What causes itchy eyes and what drops help eliminate it?

The eyes itch and itch in a variety of ophthalmopathologies. Moreover, this symptom sometimes signals a systemic disease. In some cases, itching in the eyes is not dangerous when it is caused by exposure to external factors on the mucous membrane or cornea. Let's find out what causes itching in the eyes, the causes and methods of treating the disease.

Many ophthalmological diseases of a bacterial, infectious, inflammatory nature are accompanied by a symptom such as itching in the eyes. Sometimes it causes mechanical injury to the eyeball, contact with dust, cosmetics and other foreign bodies on the cornea or mucous membrane. Eyes can itch due to various systemic pathologies. Thus, there are three groups of reasons that are the culprits of this common symptom. Let's look at them in more detail and find out the signs of various eye pathologies that cause itchy eyes. This will make it easier to distinguish one disease from another and understand the cause of its occurrence.

Itching in the eyes: non-pathological causes

First, it’s worth listing factors that have nothing to do with diseases. They are usually associated with the external environment. These exogenous causes of itchy eyes include:

wearing optics, spectacles and contacts, which are not selected correctly or are used in the wrong mode;
contact with particles of dirt, dust, chemical compounds, and tobacco smoke on the outer surface of the eye;
prolonged work at a computer monitor without breaks;
prolonged stay in rooms where there is a lot of dust or the air is too dry;
chronic lack of sleep;
exposure of the eyes to a bright light source.

In order to eliminate itching in the eyes, it is necessary to protect them from the main irritant. In other words, it is necessary to work in ventilated areas; glasses and contact lenses should be selected only with an ophthalmologist, and not independently. While working at the computer, take breaks and do eye exercises to help relax your eye muscles. If a foreign body gets on the surface of the eyeball and does not injure the upper epithelial tissues, you just need to remove it from the eye with a handkerchief and water. All of the above reasons of an endogenous nature often do not lead to the development of diseases. Of course, if you wear incorrectly fitted glasses for a long time, your vision will most likely deteriorate even more. However, a single exposure to all these factors on the eyes does not pose a serious danger.

What ophthalmic pathologies cause itchy eyes?

Eye diseases are the second group of causes that cause itching in the eyes. This symptom is characteristic of the following ophthalmological diseases:

dry eye syndrome;
blepharitis;
conjunctivitis;
eye allergies;
trachoma;
barley;
demodicosis of the eyelids;
glaucoma;
cataract.

All these pathologies are quite serious and they take a long time to be treated.

Some of them can cause a severe decrease in visual functions, up to complete irreversible blindness. How to distinguish one disease from another? Should you panic if your eyes itch? To answer these questions, you need to know what other symptoms are accompanied by all these diseases.

Itching due to dry eye syndrome

The syndrome occurs when there is insufficient production of tear fluid. Nowadays, when electronic devices of various types are widespread, and the environmental situation is greatly deteriorating, dry eye syndrome is diagnosed in almost every fifth person. It can be treated quite simply with eye drops. However, even timely treatment cannot cure the disease forever. Having appeared once, it subsequently takes a latent form and, in the absence of prevention, recurs.

The surface of the eye should always be moisturized. It is covered with a protective film, the thickness of which does not exceed one tenth of a millimeter. The protective film breaks, but reappears as a result of blinking. With increased dryness in the eyes, ruptures occur more often than in a healthy person, and the film is not completely restored. Because of this, a person is bothered by the following symptoms:

the presence of “sand” on the cornea and under the eyelids;
itching, burning, pain in the eyes;
increased lacrimation;
rapid eye fatigue;
blurred vision.

Symptoms are more likely to occur during visual stress.

Redness of the eyes

Measles

Rubella

Chicken pox

8174 25 August

IMPORTANT!

The information in this section cannot be used for self-diagnosis and self-treatment.
In case of pain or other exacerbation of the disease, diagnostic tests should be prescribed only by the attending physician. To make a diagnosis and properly prescribe treatment, you should contact your doctor. Redness of the eyes: causes of occurrence, what diseases it occurs with, diagnosis and treatment methods.

The expression “red eyes” or “red eye syndrome” is used when the small blood vessels of the eyes greatly dilate and sometimes burst, causing general congestion of the eye tissue.

Varieties

Hyperemia, or redness of the eyes (eyes), can be limited to focal manifestations (point hemorrhages) or be total (redness of the sclera, conjunctiva and cornea of the eye). In some cases, redness is not accompanied by additional symptoms, while in others itching, lacrimation, and swelling of the tissues surrounding the eyes occur.

The main criteria determining the need for urgent medical consultation in such cases are pain and blurred vision.

