How to stop my eye from itching: Itchy eyes – causes, treatment and self-help

15.06.202214.07.2023 by alexxlab

Why Are My Eyes Itchy? Answers From an Expert

Why Are My Eyes Itchy? Answers From an Expert | Johns Hopkins Medicine

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For many people, the warmth and beauty of spring are accompanied by irritated, burning and, sometimes, swollen eyes and eyelids. These symptoms, often attributed to allergy season, can be caused by other factors in the environment.

If you are one of the many who suffer from itchy eyes, understanding the cause is the key to treatment and relief.

Ophthalmologist Irene Kuo, M.D., of the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medicine, explains the cause and the methods to keep in mind to help relieve your itchy eyes.

Eye allergies, whether seasonal or year-round, are often the cause of itchy eyes. These allergies can be triggered by pollen or pet dander. Irritants like dust and smoke, or products such as lotions, makeup or contact lens solutions can also cause symptoms similar to those of eye allergies. An allergist can conduct an allergy test to determine the specific allergens that are causing you discomfort.

Learn about treatment for seasonal allergies.

Don’t Rub Your Eyes!

The most obvious measure to take may be the most difficult: Avoid rubbing your eyes. If you rub your already-irritated eyes, you can add more allergens such as pollens and pet dander. Constant rubbing of the eyes can even cause a break in the top corneal layer (epithelium), causing pain and potentially leading to infection.

Itchy-Eye Relief

Once allergies are determined to be the cause of your itchy eyes, you and your doctor will work together to find a treatment plan that works best for you. The plan may include:

Avoidance and Removal. Protective measures during high-pollen season could go a long way to providing relief from itchy eyes.

Close windows in your car or at home, and wear wrap-around sunglasses outdoors to avoid contact with pollen.
Use a dehumidifier to control potential mold in your home.
Shower each night to remove accumulated pollens on skin, eyelids, hair and your face. Be sure to wash your hands after petting animals.
Change bedding more frequently.

Cold Compress. If you are dealing with a mild case of allergy-related itching, a cold cloth or compress over the eyes can help temporarily ease the discomfort.
Artificial Tears. Frequent use of chilled over-the-counter, lubricating eye drops can relieve symptoms.
Anti-allergy Eyedrops or Oral Medications. For many people, allergy relief eyedrops, or oral medications that contain antihistamines or mast cell stabilizers, can ease symptoms. These can be obtained over-the-counter or your doctor can prescribe them.
Allergy Immunotherapy. A treatment called sublingual immunotherapy involves daily administration of allergy drops at home. You are treated with the allergens you are sensitized to, and over time, become more tolerant of those allergens.

If these treatments do not help, a visit to your eye doctor can help determine if something else is the cause of your allergies. Conditions such as blepharitis — an inflammation of the eyelid — or dry eye syndrome can also cause eye irritation. They require a treatment plan specific to those conditions.

Contact Lens Hygiene

If you wear contact lenses, it’s important to change them as often as prescribed. Allergens as well as bacterial products can stick to soft contact lenses.

Keep your eyes lubricated often with artificial tears.
Make sure to rub your contact lenses during cleaning every night. Wash the case and change the solution inside every day. Do not “top off” with solution. Start with a clean case and clean solution every time you remove your contact lenses.
Consult with your eye doctor to consider a new replacement schedule for your contact lenses if the irritation does not lessen. Daily disposable contact lenses may also be an option.

Remember that in addition to any treatment you receive, the best way you can help prevent worsening a case of itchy eyes is to avoid touching or rubbing them.

Treatment

Wilmer Eye Institute Cornea Division

Johns Hopkins experts in cornea and external eye disease can help diagnose and treat conditions including blepharitis, dry eye syndrome and more.

Learn more about Wilmer’s cornea services

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Medically reviewed by Ann Marie Griff, O. D. — By Adrian White — Updated on July 3, 2019

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Eye drops

Over-the-counter eye drops for itch relief are always helpful.

