Itchy Eyes - Eye Itching Causes, treatment and home remedies

Triggers and effective treatment of itchy eyes

When complaining of itchy eyes, they are most often caused by infection, a barley grain and allergies, and eye dryness and over-exertion. Our eyes, as important sensory organs, should be treated properly to prevent serious consequences on vision.

The type, duration and concomitant symptoms of the ocular itch indicate the cause and thus an appropriate treatment. If there is a suspicion of a bacterial infection or severe concomitant symptoms, an examination by the ophthalmologist is unavoidable. In many cases itchy eyes can be alleviated or eliminated by home remedies of naturopathy and natural remedies.

contents

• Triggers and effective treatment of itchy eyes
• Eye itching: symptoms and side effects
• Causes of itchy eyes
• Eye itching through barley grain
• Itching eyes in allergy
• Dry eyes and eye irritation
• Over-exertion and ametropia
• Home remedies for eye itching

Eye itching: symptoms and side effects

Itchy, burning and reddened eyes indicate a possible conjunctivitis (conjunctivitis), which is often complained of a foreign body sensation in the eye and increased lacrimation.

Itchy eyes are often associated with allergy but may have other causes. (Image: vladimirfloyd / fotolia.com)

Eye pain can only be felt locally, but sometimes causes a headache. Especially after waking up, the eyes are often glued by secretions. These secretions may be fluid, slimy or purulent. Colorless fluid is more likely to be an infection with viruses, while a yellowish-purulent secretion indicates bacteria.

The causative germs can come through infection by smear infection in the eye, for example, when sharing towels or kohl pencils, but they can also be brought by eye rubbing of the hands to the conjunctiva of the eye. Permanent irritation with badly fitting contact lenses may favor the colonization of germs.

Causes of itchy eyes

In the context of infectious diseases, such as measles, dysentery or typhoid fever, it can lead to conjunctivitis with the aforementioned complaints. To be on the safe side, every inflammation in the eye should be clarified by a specialist and then treated according to its cause.

Only bacterial infections are susceptible to antibiotic therapy, and in less severe cases, plant alternatives to antibiotics can be used. Furthermore, recommended for internal use preparations of eyebright and fennel, externally may be used for lighter complaints compresses with eyebright, marigold or arnica or used drops and finished ointments from appropriate medicinal plants from the pharmacy.

Eye itching through barley grain

Itchy eyes, accompanied by swelling below the eyelid and redness and pain in the affected area, may be caused by a barley grain.

The barley grain, also called hordoleum, got its name because of the typical barley grain-sized thickening on the eyelid, which is usually caused by a pharyngitis. The purulent-nodular inflammation is painful, palpable and sometimes leads to photosensitivity and eye tears.

Reason for itchy eyes may be a barley grain. This is an inflammation of the eyelid glands, which is usually caused by bacteria. (Image: eyeQ / fotolia.com)

The cause is the bacterial infection of a gland of the eye lid with pus-forming staphylococci, which can spread further by smear infection. In no case should it be relieved at the initial stage of itching by rubbing or expressed in later stages of pus, as this can lead to repeated inflammation and an extension of the infection to the healthy eye. For this reason, should be dispensed with the make-up of the eyes, especially with eyelids and mascara, until the disappearance of the inflammation.

If the barley grains are conspicuously common, this can be an indication of diabetes mellitus, which can be determined by a medical blood sugar examination. The eyelid inflammation is generally treated by dry heat applications. Conventionally, externally applied antibiotics, homeopathic stand - depending on the symptoms - various means available, of which in a barley grain especially Staphysagria and Pulsatilla find application.

To prevent inflammation of the lid gland, care should be taken to ensure cleanliness and hygiene, e.g. by frequent changes of facial towels, make-up and regular hand washing.

Itching eyes in allergy

Eye itching is often to be understood as a sign of an allergic reaction. Other symptoms of allergy can be burning eyes, red eyes, photophobia and tears. Furthermore, sneezing, runny nose and asthma occur, which occur most often in the context of a pollen allergy.

This type of allergy, also known as hay fever, leads to discomfort, especially in the spring weeks of the year. Other triggers, which often lead to allergic symptoms of the mucous membranes and conjunctival membranes, are the contact with animal hair or the inhalation of house dust.

Although the symptoms are exhausted in nasal passages and itchy eyes, allergies are processes that affect the entire body. While conventional measures, especially in the administration of antihistamines and cortisone preparations for the short-term suppression of excess immune reactions exist, procedures of naturopathy are aimed at a change of the organism, which is to follow a normalization of the reaction situation. Examples of such natural remedies are the autologous therapy and self-urine therapy.

Dry eyes and eye irritation

Reason for the complaints may be a prolonged eye dryness or irritation of the eye by foreign bodies and thermal influences. In addition to the eyes itching, a "sand grain sensation", eye burning and reddening of the eyes set in.

Badly fitting contact lenses quickly lead to unpleasant eye irritation. (Image: Knut Wiarda / fotolia.com)

Dry eyes often arise when too little water is drunk or after hours of screen work, because it reduces the eyelid impact. Sometimes, however, there are also inflammation or drainage disturbances in the area of ​​the tears, which prevent sufficient moistening of the eyes.

The cause of eye irritation may still be contact with irritating gases, chemicals, cosmetics or contact lens care products as well as the wearing of badly fitting contact lenses. In addition to adequate hydration and the avoidance of irritating factors, an eye bath with cool clear water can do just as well as with cotton wool soaked in rose water, which are applied to the eyes.

Over-exertion and ametropia

Eye itching sometimes occurs as a result of overexertion, especially in combination with ametropia. Again, the regular long-lasting stay in front of screens plays a role. Whereas in the past it used to be just a TV and a PC screen, which claimed our eyes on a daily basis, everyday electronic entertainment devices such as MP3 players and smartphones with much smaller displays, pictures and characters are added.

Especially in combination with an unbalanced ametropia, sooner or later the eyes are overstrained, which then dry out, itch or burn. In addition, rapid eye fatigue and headache can develop.

Long reading in low light conditions or concentrated driving in the dark can foster overstrained, itchy eyes, especially if no or a poorly adapted visual aid is worn.

Regular examinations by ophthalmologists and opticians are the safest measures for the prevention of complaints. In addition, an eyestrain should be avoided by regular screen or reading breaks.

Home remedies for eye itching

A quick and easy to use first aid procedure for itchy eyes are cucumbers. These have an anti-inflammatory effect and can therefore often provide relief for the discomfort. Cut a few thin slices from a thoroughly washed, unpeeled cucumber and place in the freezer for about 15 minutes. Then place the cold cucumber slices on the affected eye for at least ten minutes.

Also helpful can be a rinse with green tea. For this purpose, two bags of tea are boiled in half a liter of distilled water. Allow the infusion to cool and rinse your eye with it several times a day. (jvs, nr, last updated on 28.5.2018)
Specialist supervision: Barbara Schindewolf-Lensch (doctor)