Ophthalmologists use the term "injection" to describe red eyes. Localization of hyperemic areas in the eye area allows you to determine where the source of inflammation is located. Conjunctival, or superficial, injection is accompanied by redness of the conjunctiva due to its inflammatory changes. Pericorneal (deep, ciliary) injection occurs when the outer layer of the sclera or cornea becomes inflamed. A mixed injection is also possible, in which the vessels of the conjunctiva and episclera become hyperemic. If the inflammatory process involves the sclera of the eye, scleral injection occurs. With glaucoma, stagnant injection may occur.

What diseases cause redness of the eyes?

Redness of the eyes does not always indicate a disease.

The reasons for this condition may include eye fatigue due to high stress, especially when working at a computer for long periods of time or in poor lighting, using incorrectly selected glasses or contact lenses, swimming underwater, being in strong winds, exposure to irritating substances and drinking alcohol.

Common causes of red eyes include
dry eye syndrome
. This condition occurs when the tear film dries out and is accompanied by a burning sensation, a feeling of sand in the eyes, and sometimes increased lacrimation. Wearing contact lenses can aggravate the symptoms of dry eye syndrome.

Eye diseases themselves are also accompanied by redness, or injection of blood vessels. First of all, you should avoid getting a foreign body into the eye.

.
Mechanical particles (shavings from metal processing industries, sand, small insects) can injure the eye, but chemical and thermal burns
.

Even minor damage to the eye is accompanied by pain, redness of the conjunctiva, pain, lacrimation, and photophobia.

One of the most common causes of eye redness is infectious diseases: influenza, measles, rubella, chicken pox and scarlet fever.

measles virus

enters the body through the respiratory tract and spreads through the blood throughout the body. It affects not only the skin, but also the mucous membranes, including redness of the conjunctiva of the eyes. In severe cases of the disease, lacrimation and photophobia appear, and point ulcerations of the conjunctiva and cornea may occur.

Dangerous complications of measles include keratoconjunctivitis, which can lead to vision loss.

Rubella
virus , spreading through the lymphatic system, penetrates the skin and mucous membranes. When the virus gets on the conjunctiva of the eyes, it causes redness with the formation of blisters and lacrimation. In the transitional fold of the conjunctiva, accumulation of mucous discharge is possible.

Chicken pox

, the causative agent of which is the herpes virus, also affects the mucous membrane of the eye. Clinical symptoms of the disease are similar to conjunctivitis, keratitis and other inflammatory processes and include redness of the conjunctiva and skin of the eyelids, blurred vision, pain and lacrimation.

Hyperemia and swelling of the conjunctiva often indicate infectious or allergic conjunctivitis

. The disease begins suddenly and affects first one eye and then the other. The conjunctiva of the eyelids and transitional folds swells and becomes dark red. Noticeably purulent discharge, especially after sleep. At the same time, inflammation of the cornea is possible with the appearance of grayish infiltrates along the edge of the cornea.

Among specific conjunctivitis, the most dangerous is gonorrheal conjunctivitis (blennorrhea), which can damage the cornea.

Conjunctivitis of a viral nature is accompanied by hyperemia of the mucous membrane of the eye and sclera, but more often the discharge is not purulent, but mucous.

Allergic conjunctivitis is characterized by an acute onset, accompanied by severe itching, swelling, redness of the conjunctiva and the development of corneal syndrome. In severe cases, the cornea is affected.

Inflammation of the superficial layer of the sclera ( episcleritis

) and involvement of the entire fibrous membrane of the eye (
scleritis
) in the process, hyperemia is complemented by symptoms such as swelling, pain with pressure and movement of the eyeball. With episcleritis, the surface capillaries dilate, while the border of redness is not clearly defined. In 80% of cases, diffuse episcleritis occurs, accompanied by mild pain, redness of the eyes, lacrimation and photophobia. As the inflammatory process moves into deeper tissues, scleritis develops. It is characterized by dilation of the looped network of vessels and the occurrence of pericorneal injection. This is manifested by the formation of lilac-purple spots on the sclera around the cornea. Individual vessels are not visible because they are covered by the outer episcleral tissue. The degree of hyperemia decreases towards the arches of the eye.

Inflammation of the cornea, or keratitis

, also accompanied by redness of the eye (pericorneal and mixed injection). In addition, keratitis is characterized by symptoms of corneal irritation (pain, lacrimation, photophobia and blepharospasm - squinting), and in the absence of adequate treatment - clouding of the cornea.

Most often, inflammation of the cornea is caused by a herpes infection.

With relapses, the formation of an ulcer is possible, which involves the internal membranes (keratouveitis). Clinical signs of keratitis include hyperemia (pericorneal and mixed injection), pain, signs of irritation of the cornea (blepharospasm, photophobia and lacrimation), and impaired transparency of the cornea.

In the absence or improper treatment, the inflammatory process can spread to the deep-lying structures of the eye - the iris, ciliary body.

, keratoiritis, keratoiridocyclitis
or
keratouveitis
develops . Irritation and redness of the eye increase sharply. Swelling of the eyelids and cornea is observed. Clouding of the cornea is accompanied by deterioration of vision, and if left untreated, complete loss of vision.

