats, deer, horses and raccoons, is caused by the tapetum lucidum, a special reflective layer in the retina of many animals' eyes.

When light shines into the tapetum lucidum, it causes the pupil to "glow" in a wide variety of colors. Your pet's eyes can shine numerous colors due to the reflective layer in the back of their eye. Image: Paco Francisco. The tapetum lucidum acts like a mirror at the back of the eye and helps to improve night vision. When your dog or cat's eyes glow green or yellow in photos, you're seeing the reflection of the camera flash from their tapetum lucidum.

The human eye does not have this additional layer; nor do some animals, particularly animals that are primarily active during the day and sleep at night.