If a person gnaws his eyes or feels a burning sensation, this can interfere with current affairs and bring a lot of inconvenience. In most cases, this symptom allows you to quickly diagnose what is the root cause of its appearance, and start treating your eyes with over-the-counter drugs. As a rule, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial eye drops come to the rescue in this case. Usually they fix such problems well. However, there are some rare causes of burning eyes that may require specialized treatment. There is no need to consult a specialist.
This article will help you understand why it is tweaking your eyes, how to determine the real reason, and also which doctor to seek advice. In addition, it will be possible to find out from it which ophthalmic diseases this unpleasant symptom may indicate.
Why does it pinch my eyes? Possible reasons
One of the most common reasons that can cause discomfort in the eyes (they can pinch, burn, or watery) is because cosmetics, soap products, or any other household chemicals get on the mucous membrane. The first thing a person feels is the desire to rinse his eyes as soon as possible, which is why such an organism reaction as tears comes in defense of the eye.
The second reason (it is worth noting that it can sometimes be a continuation of the first - contact with cosmetics or household chemicals) is an allergic reaction that occurs when in contact with an irritant. If discomfort manifests itself at the same time of the year or under the same circumstances, you must ask yourself: why is it pinching your eyes right now? Having looked closely at the surrounding world, it is important to quickly understand which plants bloom during this period, which products or cosmetics you had to deal with, etc.
The next cause of burning in the eyes may be an infection. Pinching and other unpleasant sensations may indicate the development of adverse processes that are caused by the entry into the body (directly through the mucous membrane of the eye or in another way) of viruses, fungus, or other pathogenic microorganisms.
Another reason why the eyes tweak can be various cosmetic procedures. This phenomenon is especially common among girls who resort to eyelash extensions or tattooing on the upper part of the eyelid.
If the eyes bake and pinch at the same time, this may indicate their overstrain. Such unpleasant sensations can occur during prolonged work behind a computer monitor or work that requires a lot of visual concentration. It is worth remembering that frequent eye strain causes serious problems with vision, so you should pay attention to interruptions and visual exercises.
Hormonal disruptions can also affect the condition of the mucous membranes of the eyes. Therefore, tingling may indicate that adverse processes occur at the level of hormones in the body.
Many people who, for whatever reason, begin to wear contact lenses, may experience the fact that they bake in their eyes, increase lacrimation, or have other discomfort.
It is important to understand that in addition to everything described above, burning or pinching can be evidence of the development of a serious disease. It is worth considering the most common eye diseases, the symptoms of which can be pinching or burning.
Possible diseases
According to statistics, most often burning or tingling can indicate the development of such diseases:
- Glaucoma. In addition to burning or tingling, a very noticeable pressure is created in the eye.
- Conjunctivitis. A very common disease in which, in addition to burning, severe itching occurs.
- Keratitis Tingling or burning most often occurs with eye movement. In addition, the eyes turn red, which indicates inflammation.
- Dry eye syndrome. Tingling can be caused by such a common phenomenon, which is associated with insufficient production of natural lubrication of the eye mucosa.
- Barley. The most common symptoms are pinching, burning, and sometimes severe pain.
- Dacryocystitis. In adults and children, such a disease can be diagnosed when inflammatory processes of the lacrimal sac are detected. Pinching or burning in the eyes with such a disease is a very characteristic phenomenon.
- Blepharitis. Pinching and a feeling of clogged eyes are the main symptoms of blepharitis.
How to treat such diseases will help determine only a qualified specialist. Therefore, it is not worthwhile to independently take for treatment and taking medications. However, it is necessary to learn more about these diseases in order to understand much better what processes can occur in the eye for all these diseases.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a condition that causes damage to the optic nerve of the eye. This is often associated with increased pressure in the eyeball. Glaucoma tends to be inherited and may not manifest itself for a very long time, right up to old age.
High blood pressure, called intraocular, can damage the optic nerve, which transmits images to the brain. Glaucoma can lead to complete loss of vision, and without treatment it can happen in just a few years.
Most people with glaucoma do not have early symptoms or pain. Therefore, if tingling or burning in the eyes is accompanied by a sensation of increased pressure in the eyes, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Keratitis
Keratitis is an inflammation of the cornea (a transparent, domed tissue on the front of the eye that covers the pupil and iris). Keratitis can be both infectious and non-infectious. Non-infectious keratitis can be caused by a relatively minor injury, wearing contact lenses for too long, or getting into the eye of a foreign body. Infectious keratitis can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.