Some are designed for allergies and redness, while others work like artificial tears for dryness. The best types are preservative free. Some help all these conditions in addition to itching.

Buy eye drops now.

Cold compress

You can also try a cold compress.

A cold-water compress can relive the itch and have a soothing effect on your eyes. Simply take a clean cloth, soak it in cold water, and apply to closed itchy eyes, repeating as often as needed.

Most cases of itchy eyes don’t last very long, and they might even go away on their own.

To be safe, see a doctor if:

you feel there is something lodged in your eye
an eye infection develops
your vision starts to get worse
your itchy eyes turn into moderate to severe eye pain

If you experience any of the above, discontinue home treatments immediately and visit your doctor.

Last medically reviewed on April 17, 2018

How we reviewed this article:

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

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Medically reviewed by Ann Marie Griff, O.D. — By Adrian White — Updated on July 3, 2019

Suppuration of the eyes in an adult | Why eyes fester and how to treat it

The appearance of purulent discharge in the eye area is a common symptom. The cause is various diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms. If the eyes of an adult fester, treatment should be under the supervision of a doctor. Independent measures can lead to the expansion of the focus of inflammation.

Why eyes fester in an adult treatment

Suppuration in the eye area is associated with a number of ophthalmic diseases caused by infection on the mucous membrane. Common pathologies include:

Conjunctivitis. The most common ailment caused by inflammation of the mucosa and accompanied by pain and itching. In the morning, eyelashes are covered with purulent secretions and stick together. The cause of the disease is viral, bacterial or fungal infections.
Keratitis. The pathology is also characterized by inflammation of the cornea. There is tearing, pain in the eye, vision deteriorates. The disease can also develop as a result of injury or burns.
Halazion. A common disease, manifested by the formation of a small benign tumor on the eyelid. It develops due to blockage of the meibomian glands and infection.
Trachoma. Pathology is caused by chlamydia. When the infection penetrates into deep tissues, suppuration begins. Scars appear on the eye, which are then eliminated by surgery.
Dacryocystitis. This inflammation of the lacrimal sac, the release of purulent contents into the conjunctival cavity causes purulent conjunctivitis. Allergic reaction. If an allergen gets on the mucous membrane, conjunctivitis with discharge also develops. Possible secondary infection.

Along with suppuration, redness, itching, burning, and lacrimation may appear. Diagnosis of diseases is often not difficult. If necessary, resort to hardware techniques.

Treatment of eye infections

Treatment of these diseases is possible at home, but before that you need to visit an ophthalmologist. It is important to correctly diagnose the pathology and determine the treatment plan.

The patient is advised to follow general recommendations: to prevent dust and dirt from getting into the eyes, to regularly carry out hygiene procedures. The organs of vision are washed several times a day with a solution of boric acid or furacilin.

For the period of treatment, they refuse contact lenses, do not use cosmetics, and refuse visual load. Patients use only personal hygiene products.

For the treatment of the disease appoint:

Eye drops. Depending on the nature of the infection, they are antiviral or antibacterial. The frequency of procedures is determined by the ophthalmologist.
Antibacterial ointments. Means are used for laying or lubricating their eyelids. The break between procedures is from 15 minutes.
Antihistamines. Effective only in case of allergies.
Warming up. This procedure is indicated only at the initial stage of the chalazion. If you heat a ripe abscess, the disease may worsen. An alternative to warming up are physiotherapy, but they are prescribed by an ophthalmologist.
Massages. With purulent inflammations, they can be dangerous, since frequent touching of the eyes leads to the spread of infection. If this procedure is recommended by a doctor, it is carried out within the framework of a medical institution.
Surgical treatment. This is an extreme measure, which is resorted to if a tumor or abscess leads to visual impairment, and traditional methods of therapy are ineffective.

The choice of treatment method should be carried out only by a doctor.

