Pet rat: eye is bleeding and is bloodshot.

Question
Hello, I am really worried about my rat Luna, her eye seems to be infected, it is leaking what really looks like blood, there is a small cut on the inner corner of her and maybe that could be the cause of the bleeding? I lifted her upper eyelid and it is extremely red, no white at all. It's the same color as the stuff that's coming out of her eye. Her other eye is fine. I'm wondering what I should do about this? I was told to check for debris in her eye and rinse her eye out with warm distilled water. Could artificial tears be used as well? That's something I read thta could be used to treat an eye infection for rats. I know I need to take her to the vet, but I really need some advice in the meantime, please help me!!

Answer
The red you are seeing may not be blood but porphyrin, which discharges from rat's noses, eyes or ears when under stress, which is a good possibility if her eye is infected.  Forget the articial tears, there is no medicine in them and can't help an infection.  

You need to get her in to see a good exotic vet that has experience with rats as soon as possible so they can confirm whether it is infected and get her on an antibiotic fast!  I hope she is ok.  Please let me know if I can help you with anything else.  Good luck!