It’s not for nothing that they say: “Aware is forearmed.” Often, most of us, having discovered the first malfunctions in the body’s functioning, panic and turn to medical encyclopedias, after which we begin to “suffer” from an unusually terrible, rare disease. But in reality everything turns out to be much simpler and more prosaic. Therefore, the best thing to do, when something bothers you, is to immediately visit a doctor, if possible maintaining the adequacy of actions before visiting a specialist.
So, let's take a look at the well-known symptom of eye discomfort. Let's figure out why they sting, sometimes to the point of watery eyes, what this is connected with and how to deal with it. So what to do if your eyes sting? Let's understand the reasons.
Detergents and cosmetics
These are probably the main and most common causes of pinching eyes. In other words, when using certain detergents or cosmetics, sometimes irritation of the mucous membranes occurs, which leads to such discomfort. This is a natural reaction of the body, which in any way wants to get rid of the irritant. In this case, it is enough to rinse your eyes well with plenty of warm running water and blot them with a clean napkin, and the unpleasant sensation will go away.
Sometimes when the eyes tingle, they may become red and remain for some time. In this case, you should use special eye drops that relieve irritation, which are a good idea to have in your first aid kit. They are instilled immediately after washing the eyes according to the instructions, which very quickly relieves the burning sensation and eliminates lacrimation. Usually one day is enough for the eyes to completely return to normal. But if the cause of eye irritation is an allergy, everything turns out to be somewhat more complicated. In the meantime, a few words about decorative cosmetics.
It is very important for every woman to have a beautiful appearance, because this is 99% of the success of any endeavor. Therefore, women will use it everywhere and always. However, the wrong selection of makeup products, especially those applied dangerously close to the eyes, can lead to severe irritation and allergic reactions.
As a result, the eyes sting, they become hyperemic and watery. At the same time, all the beautiful appearance goes down the drain. Therefore, it is very important to carefully select eye cosmetics and use a bio-series that includes natural ingredients, or special makeup options for sensitive skin. Eye mascara deserves special attention. It should be noted that most women in cosmetics stores like to use testers - trial samples of mascara. But this is a very high risk of tick infestation. Such an infection causes itching, burning and pain in the eyelash area. So, no one has canceled the hygiene rules yet.
Allergic reaction
Exposure to allergens on the mucous membrane can also cause the eyes to sting. Allergies often cause conjunctivitis. At the same time, it is quite easy to distinguish irritation from allergies. When an allergy occurs, the eyes will sting until the irritant is completely eliminated. Allergic conjunctivitis is usually accompanied by watery, swollen, and red eyes. To treat an allergic reaction, an integrated approach is used. The most effective are drops that relieve irritation of the mucous membrane, as well as antihistamines that suppress the allergic reaction. In addition, to eliminate the symptoms of irritation, it is necessary to pay attention to a properly balanced diet.
Summarize. There are three reasons why your eyes may sting and water profusely. This is an external irritant, the spread of infection and an allergic reaction. Temporary irritation is the mildest case. To get rid of irritation, just rinse your eyes with water. If the cause of irritation is an allergy, it is enough to eliminate the allergic component. If the discomfort is due to an eye infection and your eyes have been stinging for several days, you should definitely consult an ophthalmologist.
The Vision Restoration Center employs doctors with more than 10 years of experience. Our clinic has an excellent reputation - thousands of patients undergo treatment with us every year. The medical center is equipped with modern diagnostic equipment. Another advantage of contacting us is an individual approach to treatment. We conduct a thorough examination, establish an accurate diagnosis and prescribe individual therapy.
Are your eyes stinging? Tired of unpleasant sensations? Don’t delay solving this problem - make an appointment with an ophthalmologist right now!
Eye diseases
This is the second, and in terms of frequency of cases, perhaps the first cause of redness, profuse lacrimation and cutting pain in the eyes. If you wake up in the morning and feel a tingling sensation in your eye, and in the mirror you see that it is seriously red and swollen, then it’s time to go to the ophthalmologist, because this may be one of the first signs of conjunctivitis - inflammation of the retina, which is caused by infection. True, there are a number of other diseases that manifest themselves with similar symptoms (tingling and redness of the eyes).