Prophylaxis

To prevent the development of the disease, it is necessary to observe preventive measures. You can not use someone else’s cosmetics and hygiene items. After the walk, you need to wash your face and hands.

A good prevention of suppuration of the eyes is the intake of vitamin complexes and the timely treatment of SARS. You also need to visit an ophthalmologist 1-2 times a year for a preventive examination.

You can make an appointment with a doctor at the Santa clinic in Chelyabinsk. Just call and choose a convenient time to visit.

Lachrymation of the eyes: treatment, diagnosis, prevention

Tearing is a natural process. The fluid secreted by the lacrimal glands moisturizes the surface of the eye and protects the mucous membrane from dust and other particles. Excessive lacrimation occurs during inflammatory processes. It signals the development of ophthalmopathology. Treatment of tearing eyes should be under the supervision of a doctor, because if the approach is not correct, the infection can lead to suppuration and visual impairment.

Causes of tearing

The causes of lacrimation can be divided into 2 groups: physiological and pathological. The first are temporary and do not pose a danger to the organs of vision. These include weather conditions, stress, fatigue, colds, beriberi. Incorrectly selected lenses or glasses, eye strain can also cause tearing.

Pathological processes that cause tearing include:

Conjunctivitis. An inflammatory disease is accompanied not only by tearing, but by redness of the eyes, a burning sensation and itching.
Glaucoma. Lacrimation is noted along with increased intraocular pressure in this pathology.
Dry eye syndrome. It develops under the influence of high temperatures, overvoltage when working at a computer or reading. It does not pose a particular danger, but it can become a starting point for the development of ophthalmic pathologies.
Dacryocystitis. An infectious disease characterized by lacrimation and purulent discharge. Often diagnosed in newborns.
Allergy. When the allergen affects the nasal mucosa, excess fluid is excreted along with tears. An allergic reaction, along with tearing, is accompanied by sneezing, coughing, itching.

Pathological causes of lacrimation also include a violation or damage to the lacrimal ducts, an abnormal anatomical structure of the nose or eyes.

Classification

In the classification of lacrimation, 2 varieties are distinguished: retention and hypersecretory. The first type of lacrimation develops as a result of a violation of the evacuation of the lacrimal fluid. Excretory tracts can be too narrow or clogged, which is a common consequence of stress or allergies.

Hypersecretory lacrimation is characterized by copious secretions. They occur as a result of the inflammatory process of the conjunctiva, trauma or chemical burns.

Symptoms and diagnosis

The main symptom is profuse uncontrolled lacrimation for no apparent reason. It can go on for several days without stopping. If you have such a symptom, you should immediately contact an ophthalmologist.

To diagnose the cause of tearing, hardware and instrumental methods are used. First, the patency of the lacrimal canals is checked using a color test. A colored solution is instilled into the eyes during lacrimation, after which its passage time through the nasal cavity is noted. If there is a suspicion of its narrowing, contrast x-ray diagnostics is performed.

If glaucoma is suspected, IOP is measured. For the diagnosis of ophthalmic pathologies with tearing, an examination of the fundus, biomicroscopy, and ultrasound of the eye are used. If the cause of lacrimation is not established, a conclusion is made about eye strain or exposure to external factors.

Eye tear treatment

If the eyes are watery, drug therapy is used for treatment. With a diagnosed inflammatory process, a number of drugs are prescribed:

antibiotics;
antihistamines;
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

To eliminate tearing, apply drops that relieve itching and swelling. In inflammatory processes, physiotherapy can be prescribed, such as phototherapy, electrophoresis, magnetotherapy.

With dry eye syndrome, if a person has to work for a long time in the wind, in smoky or dusty rooms, at a computer, moisturizing drops that mimic natural tear fluid are prescribed. The preparations are as close as possible in composition to natural tears and do not cause discomfort when instilled.

Surgery is an extreme measure that is used for blockage of the tear ducts, eversion of the upper or lower eyelid.

How to stop my eye from itching: Itchy eyes – causes, treatment and self-help