Itchy eyes are a common complaint, but they can be very uncomfortable, especially when they aren’t occasional episodes.
In addition, this itching and burning sensation in the eyes is often accompanied by other symptoms.
Knowing the most common causes is key to preventing itching and starting appropriate treatment when it occurs.
Causes of itchy eyes
The eyes are one of the most delicate organs in the body and are highly exposed to external aggressions. This is why they can easily become irritated, leading to what is medically known as ocular pruritus.
Itchy eyes can have a variety of causes, and several can even occur simultaneously. However, the most common causes are allergies, dry eye syndrome, eye infections, and eye strain.
- Eye allergies
Eye allergies are the main cause of itchy eyes.
These occur when the eye comes into contact with an allergen and, consequently, there is a release of histamine.
Eye irritation from allergies can be caused by substances suspended in the air and surrounding environment, including pollen, dust, mold, and pet hair.
However, they can also be caused by contact with facial care products or makeup, such as eye shadow, mascara, eyeliner, or eye makeup remover.
Itchy eyes due to allergies are often accompanied by other symptoms such as watery and watery eyes, redness, and swollen eyelids. Frequent sneezing and a runny and stuffy nose may also occur.
Another symptom of an allergic reaction may be the presence of dermatitis on the eyelids.
- Dry eye
Dry eye syndrome is characterized by excessive dryness of the eyes due to a lack of natural tears.
Itching and burning in the eyes are among the main symptoms, as is the sensation of a foreign body or ‘grit’.
There may also be redness of the eyes, blurred vision, pain, and eye fatigue.
The most common causes of dry eyes are prolonged screen use, stress, hormonal changes, and the use of certain medications.
For example, isotretinoin is widely used to treat both juvenile acne and hormonal acne in adult women.
It is also common to have dry eyes due to contact lenses.
- Eye infections
Itchy, watery eyes are one of the main symptoms of eye infection, along with redness.
Discharge and discharge, eye pain, a gritty feeling in the eye, and sensitivity to light are also common. Blurred vision and eyelid swelling may also occur.
There are different types of eye infections depending on their cause and the area of the eye they affect.
In this sense, they can be caused by microorganisms such as viruses, fungi, bacteria, and parasites.
Although all parts of the eye can be affected, the conjunctiva is the most commonly affected. Infections usually occur in the membrane that covers the inner surface of the eyelid and the white part of the eyeball.
Allergies, dry eyes, eye infections, and eye strain are the main causes of itchy eyes.
- Eye fatigue
Eye strain can also cause itchy eyes, watery eyes, red eyes, and blurred vision. Another common symptom is headaches.
This eye strain is primarily caused by excessive use of digital devices: cell phones, computers, televisions, and others. In fact, it’s one of the main consequences of screen use on eye health .
However, itchy eyes can also occur due to fatigue and lack of rest, reading without taking breaks, and driving for long periods.
Professional activities that require high visual attention (e.g. surgeons, proofreaders, etc.) are another cause of eye fatigue.
Inadequate or very bright lighting can also cause eye strain, as can uncorrected vision.
- Blepharitis
Blepharitis is a condition that affects the eyelids, specifically the area where the eyelashes grow (the eyelid margin).
Among its symptoms, itchy eyes are one of the most common. However, it is primarily characterized by inflammation and redness of the eyelid and the presence of scaling and crusting on the eyelid margin.
Other symptoms that may occur include light sensitivity, foreign body sensation, blurred vision, and watery and thick tears.
The most common causes of blepharitis are bacterial infections and sebum buildup. However, it can also be caused by eye allergies, seborrheic dermatitis, rosacea, and excessive makeup, among others.
- Ocular rosacea
An itchy feeling in the eyes can be a symptom of a type of rosacea that primarily affects the eyes.
Especially if it is accompanied by blepharitis, conjunctivitis, dry eyes, blurred vision, conjunctival telangiectasias (small veins in the eyes), and/or the presence of ulcers.
The causes of rosacea are unclear, but it is known that there is an individual predisposition and that environmental factors can trigger it.
These include certain foods and drinks, extreme temperatures, sun exposure, wind, the use of certain cosmetic products, and stress.
How to relieve itchy eyes
Treatment for itchy eyes will depend on the cause. That’s why it’s so important to see an ophthalmologist for a correct diagnosis.
This is especially important in the case of eye infections, where antibiotics may be necessary to cure them and prevent complications.
Determining the cause of itchy eyes is also essential to prevent exposure to allergens and external agents that may be causing the itching.
At the same time, there are a number of measures that can be taken at home to relieve itchy eyes when they occur.
- Do not rub your eyes
When a person’s eyes are itchy, the urge to rub them can be difficult to control. Although this habit may provide temporary relief, it can have harmful consequences.
First, it can further irritate your eyes, causing more itching and a greater desire to rub them.
In addition, small scratches can occur on the cornea. This damage can become more severe and irreversible over time.
Rubbing your eyes can also break the blood vessels in the conjunctiva, resulting in the appearance of small red veins or bleeding in the eye. It can also cause eyelash loss.
Another thing to keep in mind is that rubbing your eyes with dirty hands can transfer germs, allergens, or irritating particles.
- Apply cold
Cold compresses are a home remedy for itchy eyes that can be effective.
To do this, moisten a clean towel with cold water, squeeze out the excess water, and place it over your closed eyes for a few minutes.
This gesture helps reduce inflammation, redness, and itching of the eyes.
- Use artificial tears
Frequent use of artificial tears helps prevent and treat dry eye itching. One of the main ingredients in these products is sodium hyaluronate, which provides immediate relief and long-lasting hydration.
Red-eye drops should be avoided or limited, as the redness returns when their effect wears off. Furthermore, the redness may even be worse than before and, over time, lead to persistent red eyes.
The best drops for itchy eyes are, therefore, artificial tears, while drops for red eyes should only be used on rare occasions.
Artificial tears also provide relief from eye allergies or eye strain.
- Have good eye hygiene
Removing eye makeup thoroughly is essential because makeup residue can end up irritating the eyes or the surrounding skin. It can also clog the sebaceous glands, causing blepharitis.
This is why eyelid hygiene is so important, especially if you have eye conditions.
- Use makeup for sensitive eyes
It’s very important to use high-tolerance eye makeup to prevent eye allergies. Also, because small particles of makeup (eyeliner, eyeshadow, mascara, etc.) can easily get into the eye and irritate it.
Eye makeup should never be shared or used beyond the period indicated on the packaging once opened.
This is because, over time, they can accumulate bacteria.
For the same reason, it is essential to wash your makeup brushes and utensils frequently.
- Wear sunglasses
Wearing sunglasses outdoors protects your eyes from exposure to the sun, wind, dust, allergens, and other irritants.
- Limit screen use
There’s still much to learn about the impact electronic devices have on the eyes. For example, how blue light from screens affects eye health .
However, prolonged use is known to cause eye fatigue, mainly due to a lack of blinking.
In this sense, it is essential to reduce screen use (as much as possible), work in a well-lit environment, rest your eyes, and wear appropriate eye correction.
- Keep the house clean
Keep your home as free of dust as possible, as well as other allergens such as mold. You should also try to keep humidity levels low.
- Follow a diet that promotes eye health
Certain nutrients are known to play a key role in maintaining vision. These include omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, carotenoids, vitamin C, vitamin E, B vitamins, and anthocyanosides.
Increasing your intake of these nutrients through diet and supplementation can be very helpful, especially in cases of eye strain or fatigue from intensive screen use.