This sort of blood shot eye thing is something UI do get from time to time. There are many possible causes of a red eye or eyes. Some are cause for concern and some are even medical emergencies. Others are of no consequence or concern at all. The degree of redness or appearance of blood usually does not correlate to how serious the situation is. It is generally more important whether you also have eye pain or impaired vision.

Bloodshot eyes appear red because the vessels in the surface of the white portion of the eye (sclera) become enlarged and irritated. This may result from extremely dry air, sun exposure, dust, foreign body, an allergic reaction, infection, trauma, or other conditions. In my case I think that the dry air is the cause, as I have moved somewhere with very low humidity and had it since then.

One of the most common cause of a red eye is straining or coughing. This can lead to a bright red, uniformly dense bloody area on the sclera. This is called a subconjunctival hemorrhage. Although this bloody area may appear alarming, it is a fairly common occurrence and of little significance. If you notice a bloody blotch in one eye that doesn't hurt, but just looks bad, don't worry. It generally clears up on its own within a week or two.
Eye infections or inflammation can occur in different locations. They cause redness as well as possible itching, discharge, pain, or vision problems:
Blepharitis -- inflammation of the eyelash follicles along the eyelid. It is caused by skin bacteria. Itching is common, and your eyelids may appear greasy or crusty.
Conjunctivitis -- inflammation or infection of the membrane that lines the eyelids and coats the surface of the eye (the conjunctiva). This condition is often referred to as "pink eye." It may be caused by a virus, bacteria, allergy, or irritation. If caused by an organism, this is highly contagious.
Corneal ulcers -- ulcers that appear on the outer covering of the eye, usually because of a bacterial or viral infection.
Uveitis -- inflammation of the uvea, which includes the iris, ciliary body, and choroid. This is often related to an autoimmune disorder, infection, or exposure to toxins. Often, only the iris is inflamed, which is called iritis.

Other causes of red eye could be cold or allergies, foreign objects in the eye that cut or damage the eye, acute glaucoma a sudden increase in eye pressure that is extremely painful and causes serious visual disturbances. This is a medical emergency. Most times, glaucoma is chronic and gradual.
Corneal scratches caused by sand, dust, or overuse of contacts.
Bleeding problems (for example, from excess use of blood thinning drugs).
Home Care. For fatigue or eyestrain, try to rest your eyes. No treatment is necessary. If you have conjunctivitis avoid touching the infected eye and then rubbing the other eye the infection can spread from one eye to the other. Apply cool or warm compresses throughout the day.
Over-the-counter homeopathic eye drops may provide relief and do not use eye makeup or wear contact lenses until the infection has cleared. Throw away items like these that you used in your infected eye.
And always remember to wash your hands frequently

If blepharitis is causing your blood shot eye then you can apply warm compresses to your eyes for 5 minutes. Do this at least two times per day.
Using a cotton swab, gently rub a solution of warm water and no-tears baby shampoo along your eyelid, where the lash meets the lid. Do this in the morning and before you go to bed.

It is important to know when it is time to see a doctor. You should go the hospital or call your local emergency number if your eye is red after a penetrating injury or if you have a headache along with blurred vision or confusion. It you are seeing halos around lights or if you have nausea and vomiting. If your eyes are red longer than 1-2 days or you have eye pain or vision changes. it you take blood thinning medication, like warfarin or you might have an object in your eye if you feel very sensitive to light and also if you have a yellow or greenish discharge from one or both eyes.

I know that a lot of people are funny about having their eyes touched but if you do have to go to the doctor your doctor will perform a physical exam, including an eye exam, and ask questions about your medical history and to see if both of your eyes affected? If only one eye, which one? He will look to see what part of the eye is affected -- the white part, or elsewhere and will ask you if the redness come on suddenly or if you ever had eye redness before? He will want to know if you have eye pain? Does it get worse after movement of the eyes and do you have other symptoms like eye discharge, burning, or itching? Nausea or vomiting? A headache?

The eyes may need to be washed out with normal saline solution, and any foreign bodies will need to be removed. Eye drops may be prescribed.