Congestion in the vessels located near the limbus (a narrow strip separating the cornea and sclera) is detected during an acute attack of glaucoma

and are characterized by local redness at the limbus.

This disease rarely begins acutely, and more often than not one eye is affected first.

After a short period of time, glaucoma is detected in the second eye. The congestive form of glaucoma has specific symptoms: blurred vision, rainbow circles, progression of myopia, and sometimes pain or discomfort in the eye area. Such symptoms are caused by an increase in intraocular pressure, as a result of which lesions form in the anterior segment of the eye. Congestive hyperemia of the anterior ciliary vessels is noticeable already at the advanced stage of the disease. Dilated and blood-filled vessels are clearly visible on the sclera near the limbus. At the same time, dullness and decreased sensitivity of the cornea, dilation of the pupil, and sometimes a change in its shape, decreased visual acuity and limitation of visual fields are noted.

Which doctors should I contact?

If redness of the eyes appears as an independent symptom, you should immediately visit an ophthalmologist. Redness of the eyes that occurs with infectious diseases such as measles, rubella, chicken pox requires consultation or.

Diagnostics and examination

Diagnosis of diseases that are accompanied by redness of the eyes is carried out on the basis of complaints, questioning and examination of the patient.

Pay attention to possible provoking factors (injuries, flowering plants, prolonged work at the computer) and the localization of hyperemia.
The cornea, anterior chamber, iris and pupil are examined using side illumination and a slit lamp. Be sure to measure eye pressure using tonometers. If dry eye syndrome is suspected, the doctor uses a special dye to assess the condition of the tear film, conjunctiva, and meibomian glands. With conjunctivitis, it is sometimes difficult to determine the etiology, so a blood test is necessary to determine eosinophils and ESR.

What eye drops help with dry eye syndrome?

At the very beginning of the development of the disease, its symptoms, including itching in the eyes, can be eliminated with the help of drops that restore the tear film. In some cases, the use of bacterial drugs may be necessary. Consultation with an ophthalmologist when choosing any drops is required. The most famous drugs of the first type are:

"Okutiarz." The drops contain components of natural human tears and sodium hyaluronate, which is similar to it in pH value. This drug quickly relieves itching, burning, eye fatigue and other signs of the syndrome. Drops should be instilled immediately when they appear.
"Kationorm" - drops for itchy eyes and dryness, used in the morning. After sleep, the cornea may experience dryness, since the eyes are closed at night, therefore, oxygen access to them is slightly limited. The medicine instantly restores the tear film, which is why all the symptoms of the pathology disappear within a couple of minutes.

Both tear substitutes are preservative-free. They do not provoke allergies and have no side effects. You can bury them several times a day. However, this does not mean that it is safe to take them without first visiting an ophthalmologist's office. In addition, he may prescribe antibacterial drops, which will have to be instilled for at least 7 days.

Itchy eyes and blepharitis

The eyes also itch due to inflammation affecting the edges of the eyelids. Blepharitis occurs due to pathogenic microorganisms entering the skin of the eyelids.

Sometimes it becomes a concomitant disease of any systemic pathology that weakens the immune system. There are two groups of blepharitis symptoms. The primary signs are:

asthenopia;
increased sensitivity of the eyes to wind, sun and other similar external irritants;
redness, itching and swelling of the eyelids;
blurred image;
tear fluid formed in large quantities;
purulent discharge, which leads to sticking of the eyelids in the morning.

If left untreated, symptoms worsen. Secondary signs of pathology appear that are associated with circulatory disorders:

photophobia;
diplopia;
foamy discharge from the eyes;
eyelash loss;
formation of crusts on the edges of the eyelids.

Blepharitis is a group of ophthalmological diseases accompanied by inflammation of the edges of the eyelids. There are scaly, meimobia, allergic, acne types of this disease. Each of them is characterized by itching in the eyes.

Itching in the morning. Pathology or not?

Throughout the day, the visual organs adapt to daylight and the usual visual load, and in the morning, when you just woke up, they are still weakened from sleep, and therefore in some cases itching may occur. It can also appear in the evening, but in this case the reason lies in the fact that the eyes are tired during the day, and with the onset of darkness they have to strain harder to provide you with clear and contrasting vision. In most cases, morning itching in the eyes is not a symptom of any pathology. However, if discomfort persists even after you have washed, then the cause should be looked for in the list of ophthalmological diseases. To do this, you need to consult a doctor.

Is blepharitis treated with drops for itchy eyes?

Treatment of blepharitis is conservative and takes a long time. The patient is prescribed medications in the form of eye drops, ointments and gels, physiotherapeutic procedures, and eye compresses. Often, with inflammation of the eyelids, the patient has to instill drops such as Ciprofloxacin and Ofloxacin into the eyes. They have an antimicrobial effect.

