Itchy eyes: causes and treatment

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor II Nguyen Thai Hung - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Danang International Hospital. Specialist II Nguyen Thai Hung has 13 years of experience as a doctor treating eye diseases.
Itchy eyes, also known as itchy eyes, often occur for many reasons but the most common are allergies and infections. Depending on the cause, the treatment for itchy eyes can vary.

1. Itchy eyes with seasonal allergies

If your itchy eyes occur regularly at the same time every year, this indicates that you have a high chance of having seasonal allergies. One way to easily recognize this phenomenon is that you will have some other allergic reaction, for example sneezing, stuffy nose...
Usually, allergy symptoms are triggered by Histamine - a compounds produced by cells to fight allergens. At the same time, Histamine also causes inflammatory reactions and allergic eye irritation.
To limit or reduce the level of allergies, you need to:
Pay attention to the weather forecast and should stay indoors when the weather changes that cause a negative reaction to the body (it's too cold, too much weather). rain...) Regularly shower, wash clothes... You can use some over-the-counter antihistamines to ease symptoms.

2. Eye infections

Itchy eyes can also come from the cause of the eye being infected by agents such as bacteria, viruses, fungi...
One of the common eye infections that cause itchy eyes is conjunctivitis. When this disease is encountered, the patient's eyes will turn pink, the eyes are itchy and dry intensely, giving the patient a feeling of discomfort and fatigue.
Usually, conjunctivitis will be treated with antibiotics, along with anti-inflammatory steroids when needed.
In case of severe inflammation, some immunosuppressive drugs will be used.

3. Dry eyes

Tears are a mixture of water, oil, and mucus that keep the eyes moist. However, for a variety of reasons, your eyes can stop producing tears, causing them to dry out and lead to itchy eyes.
Dry eye condition is common in the elderly group. At this time, the production of tears tends to wane. Similarly, some other diseases such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis... also cause a shortage of tears.
Dry eyes also have a high frequency in the group of people using the following drugs:
Antidepressants . Birth control pills. Blood pressure medication. Decongestants... For other cases, dry eyes will occur if you work too much or are in an environment with low humidity, a lot of wind... In addition, if the tear ducts are blocked, the eyes also dry and itchy.
Dry eye can be corrected with some suitable eye drops, especially over-the-counter artificial tears. You need to perform eye drops exactly as directed by your doctor.

4. Inflammation of the eyelids

Sometimes, itchy and red eyes can also be caused by inflammation of the eyelids (also known as blepharitis). This condition occurs when the small oil glands at the base of the eyelashes become blocked. Besides itchy eyes, red eyes..., eyelid inflammation can also cause some other symptoms such as swelling, pain, watery eyes...
Inflammation of eyelids does not cause vision loss, but it can become a chronic problem that can lead to conjunctivitis and a number of other complications.
In mild cases, eyelid inflammation can be corrected by keeping the eyelids clean. In severe cases, you need to see a doctor for a specific examination. At this time, some antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs will be applied.

5. Use contact lenses

Some patients experience itchy eyes from wearing contact lenses for too long in their eyes or not cleaning and changing lenses regularly. This irritates the eyes, leading to an allergic eye reaction and redness.
So, if you use contact lenses, take steps to take care of your lenses carefully, change your lenses regularly... to avoid this situation.
For healthy eyes, doctors recommend that:
Avoid rubbing your eyes: When your eyes are sore or itchy, try to refrain from rubbing your eyes. This increases the likelihood and severity of infection. In addition, if there is no eye disease, the act of rubbing the eyes is also not recommended. Eat healthy, get enough vitamin A and Omega 3 fatty acids. Use protective eyewear when exposed to sand, dust or allergens... In general, itchy eyes are a problem. One of the most common occurrences in life. Sometimes, this symptom occurs due to foreign objects entering the eye such as sand, dust... but it can also be a sign of some eye diseases. So, if eye pain persists, see a doctor for the most accurate assessment.
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