In the case of an infectious eye infection (for example, the eyelids sting due to blepharitis and barley, which are also infectious diseases), the necessary treatment is prescribed by a doctor. However, do not forget a few basic truths. For a viral infection, for example, herpes, influenza, it is necessary to take antiviral drugs. The most effective among them is interferon, which is produced in various pharmacological forms. In general, interferon is a substance produced by the human body, which is synthesized on the 7th day from the onset of the disease, precisely to repel various types of viruses by the immune system. However, for example, this same herpes is very latent to the interferon produced and is therefore dangerous. In other words, the body initially does not recognize herpes as a virus, which requires urgent production of interferon to combat. That is why you need to start treatment immediately.
In the case of a bacterial infection, which is most often caused by staphylococci and streptococci, it is worth acting comprehensively, including antibiotics in therapy. The human body is not capable of producing substances that can kill a particular infection completely, so the use of antibacterial agents is mandatory. But our body can keep invading infections under control for quite a long time due to its own immunity, for which it is necessary to strengthen the immune system. In this regard, vitamin C, retinol, and B vitamins are becoming universal remedies.
How to quickly eliminate the burning sensation in the eyes?
To eliminate the burning, lacrimation and discomfort associated with dry eye syndrome, you can use the unique Delfanto® product. These capsules appeared on the Russian market back in 2019. Their main component is MaquiBright® extract, which contains at least 35% anthocyanins - antioxidants that are beneficial for the organ of vision. They neutralize the effects of free radicals, restore cells and normalize the functioning of the lacrimal glands, thus eliminating the causes of discomfort.
You need to take one or two capsules a day, and after about a month, unpleasant symptoms such as dryness, irritation, and burning will disappear. This drug has undergone clinical trials, so it is recommended as a prophylaxis for dry eye syndrome when wearing lenses. Capsules can also be taken by those people whose work involves increased eye strain.
Allergy
An allergic reaction is also a fairly common cause, which is manifested by the symptom of stinging eyes. Moreover, due to allergies, the same conjunctivitis often occurs. At the same time, it is not at all difficult to distinguish temporary eye irritation from permanent allergies. If the eyes sting when any irritant appears and tears flow from certain substances nearby, then these symptoms will not disappear until their cause - the allergen - is eliminated.
Allergy treatment should also be comprehensive. Here it is necessary to use eye drops to eliminate irritation of the mucous membrane and additionally take antihistamines that suppress the reaction to the allergen. It is also very important to watch your diet.
Can there be a sharp burning sensation in the eyes, profuse lacrimation when working at the computer?
Unpleasant sensations in the eyes often occur in people who are forced to work at a computer for a long time. This is to blame not only for the harmful radiation from the monitor, but also for the high load on the organ of vision, as well as a reduction in the frequency of blinking.
Normally, a person blinks from 10 to 20 or more times per minute. When working with digital information (at a computer, tablet, phone), the blinking frequency is reduced several times. Because of this, the precorneal film, which nourishes, moisturizes and protects the eyes from external influences, loses stability.
When the eyes no longer receive enough moisture, an unpleasant burning sensation in the eyes and watery eyes appears. Wearing contact optics can aggravate the situation. More tears are spent flowing around the contour and moistening the surface of the lens. If few of them are produced, a lot of unpleasant sensations appear. Increased tear production, which manifests itself as profuse lacrimation, does not help the situation.
If heating equipment or air conditioning is running in the room where a person is located, the burning sensation and dryness may also increase. Climate control dries the air, and dry air, in turn, promotes faster “weathering” of tears.
Summing up
You need to remember that there are only three reasons for eye irritation and watery eyes: a temporary irritant, an allergic reaction and an infection. In case of short-term irritation, everything is simple: you need to rinse your eyes and drip soothing drops. With allergies, in general, it’s also not very difficult, because an adult, as a rule, already knows whether he is prone to allergies or not. But in the case of eye infections, everything is quite serious. Therefore, if the symptoms of eye stinging, irritation and watery eyes do not go away within 24 hours, a trip to the ophthalmologist is mandatory.
Burning in the eye and lacrimation: what is it and how to treat it?