Blepharitis cannot be started. This disease quickly becomes chronic. Moreover, inflammation of the eyelids can lead to the development of other eye diseases: styes, keratitis, eyelid deformities, trichiasis.

Other Possible Causes

In addition, factors contributing to the appearance of itching and redness around the eyes include tissue damage by an infectious or parasitic pathogen:

Inflammation has a pathological basis in the form of blepharitis and is a localized expression of the course of an internal chronic process, as well as instability of immune parameters. Or acute purulent lesion of the eyelash follicle, characterizing a disease such as barley.
Parasitic infection of the tissues of the eyelids by microscopic species of mites, which in the process of life damage the layers of the epidermis, causing severe itching and local redness of the areas.

Methods for diagnosing skin diseases:

Diagnosis of skin diseases
Diagnosis of skin diseases at home
Diagnosis of allergic skin diseases
Diagnosis of bacterial skin diseases
Diagnosis of viral skin diseases
Diagnosis of hair diseases
Diagnosis of nail diseases
Diagnosis of skin tumors
Skin scraping
Blisters on the skin
Dermatoscopy
Demodex tests
Diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections
Mushroom tests
Skin scraping

Conjunctivitis and itchy eyes: causes, treatment

Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of a polyetiological nature that spreads to the mucous membrane of the eye. By polyetiological nature we mean a plurality of reasons that can provoke it. Conjunctivitis is classified in many ways. It can be allergic, chronic, purulent, catarrhal, viral, fungal. Accordingly, the symptoms of this pathology are quite extensive. People suffering from conjunctivitis of any form may complain of:

swelling, redness of the eyelids;
discharge of pus and mucus from the eyes;
burning, itching in the eyes;
profuse lacrimation;
a feeling of fear of bright light, causing blepharospasm;
sticking together of eyelids in the morning;
decreased visual acuity.

Some forms of inflammation of the eye mucosa are accompanied by headache, fever, cough, weakness, and muscle pain. Perhaps itching in the eyes is one of the symptoms that is typical for any conjunctivitis. Treatment of this disease is determined by its etiology. However, in all cases eye drops are used. If conjunctivitis has an allergic basis, anti-allergenic (Zyrtec) and antihistamine (Allergoftal) drugs are prescribed. The viral form of the disease is treated with antibacterial drops. Antiallergenic drugs are prescribed when swelling and irritation do not subside. If your eyes itch, drops help eliminate itching and prevent other microbes from entering the mucous membrane.

Some types of conjunctivitis cannot be completely cured. It takes a hidden form and does not bother a person until a certain time. This happens, for example, with allergic inflammations, which are seasonal. It is necessary to treat the pathology in each specific case in the early stages. If left untreated, it can lead to the development of blepharitis and scarring of the eyelids and cornea.

How does itching appear?

It would seem that everyone understands what itching in the eyes is. This is a very unpleasant burning and tingling sensation that provokes an urgent need to rub or scratch the mucous membrane. It can manifest itself in different ways. It could be that your eyes are simply itchy. And in some cases, the burning sensation is so unbearable that it causes pain, albeit not severe. Quite often, these sensations are accompanied by redness of the sclera - the white part of the cornea or eyelids, both their corners and the folds of skin around the eyes. If you constantly rub your visual organs with your fingers, the unpleasant sensations will only intensify, and the skin may begin to peel off from intense friction.

According to experts, it is very important to respond to the first symptoms in a timely manner, since in the future this will help to move on to effective treatment in a timely manner and get rid of the disease in a short time.

So, for example, if characteristic itching is accompanied by redness of the eyes, then most likely the cause lies in an allergic reaction. This may also indicate the first signs of the development of an acute respiratory viral infection. If you work at a manufacturing plant and watch workers operate a welding machine all day long without wearing special safety glasses, then the cause of discomfort is most likely a burn.

Symptoms of itchy eyes

Today it is difficult to meet a person who does not work at a computer and does not use modern gadgets. The optimal distance of the monitor from the eyes has long been established by experts: 50 cm for a 15-inch screen and at least 80 cm for a 17-inch screen. However, as office workers who are forced to spend at least 8 hours a day at the computer admit, they rarely follow this rule. It turns out that a person blinks less, as a result of which the cornea begins to dry out, and, accordingly, itching occurs. If it is also accompanied by a burning sensation, as well as purulent discharge from the eyes, then this is the first sign of conjunctivitis - an inflammatory ophthalmic disease of the mucous membrane.

Symptoms may also include:
increased tearfulness; redness of the eyelids; swelling of the area around the eyes; headache; general weakness of the body.

It may also be that the organs of vision not only itch, but also secrete a sticky essence, which, as a rule, dries out quite quickly, transforming into a crust with a rough surface. This crust may be the cause of pain. Moreover, if it is removed, it will most likely arise again.

