Itchy Eyes

Redness, swelling, burning sensation, itching, blurred vision, dryness or discharge are some of the most common symptoms of eye infections. Exposure to allergens, over use of contact lenses, dry eye syndrome and other eye infections could be responsible for the discomfort in your eyes. If this eye condition is a recent development, you could prevent your eye condition from worsening by getting the right treatment quickly. Since eyes are very sensitive, if you keep ignoring your eye condition, it might get even more complicated, and that might create problems later. So, keep eye care as your top priority, and make all possible efforts to keep your eyes in a healthy condition.

What Causes Eyes to Itch?

Eyes are sensitive organs and it is extremely essential to treat eye problems at the earliest. One must therefore never ignore the symptoms associated with eye infections. If your eyes are red and itchy, however tempted you may be to rub your eyes, stop yourself as this will only worsen the condition and might even cause corneal abrasions.

Eye Allergies: You might not be aware of the existence of certain air-borne allergens in your surroundings. If you have symptoms like redness, swelling, sneezing, coughing and cold, you might have come in contact with an allergen. Common allergens include pollen, pet dander, dust and mold. Sometimes, you might get an allergy due to the use of certain cosmetic products or particular eye drops.

Eye Infections: Conjunctivitis is caused due to infection or inflammation. Bacterial and viral infections can cause redness and itching in the eyes. Pink eye is a very common eye infection affecting children. It is contagious and it could spread by touching the eyes or tears of a person having this infection. You must stay away from a person affected by an upper respiratory tract infections, as the infection could spread through coughing and sneezing as well. Other eye infections such as blepharitis, glaucoma and eye stye could also cause itching.

Dry Eye Syndrome: If you have been suffering from dryness in your eyes and you experience a gritty sensation accompanied by pain, burning sensation, eye fatigue or redness, you could be suffering from dry eye syndrome. Dry eyes are caused due to the improper functioning of the lacrimal glands. The quantity or the quality of tears produced by the eye gets affected and this causes the eyes to become dry, red and itchy. In some cases, dry eyes might also be connected with Sjogren Syndrome. Women are more prone to getting affected by rheumatoid arthritis which might also cause dryness in the eyes. Contact lens users need to be careful too. The connection between the misuse of contact lenses and dry eyes has been established. So, overuse and misuse of contact lenses must be completely avoided.

Treatment

If your eyes are itchy, it would be best to see an eye specialist. If any eye disorder is causing itching, ophthalmologist would prescribe eye drops or ointments to alleviate the symptoms. You could also take certain precautionary measures.

Eye Drops or Lubricants: If you have been diagnosed with dry eye syndrome, you need to ensure that you keep putting artificial tears or eye drops to lubricate your eyes. If you are suffering from severe dryness, your eyes might become photosensitive, so you need to wear sunglasses to prevent your eyes from getting dry due to exposure to sun or wind. Blink and take breaks when you are working in front of the computer. In case of severe dry eyes, you could get punctal plugs or bandage contact lens for dry eye treatment. Warm or cold compresses will also have a soothing effect on eyes.

Treatment for Eye Allergies: If you are allergic to pollen, dust or other allergens, you must ensure that you avoid coming into contact with the allergens. Over-the-counter drugs are also available for treating eye allergies. But prevention is better than cure. Antihistamines, decongestants and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are easily available and are effective for treating itchy eyes. Depending on the severity of your eye condition, steroid eye drops might be prescribed. Make sure you use only the drops prescribed by your doctor. Eyes are very sensitive and some eye drops may cause certain side effects.

Careful Use of Contact Lenses and Cosmetics: If you are a contact lens wearer, you must understand that the misuse of lenses might cause dry eyes. So, make sure to use the contact lenses with a high water content. If you apply cosmetics like liquid eye liner or mascara, make sure it is of a good quality. Clean your makeup brushes as you might not realize but bacteria might be trapped in them. Also, remove your eye makeup and use a mild soap or baby shampoo to clean your eye lashes. It would be advisable to discontinue wearing your contact lenses or makeup for some time. In case, there is a lot of discomfort or itchiness, consult a doctor soon.

If itching in the eyes is becoming a cause of worry, don't ignore it. You must consult an eye specialist soon. Your eyes open up this beautiful world to you, so don't be careless and take good care of them.