If your eyes are burning, you need to contact a specialist for help. After an external examination, he can conduct a biomicroscopy and determine how thick and hyperemic the edges of the eyelids are, tests for tear production and dysfunction of the meibomian glands in order to diagnose dry eye syndrome, and measure intraocular pressure. Based on the results obtained, a diagnosis is made, and in addition to dry eye syndrome, disorders can be caused by barley, conjunctivitis, allergies, and glaucoma.
As for treatment, it is selected individually and depends on the complexity of the problem and diagnosis. Non-drug treatment includes warm compresses and self-massage of the eyelids to cleanse the surface of the eyelids, to relieve the inflammatory process and toxic-allergic reaction.
The prescription of drug therapy by a specialist depends on the clinical manifestations and extent of the pathological process:
- eye drops for burning and lacrimation and various medications for oral administration (for allergies, dry eye syndrome, fatigue, infections);
- antimicrobials, antihistamines, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics.
It is recommended to avoid contact with various substances on the mucous membrane, rubbing the face with dirty hands, stress, overwork, and violations of personal hygiene rules. In no case should you postpone visiting a specialist if a burning sensation in the eye is accompanied by other symptoms, namely increased sensitivity to light, discharge, decreased visual acuity, double vision, pain. Any abnormal manifestations that do not go away for several days indicate serious illness. And early diagnosis simplifies treatment.
Dry and red eyes
The cause of this condition can be the entry of a foreign body into the eye - it immediately becomes red, tears flow from it, but at the same time the mucous membrane is dry, and “scratching” of the eyeball is felt. In this case, you can help with a handkerchief or a cotton swab - you need to carefully try to remove the foreign body from the eye. But if you cannot quickly remove the foreign body from the eye, you need to consult an ophthalmologist.
Dry eyes can be associated with excessive strain, a condition often diagnosed in people whose work involves computers. In this case, the person will complain of a slight burning sensation and pressure in the eyes, itching will appear, and after rubbing with the hands, redness will appear. There are eye drops for dryness and fatigue - they are sold in pharmacies and are recommended for use by people whose work activities involve eyestrain.
If your eyes are tired, accompanied by dryness and redness, you can also use folk remedies - apply ice cubes to your eyes for 5-10 minutes, make a tea compress for 7 minutes, rinse your eyes with rose water.
Non-pathogenic causes
These are reasons that are caused by third-party factors, for example, environmental features or incorrect actions of the patient.
Swimming in reservoirs
This is a common cause of infection by viruses, bacteria and mites. Their activity causes itching in the corners of the eyes, under or on the eyelids. Most often, diseases develop in the summer months, when microscopic algae begin to actively multiply in the water. If they come into contact with the eyes, they cause a number of unpleasant symptoms.
The reaction can also begin when swimming in a pool. Chlorinated water negatively affects the condition of the mucous membranes, causing itching.
Ultraviolet burns
Strong ultraviolet radiation can provoke pain and itching. You can encounter it when visiting a solarium without protective glasses, when watching the sun. A retinal burn can be caused by an electric welding process that uses a powerful light beam.
Blocked tear duct
Burning and itching in the eyes often occurs when the tear ducts are blocked by burning particles or fine dust.
There is an easy way to deal with blockage: just pinch the dots at the inner corners of your eyes for a few seconds. Usually after this, tears begin to flow, clearing the tear ducts. If this does not happen, you should consult a doctor.
Which doctor treats itching?
Pathology is the responsibility of an ophthalmologist (ophthalmologist). He conducts an initial examination and makes a preliminary diagnosis. The patient may need help from doctors of other specialties, such as an allergist, endocrinologist, gastroenterologist and others. In this case, treatment will be prescribed not only to get rid of the symptoms, but also to eliminate the underlying disease.
Prevention and treatment of computer vision syndrome
Disorders with CVS are reversible, but it is important to seek the help of a specialist in time. The fight against computer vision syndrome includes not only hardware and drug treatment, but also the elimination of the factors that caused the disorder.
If you cannot reduce the time you work at the computer, take breaks as often as possible. Ophthalmologists recommend stopping every 20 minutes, moving your gaze to a distant point and examining it for 20 seconds. Also try to blink more often.
In addition, you need to take longer breaks (about 5 minutes) at least once an hour. During these breaks, it is important to give your eyes proper rest. That is, do not close your work file and switch to solitaire, reading the news or viewing your Instagram feed, but walk, look out the window or sit with your eyes closed.