Eye allergies: causes and treatment

Eye allergy is a fairly broad concept, and not just a specific disease. An allergic reaction may directly affect the structures of the eyeball or eyelids. Depending on this, there are many types of allergies that develop before the eyes. In most cases, irritants affect the connective membrane (conjunctiva). Therefore, eye allergies are often considered as one of the varieties of the previously described disease - conjunctivitis. Its treatment is based on the use of ophthalmic drops. There are several types of medications prescribed when an allergic reaction develops in the eyes:

antiallergic drops (“Allergodil”), which reduce the effect of allergens on the eyes;
membrane stabilizing agents (Opticorm, Cromohexal), which prevent the release of histamine, which provokes irritation and other allergy symptoms;
relieving itching (“Vizin”, “Octilia”, “Naphthyzin”), which are prescribed if the eyes itch. These drugs quickly relieve itching, swelling, and redness.

The most important thing for allergies is to eliminate contact with the irritant. If it is unknown, drops help cope with the signs of the disease. It can only be cured when the allergen is known.

Treatment

Conservative therapy

Treatment tactics are determined by the cause of itching in the eye area:

Conjunctivitis.
Rinsing, instillation of medications, eye ointments, and subconjunctival injections are indicated. Depending on the etiology of the pathological process, antibacterial, antifungal or antimycotic topical drugs are used.
Blepharitis.
Eliminate factors that cause weakening of the body (carry out immunocorrection, sanitize chronic foci of infection). They carry out careful hygiene, use ointments with antibiotics, topical hormonal preparations, perform eyelid massage, ultraviolet irradiation, darsonvalization, electrophoresis, magnetic therapy, UHF.
Barley.
Before an abscess forms, the affected area is carefully treated with brilliant green, iodine or 70% ethyl alcohol. Antibiotics are instilled into the conjunctival cavity. At the maturation stage, dry heat, UHF, and quartz tube are prescribed. After spontaneous opening, topical antibacterial agents continue to be used.
Demodecosis.
It is necessary to strictly observe the rules of personal hygiene. Warm compresses with chamomile extract and eyelid massage are recommended. When a bacterial infection occurs, antibiotics are instilled. In case of complicated course, local glucocorticosteroids are prescribed.
Dirofilariasis.
Drug treatment is carried out against the background of surgical interventions. Antihelminthic drugs are used. To prevent allergic reactions and reduce intoxication caused by the decay of worms, antihistamines, glucocorticoids and NSAIDs are used.
Allergic diseases.
Avoid contact with the allergen, carry out local and systemic desensitizing therapy, immunotherapy, and symptomatic treatment. Antiallergic eye drops and general antihistamines are indicated. In severe cases, topical NSAIDs and corticosteroids may be required.

Trachoma and itching in the eyes: causes, treatment

Trachoma is an infectious disease caused by chlamydia. When they get into the eyes, they affect the connective and corneal membranes. The pathology is chronic. Initially it develops quite slowly. The patient's eyes become red, watery and itchy. Scar tissue may subsequently form. If you start treating the disease on time, it will not cause much harm. However, this disease has one peculiarity. At some point, it can turn into a progressive form, and this is fraught with severe deterioration in vision, up to its complete loss.

Bacteria from the chlamydia family, once in a living organism, begin to parasitize inside its cells. Such infections are transmitted through contact and household contact. A person can accidentally transfer bacteria to the mucous membrane of the eye with dirty hands. Doctors do not rule out the possibility that these microbes are carried by insects, such as flies. Chlamydia can be in the body without showing its presence in any way until favorable conditions for this occur. When a person is sick, his immune system is vulnerable and bacteria begin to attack. Even after the infection is cured, the body does not become protected from it, since it does not develop immunity against these microorganisms. The likelihood of relapse is very high.

What symptoms, besides itching in the eyes, are there with trachoma?

The three main signs of the disease have already been named: redness of the eyes, itching, watery eyes. The patient also develops photophobia. Staying in the sun without glasses or in rooms with bright light brings severe discomfort. The tissue on the cornea and conjunctiva becomes denser. On the connective membrane, follicles are formed - small bubbles that increase in size and burst, resulting in the formation of scars. Because of this, vision is rapidly declining. Pathology develops faster if a person suffers from another disease: tuberculosis, malaria.

Trachoma is treated on an inpatient or outpatient basis, depending on the stage. On the first and second follicles, they are removed using tweezers. The third and fourth stages are treated inpatiently. The patient has to stay in the infectious diseases department of the hospital. For trachoma, antibacterial agents and sulfonamides are prescribed - antimicrobial agents. If trachoma causes the eyelid to turn in, plastic surgery may be required. Sometimes it becomes necessary to transplant conjunctival tissue from the oral cavity.

Lack of treatment inevitably leads to vision deterioration. The patient's eyelashes may also stop growing. In severe forms of trachoma, ulcers appear on the cornea. The eyelids can roll inside the eye - entropion develops. All this greatly affects visual abilities. If the course of the disease is unfavorable, it is possible that the patient will go blind.

