Eye irritation can be a symptom that something in your body is not quite right, or it may be a reflection of some illness or allergy. In any case, it is always important to investigate whenever this type of symptom appears and to find out what it might mean. If you want to learn more about eye irritation and how it can appear in our bodies, keep reading our article to the end and find out!
Main Causes of Eye Irritation
Red, swollen, and watery eyes. These are the main signs of eye irritation, something that can be quite bothersome and even interfere with certain tasks. But what actually causes this irritation? Well, some of the main causes of eye irritation are:
- Conjunctivitis
- Allergies
- Dry Eyes
- Stye
- Eye Strain
Let’s talk a bit more deeply about each of these causes and show how you can prevent eye irritation from occurring.
Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is a disease that causes inflammation of a thin membrane on the front part of our eye, known as the conjunctiva. Besides causing eye irritation, which leaves the eyes red, this disease also has other symptoms like persistent itching in the eyes, sensitivity to light, and even swelling of the eyes.Because this is a highly contagious disease, it’s important to avoid contact with others who have it, as well as to maintain hygienic habits and avoid rubbing your eyes, especially without having washed your hands.
Allergies
It is very common for various kinds of allergies to also cause eye irritation. For example, allergic rhinitis, which, through sneezing fits, affects the eyes directly. In addition, there is sinusitis, which can also cause similar symptoms, including irritation in the eyes.There are also allergies that affect the eyes directly—like when they come into contact with dust, for example—which can lead to irritation, redness, and itching.
Dry Eyes
When someone cannot produce enough tears to keep their eyes moist, the eyes can also become irritated. Besides this symptom, others that are very common include eye itching and excessive tearing after irritation, which can greatly interfere with a person’s vision.Dry eye is not a specific condition; in other words, anyone at any age can develop this problem. To solve it, the solutions are very similar to those for allergies, using antihistamines and even corticosteroids, when prescribed by a doctor.
Stye
A stye is basically a nodule on the eye, which, in addition to causing swelling, also causes increased tear production, can be painful, and if not treated correctly, may develop into a bacterial infection.
Eye Strain
Eye strain, as the name suggests, is simply excessive tiredness of the eyes. This can happen for various reasons, from spending too much time in front of computer, phone, or television screens, to prolonged periods of reading or when someone strains their eyes for some other reason. Such fatigue can cause the eyes to become irritated, with the typical itching and redness.
How to treat Eye Irritation?
To ensure that eye irritation is treated correctly, it is first important to investigate the cause of the irritation. Therefore, it is essential to consult a medical specialist and never attempt to self-medicate, as this can not only worsen your situation, but may also cause other problems.During the appointment, a doctor may recommend a number of measures to relieve eye irritation, such as using saline solution, compresses, or even medications to combat the specific disease, if necessary.
How to Prevent Eye Irritation?
Although there are ways to treat this type of problem, the best thing to do is to avoid having eye irritation in the first place. To achieve this, there are some measures you can take that are quite effective. Avoiding rubbing or scratching your eyes can help greatly, especially if you are outside and likely to have bacteria on your hands.In addition, other steps you can take to prevent eye irritation are:
- Keep your home free of dust
- Be careful when using makeup near the eye area
- Wash your hands frequently, as many bacteria are transmitted through them
- Give your eyes a break from electronic devices like computer screens, cell phones, and television
These are simple actions, but they can be very useful to help you avoid eye irritation.It might seem simple and unimportant, but eye irritation is something that should be taken seriously by everyone. Preventing it from worsening also means preventing more serious problems from affecting you, and ensures that your life will not be negatively impacted by something that appears to be simple.