Take a break from the computer and phone as often as possible
You can do a little gymnastics, for example, draw the number 8 with your eyeballs, follow the contours of objects located at different distances with your eyes, and blink for one to two minutes. But performing any exercises requires prior consultation with a specialist.
It is important to organize your workplace correctly. First of all, ensure uniform and sufficient lighting. If the main light is not enough for you, use additional lamps, but the light from them should not be directed into the eyes or the monitor.
The distance from the face to the monitor should be at least 50 cm (depending on the diagonal of the monitor). It is important to ensure that your head and neck maintain a natural position while working. Therefore, it is better to choose a chair with a comfortable back and headrest. Change your position periodically, do not allow your limbs to become numb.
If you have any complaints, be sure to visit an ophthalmologist! The doctor will select moisturizing drops for you to use throughout the day. The specialist may also prescribe additional treatment, for example, an orthoptics
(hardware eye treatment), which has proven itself in the fight against computer vision syndrome.
For preventive purposes, you may also be prescribed glasses with a special protective filter that filters out harmful blue light. In this case, glasses can be either corrective or without diopters, depending on the state of your vision. They will help reduce eye strain and protect vision from the negative effects of a computer or mobile gadget.
What systemic diseases cause itchy eyes?
In some diseases of a systemic nature, itching and burning may also appear in the eyes. Most often, this sign is also accompanied by redness of the scleral membrane. Itchy eyes occur in the following pathologies and conditions:
- diabetes;
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- hormonal imbalances;
- hypertension.
When the eyes itch due to ophthalmological ailments, lacrimation, diplopia, decreased quality of vision and many other signs are observed. In case of systemic diseases, the patient is concerned about symptoms such as:
- high blood pressure;
- constant thirst and swelling due to drinking too much;
- vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain;
- low-grade body temperature;
- frequent headaches, dizziness;
- a sharp decrease in body weight or weight gain without any objective prerequisites;
- rash;
- runny nose and others.
In these cases, treatment will also be aimed at the underlying pathology. The accompanying symptoms will disappear automatically after treatment.
Diagnostics
During the consultation, the doctor examines the patient’s complaints and collects his medical history and conducts a physical examination. He selects diagnostic methods to determine why the eyelids and area around the eyes itch. These include:
- Clinical blood test
- Allergy tests
- Microscopic analysis of eyelashes
- Bacteriological analysis of eyelid scrapings
If the cause of itching lies in a systemic disease, the doctor may prescribe additional diagnostic procedures. They will help you find out why your eyes itch and how to eliminate the risk of recurrence of symptoms.
What drops are used to treat eyes with glaucoma?
For glaucomatous processes in the eyes, several groups of drugs are prescribed, each of which is aimed at different symptoms of the disease. Commonly used medications include the following solutions:
- "Timolol", "Ocumed", "Arutimol". They improve the outflow of aqueous humor.
- “Brinzolamide”, “Trusopt”, “Azopt”, which quickly lower blood pressure by about 20%.
- “Brimonidine”, “Clonidine”, which help reduce the production of intraocular fluid, thereby reducing its pressure on the walls of the chambers of the eye.
- “Xalacom”, “Azarga”, “Fotil” are combination drugs used for severe forms of glaucoma. Drops eliminate almost all symptoms of pathology.
The initial stages of this disease are treated conservatively. Complex forms require surgery, otherwise vision will be lost forever.
Computer vision syndrome in children
Children's eyes are just developing, so any problem can have more serious consequences for vision than in an adult. Moreover, children, due to their studies, are subject to increased visual load.
It is important to recognize the disorder in time and begin to treat it! But the situation is complicated by the fact that children are not always able to recognize their own vision problems. You may suspect CVD in a child based on the following signs:
- Constant redness of the eyes;
- The child complains of pain in the eyes, a feeling as if something was in the eye;
- The child often rubs his eyes;
- Increased tearing and sensitivity to light may occur;
- The child quickly gets tired during visual stress and cannot see objects in the distance.
It is necessary to limit the time a child spends on a computer, tablet or phone. It is better to find safer recreation for children, and also to walk more outside. To maintain healthy vision, it is also important to visit an ophthalmologist annually, even if you have no complaints!
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