Stye on the eye - what drops relieve itching?

Stye, called hordeolum in ophthalmology, is an inflammation of the hair follicles of the eyelashes, meibomian glands or Zeiss sebaceous gland. The hair follicles and sebaceous glands of Zeiss are located outside the eyelid, and the meibomian gland is located inside. Barley is divided into internal and external according to localization. It develops after staphylococcus hits the specified structures of the eyelid. A healthy person with a strong immune system may not be afraid of developing the disease. The body will cope with the microbe. In order for bacteria to spread, appropriate conditions are needed. In case of hypothermia, the presence of diseases, or during periods of stress, the immune system is more vulnerable. This becomes the conditions for the development of infection, which leads to the onset of the inflammatory process. After this, the abscess begins to mature.

At about 2-4 days, the connective tissue of the eye turns red, a seal forms on the edge of the eyelid, in which you can see the yellowish contents. Several abscesses may also form. On the 3-4th day, that is, after the barley has fully ripened, the purulent seals break through. The patient's condition immediately improves noticeably. Often barley resolves quickly. However, in some cases it develops into a more complex form, becoming a chalazion, which may not go away for several months. Then it has to be removed promptly.

The primary signs of stye are itching, pain at the site of the abscess formation, lacrimation, and swelling of the eyelids. The swelling may be such that the eye closes completely and falls out of the visual process. Severe disease is accompanied by increased body temperature, weakness, malaise, nausea and lack of appetite, headaches, and swollen lymph nodes.

As soon as stye appears on the eyelid, it is necessary to treat it with antiseptic agents. After opening the abscess, antibacterial drops and ointments are prescribed. Typically, drugs such as Levomycetin, Floxal, and Tsipromed are used. It rarely comes to surgical treatment. During the operation, the abscess is opened, its contents are removed, and an antibacterial ointment is applied to the affected area of the eyelid.

Demodicosis of the eyelids - what is this disease and how is it treated?

Demodicosis in some classifications is considered as one of the varieties of blepharitis, when it becomes the result of a mite of the genus Demodex, the glandular acne, getting under the skin of the eyelids. Getting under the skin of the eyelids into the sebaceous glands or eyelash follicles, the mite parasitizes and feeds on dead skin cells. This parasite belongs to the group of opportunistic microorganisms. This means that it can be present in the body for a long time without manifesting itself. As soon as a person has a slight cold or hypothermia, the acne worm begins to attack. The eyelid affected by the parasite begins to become inflamed. Quite often, the inflammatory process covers not only the eyelids, but also the mucous membrane of the eye. The patient's eyes itch, the eyelids swell, the eyelashes fall out, a purulent crust forms along the edge of the eyelid, and the skin in this area peels off. A stye may also appear. As the disease progresses, the above symptoms are accompanied by photophobia, tearfulness, yellow secretion, and the formation of blisters with pus in the area of the eyelash bulbs. The mite secretes substances that are allergens. This causes the skin around the eye to break out in a rash.

Is demodicosis treated with drops?

This condition causes pain in the eyelids, so eye drops are not usually used. Even if a doctor prescribes antibacterial drugs in drops, they are not dropped into the eyes, but rather applied to the affected area of the skin and rubbed into it. However, in some cases, your doctor may prescribe eye drops for itchy eyes to be instilled into the conjunctival sac. This need arises when there is very strong itching and burning, which forces a person to rub their eyelids. To relieve these symptoms, a prescription is written for Dexamethasone, Okumetil, and Acular.

In severe forms of the pathology, when inflammation covers the mucous membrane and other structures of the eyeball, other drugs for instillation are prescribed: Levofloxacin, Tobrex, Dex-Gentamicin. They have an antibacterial effect. Drops have to be dripped from 7 to 10 days. Even after the disease is completely cured, the mite remains in the body. It can again become a source of infection, so it is important to prevent this pathology.

Why visit an ophthalmologist?

Many modern people do not understand why make an appointment with an ophthalmologist. This is largely due to the fact that most people do not attach much importance to the occurrence of itching, however, as you now know, it can be a symptom of quite serious ophthalmological diseases, the timely treatment of which is simply necessary. Today, an ophthalmologist can be seen in any municipal or private clinic, or you can also make an appointment with specialists at our Center for Contact Vision Correction Glasses.No. What is a doctor's appointment?

First, the ophthalmologist will ask the necessary questions about your feelings and review your medical history;
After reviewing your medical record, the doctor will examine your eyelids, pupil movement speed, and reaction to light;
If the doctor has any doubts, he will definitely write you directions for the necessary tests;
If the diagnosis becomes clear without tests, the doctor will prescribe medications for you and set a date for your next visit.

It is important to understand that the first doctor you should contact if you have itchy eyes is, of course, an ophthalmologist. However, you may additionally need to consult with other specialists, for example: an allergist, endocrinologist, gastroenterologist.

