Have you ever felt discomfort, burning, or itching in your eyes? It feels like something is stuck in your eye, but you can't get it out. Sometimes your eyes become red, swollen, and watery. This is a really annoying experience. So today, let's talk about this discomfort in the eyes (Eye Irritation).
How does it feel when you feel discomfort in your eyes?
Eye discomfort is something that can be experienced in a variety of ways. It usually comes with one or more of the following symptoms:
- Blurred vision
- Feeling of dry eyes
- Itchy eyes
- Feeling pain in the eyes
- Red eyes or swollen eyelids
- Sensitivity to light
- Tears keep flowing from my eyes.
Simply put, if your eyes are not feeling normal and are experiencing some kind of annoying discomfort, that's what we call 'eye irritation'.
What are the common causes of sore and itchy eyes?
There are many things that can cause eye discomfort. Fortunately, many of these have home remedies or over-the-counter medications. Let's take a look at the main causes.
| Reason | A simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Allergies | Things like dust, pollen, and pet dander can cause itchy, red eyes. This is a very common condition. |
| Dust in the eyes | If something like a speck of dust, a grain of sand, or something else gets into your eye, it can be very uncomfortable. This can also scratch the cornea, the transparent membrane at the front of the eye. |
| Contact Lenses | Wearing contact lenses that are not properly cleaned can cause eye irritation and infection due to dirt in them. Sleeping without removing them at night can also lead to corneal ulcers. |
| Digital Eye Strain | Staring at a computer, phone, or tab for long periods of time can cause eye strain. This can also lead to headaches and neck and back pain. |
| Environmental influences | Things like cigarette smoke, vehicle exhaust, chlorinated swimming pool water, and dry weather can also cause eye discomfort. |
| Eye infections | Eyes can hurt due to bacterial, viral, or fungal infections. Conjunctivitis, which we call 'eye disease', is a common infection. |
| Eyelid boils (Styes) | Painful, pus-filled pimple-like bumps that form on or under the eyelids. These can also cause swollen eyes and discomfort. |
Can eyelash extensions hurt your eyes?
Yes. Of course you can. Any foreign object around the eye can cause discomfort to the eyes. Eyelash extensions can sometimes cause eye damage or allergies.
Do some diseases cause eye discomfort?
Yes, sometimes eye discomfort can be a symptom of another underlying medical condition. For example:
- Blepharitis: A common inflammation of the eyelids.
- Ocular rosacea : If a skin condition affects the eyelids, it can cause dry, itchy, and red eyes.
- Sjögren's syndrome: This is an autoimmune disease. In this condition, tear production decreases, causing dry, itchy, and red eyes.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis: This is also an autoimmune disease. It can cause inflammation of the white part of the eye (sclera).
- Trichiasis: Ingrown eyelashes. They rub against the eye every time the eyelid is closed, causing discomfort.
In situations like this, it is imperative to treat the underlying disease as well as the eyes.
What treatments can be done at home?
If you have mild eye discomfort, there are a few simple things you can do at home.
- Warm water eye wash: Soak a clean cloth in lukewarm water, wring it out well, and hold it over your eyes for a few minutes. This provides great relief to your eyes.
- Eye wash: Rinse eyes slowly with clean water.
- Artificial tear drops: Use artificial tear drops, which can be purchased at the pharmacy, for dry eyes.
- Allergy medication: If your eyes are itchy due to an allergy, you can talk to a doctor and get an appropriate antihistamine .
The most important thing is to avoid rubbing your eyes . Rubbing can cause further damage to your eyes.
When is it best to see a doctor?
If home remedies do not help within a day or two, or if the discomfort is severe, be sure to see a doctor. Seek medical advice immediately , especially if you have the following symptoms:
| Emergency! - See a doctor immediately | |
|---|---|
| Severe pain | If there is unbearable pain in the eyes. |
| Vision changes | If you suddenly lose your vision, have blurred vision, or have double vision. |
| Coughing or pus | If you have thick yellow or green fluid (pus) coming out of your eyes (this is a sign of infection). |
| In case of eye injury | If you get an eye injury, something gets stuck in your eye, or a chemical gets in your eye, go to the hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) immediately. |
Remember this: If a chemical gets into your eyes, immediately flush your eyes with clean water for at least 15-20 minutes and go to the hospital. If necessary, you can also call the National Poison Information Center at the Colombo National Hospital for advice.
How to keep your eyes healthy?
There are some simple habits we can follow to reduce eye discomfort.
- Wash your hands often: Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, especially before putting in and after removing contact lenses.
- Don't share makeup: Don't share your eye makeup and skincare products with others. Also, don't use expired products.
- Give your eyes a break from screen time: If you work on a computer, follow the 20-20-20 rule . That means, every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This gives your eyes a great break.
- Protect your eyes: Wear sunglasses when in the sun or in dusty environments.
- If the air at home is dry: If the air at home is dry, use a humidifier.
The eyes are one of the most sensitive and valuable organs in our body. Therefore, it is very important to take care of them, even if they are a little uncomfortable.
Take-Home Message
- Minor eye discomfort such as burning, itching, and redness usually resolves within a day or two with home care.
- Avoid rubbing your eyes. This can make the condition worse.
- If you spend a lot of time staring at a computer or phone, don't forget to give your eyes a break every 20 minutes.
- If you experience unbearable pain, vision changes, yellow/green discharge, or eye injury , see a doctor immediately without hesitation .
- If you are unsure of the cause of your eye discomfort, it is wise to seek medical advice rather than self-medicate.
👩🏽⚕️ Additional questions (FAQs)
💬 Nintedanib (Ofev) capsules are a highly specific medicine given for which disease?
This is not an ordinary medicine! This is an extremely expensive and powerful (Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor / newest) medicine that slows down/controls the progression of a fatal disease called 'Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF),' which means that no cause can be found and our lungs are 100% damaged/scarred, making it impossible to breathe!
💬 When the lungs are congested/injured, how do you restore the lungs by giving this medicine (Ofev)?
When our lungs are injured, cells called 'fibroblasts' come in and patch them up (scarring), but in IPF, these cells go crazy and scar the entire lung (making it hard to breathe/inflate). Once this pill enters the body, it completely blocks and shuts down all three receptors (VEGFR, FGFR, PDGFR) that send messages to those cells. This slows down the rate of scarring in the lungs.
💬 What are the potentially fatal and unbearable side effects that people taking this drug (Nintedanib) should definitely know about?
The most severe and common side effect of this drug (more than 60%) is 'Severe Diarrhea'! This causes many people to reduce the dose of the drug. The other most dangerous danger is that it can cause '100% liver damage/destruction (Severe Liver Injury/Elevated Liver Enzymes)' and can even lead to death! Therefore, it is essential to have blood tests (Liver function tests) every month.
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