If a person has redness of the eye, pain, burning or other symptoms of keratitis, you need to make an appointment with a doctor. In operative diagnosis, mild to moderate keratitis can usually be effectively treated without risk of loss of vision. If this disease is not treated, or if the infection is serious, keratitis can lead to serious complications.
Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is an infection of the outer membrane of the eyeball. With this disease, the eye becomes red or pink, which indicates an inflammatory process. As a rule, with conjunctivitis there is a sensation of a foreign body in the eye, itching, burning, tingling, and also the eye gives off a cloudy liquid.
Bacterial conjunctivitis is most often caused by bacteria of the same type that cause sore throat and staphylococcal infections. Viral conjunctivitis is usually a manifestation of those viruses that cause the common cold. Allergic conjunctivitis can be caused by various external stimuli, for example, such as pollen. In this case, the body is stimulated and a large number of histamines are produced.
Dry eye syndrome
If the glands that are responsible for the production of a natural tear are inflamed or have certain abnormalities in them, this can lead to dry eye syndrome. The most important symptom of this disease is the feeling that the mucous membrane of the eye is very dry. In addition, a person may feel a burning sensation, pain, or pinching. If extremely fast eye fatigue is added to this general clinical picture when working, watching TV or reading, then this is most likely dry eye syndrome.
Eye drops in this case are the fastest and most reliable way to get rid of unpleasant symptoms. However, it should be remembered that visiting a doctor with this disease is necessary, as long-term dry eyes can begin to develop other adverse effects leading to loss of vision.
Barley
This disease is caused by a bacterial infection or a skin tick. With barley, the sebaceous gland becomes inflamed near the eyelash bulbs located on the eyelids, which protect the eyes from various debris and injuries. With this disease, there is a swelling of the eyelid and purulent discharge. In this case, there may be such unpleasant sensations as discomfort and burning eyes.
Dacryocystitis
Dacryocystitis is an inflammation or infection of the lacrimal sacs. These sacs represent the upper part of the lacrimal ducts, going from the inner corner of the eye down to the nasal passages.
As the “used” tears pass through the tear ducts, new tears appear. When there is a blockage in the lacrimal sacs or lacrimal ducts, this process is disrupted and the “used” tears cannot leave the eyes. This violation favorably affects the reproduction of bacteria, which also causes inflammatory processes.
Blepharitis
As already noted a little earlier, the eyelids are folds of skin that close your eyes and protect them from debris and injuries. On the edge of the eyelids have eyelashes with short curved hair follicles. These follicles contain sebaceous glands, which can sometimes become clogged or irritated, which can cause certain problems. One of these disorders is known as inflammation of the eyelids, or blepharitis.
Inflammation of the eyelids is usually noticeable, as it can immediately make itself felt. It is worth noting that with blepharitis it always pinches and watery eyes. In addition, itching, redness, swelling, sensitivity to light, a feeling of debris in the eyes may occur, and a crust may appear on the cilia or in the corners of the eyes.
First aid
The first question that arises in a person who gnaws his eyes is: what to do to get rid of this sensation? So, there are a number of recommendations that will help temporarily alleviate the condition.
First of all, rinse your eyes with warm and clean water, and then blot them with a clean, lint-free cloth. Next, drip anti-inflammatory and antibacterial eye drops. After this, you need to give your eyes time to relax, it is best to sit a little time, closing them.
If such actions did not help get rid of the discomfort, then this may be evidence of the onset of the development of the disease, so in this case it is best to consult a doctor immediately.
Eye Disease Prevention
In order to avoid eye problems, it is necessary to regularly undergo medical examinations to check for diabetes and high blood pressure, as these diseases can primarily cause vision problems.
You must always protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet radiation. In the daytime, you should always wear sunglasses on the street that protect your organs of vision from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. This can help reduce the risk of cataracts and other problems.
Do not use other people's personal hygiene products, as well as consciously contact people who suffer from infectious or viral diseases of the eyes.
And of course, it is important to observe the basics of a healthy diet, saturate your body with vitamins, micro and macro elements useful for the eyes, and lead an active lifestyle.
Conclusion
As it became known, tingling or burning in the eyes can be signs of both minor, temporary disruptions of the eye, and serious diseases.
Now, knowing what to do with burning sensations and tingling in the eyes, it is worth remembering that you can not hesitate with an emergency reaction. It is important to consult a doctor in time for medical help.