Initially, an external examination is carried out, based on the results of which the specialist will determine further diagnostic measures, which may include:

general blood analysis;
allergy tests;
bacteriological analysis of eyelid scrapings;
microscopic analysis of eyelashes.

The list of tests can be adjusted depending on the clinical picture, patient complaints and the results of the initial diagnosis carried out by a specialist.

Glaucoma and itchy eyes

An ophthalmic disease characterized by increased pressure in the eyes is called glaucoma. It occurs mainly in old age and a variety of factors contribute to its development: genetic predisposition, unhealthy lifestyle, refractive errors, in particular farsightedness, eye injuries and others. Glaucoma takes different forms. It can be open-angle or closed-angle. The pressure in the eyes can be chronically elevated or paroxysmal. In any case, its increase causes severe discomfort to the patient. His eyes and head hurt, and the pain spreads to the eyeballs, brow ridges, and temples. This happens due to a violation of the outflow of intraocular fluid. It puts pressure on the walls of the eye and provokes a surge in pressure. This can lead to very unpleasant consequences. The ocular structures, including the optic disc, begin to literally collapse under the pressure of aqueous humor. For this reason, atrophy of the nerve occurs, which performs one of the main functions in vision - it transmits images received on the retina to the brain. Atrophy cannot be treated; fibers that are already damaged cannot be restored. This means that visual functions lost due to atrophic damage to the eye cannot be restored either. This may result in irreversible blindness.

Glaucoma is accompanied by a symptom such as itching in the eyes. It is strictly forbidden to scratch them. First of all, it doesn't bring relief. Secondly, there is a risk of infections in the organs of vision. Glaucoma against the background of diseases of infectious etiology is even more severe. To relieve itching, you can use compresses made from herbal infusions. Before using them, you should consult your doctor. Glaucoma does not tolerate self-medication. Incorrectly selected remedies can dramatically worsen the situation.

Swelling under the eyes and itching in children

Agree that getting sick is unpleasant at any age. However, it is one thing when this or that illness affects you, and quite another when your child needs medical help. The difficulty in treating children is that it is not always possible to explain to them what can be done and what cannot be done. If an adult understands that if there is a symptom such as itching, you should not scratch your eyes, then the child may not understand this or may continue to do it involuntarily. And this significantly worsens the course of a particular disease, accompanied by itching. In addition, carrying out such simple procedures as putting eye drops or washing them with a solution can be very difficult due to the baby’s reaction. The easiest way is to try to do everything required of you to prevent the risk of developing a particular disease, one of the reasons for the development of which is itching in the eyes. You can do this as follows:

Carefully monitor how often the child washes his hands and whether he follows the rules of personal hygiene in general;
Monitor whether the baby rubs his eyes while playing in the sandbox or simply with his hands not washed first;
Try to take a pack of wet wipes with you on walks and periodically wipe your child’s hands;
Wash baby clothes with hypoallergenic detergents to prevent the risk of an allergic reaction;
Monitor the air humidity in the room and, if necessary, purchase a special humidifier;
On sunny days, do not let your child leave the house without a hat, this will protect his eyes from UV rays.

If it was not possible to avoid the problem, and the baby began to complain to you that his eyes were itching, then, of course, you need to consult an ophthalmologist, who will determine the true cause of the discomfort. Treatment options will directly depend on whether these symptoms spread to other organs. For example, does the child complain that his nose is itchy, has a runny nose, etc. The following treatment methods are mainly used:

if the cause of itching is a speck of dust getting into the eye, then use baby drops;
if itching occurs after watching TV, then try to reduce such pastime;
if an obstruction of the lacrimal duct has been diagnosed, then immediately go to the hospital;
if an allergy is established, then you should take a course of antihistamines;
If the doctor has diagnosed blepharitis, then antibiotics are likely to be used in treatment.

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.

Itchy eyes due to cataracts

With cataracts, the lens responsible for focusing at different distances becomes cloudy. Consequently, with this disease, visual acuity decreases and other visual functions deteriorate. Cataracts develop most often in the elderly. Usually people who are diagnosed with it have a hereditary predisposition to it. Predisposing factors to the development of pathology are alcohol abuse, smoking, unbalanced diet, myopia, hypertension and other ailments. Itchy eyes are not a typical symptom of cataracts. First of all, vision suffers. Photosensitivity also develops, spots, sparks, flashes flash before the patient’s eyes, the image doubles, its contrast drops, and whitish spots appear around the perimeter of the pupil. Due to a decrease in visual acuity, a person’s eyes, especially if he constantly loads them with visual work, get tired very quickly. This symptom is already accompanied by burning and itching in the eyes.

Cataracts are treated in various ways. In the final stages, when the lens can no longer be saved, it is removed and an intraocular lens is installed in its place. Early stages of the disease can be cured or at least its progression can be stopped with drug therapy. The patient is prescribed eye drops (Vicein, Taufon, Vitafacol) and vitamins in the form of solutions for instillation (solutions of ascorbic, nicotinic acid, riboflavin).

All these diseases cause itchy eyes. This symptom is eliminated mainly with drops. It is possible to get rid of it completely, and not temporarily stop it, only by treating the underlying pathology. In this regard, it is not recommended to purchase eye drops yourself for itching in the eyes when they itch. It is unlikely that you will be able to accurately determine the cause of the itching, and therefore, choose the right medicine. Let's consider another group of factors that cause burning in the eyes and itching.

Treatment for itchy eyes

If itching occurs, you can apply cold or warm compresses. They soften hard crusts on the eyelids and reduce the appearance of swelling. You can only touch your eyes with pre-washed hands!

The doctor selects special drops and ointments to eliminate itching and other symptoms. They moisturize the mucous membrane, reduce its irritation and inflammation. The ointments may contain a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is effective in fighting infection. It relieves inflammation and irritation. Eye drops, such as Gilan, work well.

If the discomfort is caused by a systemic disease, the doctor determines how to get rid of itchy eyes with the help of drug therapy and prescribes medications to relieve symptoms.

Eye drops

A good choice is eye drops that are aimed at getting rid of the main signs of ophthalmic diseases.

Drops are suitable for the treatment of acute and chronic inflammation, prevention of eye diseases. They relieve irritation, eliminate itching and redness. May have antiallergic and anti-inflammatory effects. They are often used to improve the condition of the eyes after injuries, surgery, and infectious pathologies.

Pay attention to Gilan drops. They contain hyaluronic acid, which has a long-lasting, pronounced moisturizing effect. It facilitates the patient’s condition when he frequently spends time behind a monitor screen or while driving. The drug can be used by children and pregnant women.

The use of antibiotics is permissible only after a doctor’s prescription! Long-term uncontrolled use of the compounds can lead to lens clouding, glaucoma or dry eye syndrome. Before starting treatment, it is necessary to find out why the eye itches.

How to eliminate itching yourself?

First of all, you should determine why the skin around the eyes and eyelids constantly itch. If the cause is not related to serious illnesses, you can use home treatment methods.

What is recommended to do if there is severe itching in the eyes?

First, give your eyes a rest. To do this, you need to remove your lenses or glasses, wash off your makeup, and turn off your computer and TV. You can cover your eyelids with your palms for a few minutes and look at a distant point. If your eyes are very itchy, it is advisable to rinse them with boiled water or saline solution, strong tea or a decoction of medicinal herbs. It is better to keep drops on hand to moisturize the mucous membranes, which can be bought at any pharmacy. If the itching is caused by allergies, antihistamines will help relieve the condition. To speed up the process, you can use eye drops that moisturize the mucous membrane and relieve irritation.

A few simple exercises

If you feel tired, close your eyes tightly for 3 seconds.
Blink frequently for 30 seconds.
Roll your eyes in a circle for 20 seconds.
Close your eyes and cover them tightly with your palms for 5 seconds.

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.

What examinations are performed for itchy eyes?

If your eyes itch very often and the itching does not go away, you should first consult an ophthalmologist to rule out ophthalmological diseases or confirm one of them. In cases where the initial examination does not produce any results, computer methods of examining the visual organs are prescribed.

With such an ambiguous symptom, a comprehensive examination is often required. In order to accurately make a diagnosis, consultation with a gastroenterologist, endocrinologist, allergist and other specialists may be required. The patient will have to donate blood for clinical testing and allergy testing. The eyelids are also scraped for bacteriological analysis, and eyelashes are examined under a microscope. The treatment program can be adjusted depending on test results and the overall clinical picture of the disease.

If we talk about prevention, then it is impossible to foresee so many diseases. It is important to lead a healthy lifestyle, that is, eat right, exercise, and give up bad habits. People whose professional activities involve visual stress should do eye exercises daily. Get examined more often and visit the ophthalmologist's office. Even if these measures are not sufficient to prevent the disease, you will detect it in time and begin treatment.

MagazinLinz.ru team

Diagnostics

Diagnostic measures are carried out by an ophthalmologist. If the allergic nature of a symptom is suspected, patients are referred to an allergist. During the interview, the specialist finds out when and under what circumstances the symptoms appeared and how the disease developed. During the external examination, the doctor assesses the condition of the eyelids, conjunctiva and other structures accessible to direct examination, determines the presence and nature of the discharge, hyperemia, edema, and other pathological changes.

Special eye examinations include visometry, biomicroscopy, and fluorescein test. For dirofilariasis, gonioscopy and measurement of intraocular pressure may be required. Demodicosis is confirmed by microscopy. Less commonly, a puncture biopsy of the sebaceous or meibomian glands is performed. If an infectious nature of the itching is suspected, a microbiological analysis is performed. For allergic diseases, depending on the phase of the process, elimination, exposure or skin allergic tests are performed.