Each person once faced a very unpleasant problem: for no reason, his eyes itch. In terms of the level of discomfort caused, such an itch can be compared with a toothache, or even surpass it. Although in most cases itchy eyelids do not pose a serious health hazard, you can’t just wait until it all goes away by itself. To fix the problem, it is better to either use medicines or proven folk remedies, and if the itching becomes unbearable, you will have to consult a doctor.
Causes of itching of the century
A special case is allergens. It is because of them that the eyes sometimes itch. This case requires immediate medical advice. Non-allergic causes of itching can be:
- dry eyes, the cause of which in older people is a lack of eye fluid, and in young people - long work at the computer. The body is trying to fix the problem on its own, so scabies after a while begins to be accompanied by profuse tearing. Such a problem can last from half an hour to three days;
- wearing lenses that cause itching if they are improperly selected or treated with the wrong fluid;
- falling under the eyelid of a foreign body;
- the presence of harmful substances in the air;
- excessive lighting;
- lack of sleep hygiene;
- diseases of internal organs, in particular the gastrointestinal tract or endocrine system;
- ophthalmic diseases.
In women, itching of the eyelids can be caused by a specific cause: the use of low-quality or expired cosmetics or its abundance.
If the eyes itch for a long time, then the reason for this can be very serious. Especially when it comes to the last point.
Eye diseases
These primarily include conjunctivitis. It is caused by pathogenic microbes that settle on the mucous membrane of the eyes with dust or touch with dirty hands. Itching of the eyelid, rash and pus accumulating in the corners of the eyes are symptoms of this disease.
Glaucoma and cataracts also scratch their eyes. The cause of these diseases is an increase in intraocular pressure due to disruption of the organs responsible for the timely outflow of fluid. As a rule, these diseases affect people of retirement age.
A fairly common problem is ocular barley. Its carrier is staphylococcus, which causes severe itching and swelling at the site of its entry.
Additional complications of itching of the eyelid
So, there are many reasons why the eyes itch. What to do in this case is determined taking into account possible side symptoms. So, for example, with improper treatment, barley at the final stage provokes the formation of a purulent rod.
Itching can be accompanied by severe redness, peeling of the skin of the eyelid, lacrimation. If itching is caused by a serious cause associated with the life of pathogens or some other, swelling of the eyelid may occur.
In addition, in some cases, eyelash loss and the formation of white spots on the cornea occur. Regardless of the cause, itching can be accompanied by a deterioration in the quality of vision: objects appear vague and blurred.
Blepharitis
In a child, the eyes itch for another reason, the name of which is blepharitis. This is an eye disease, expressed in redness of both eyelids both in one eye and in both.
Blepharitis can occur both due to infections that enter the body, and as a result of vitamin deficiency or intense eye strain. In adolescents and students, it can occur after incorrect selection of glasses or refusal to wear them. This disease is chronic, and its symptoms can be eliminated by taking care of eye hygiene.
But you should not rely on hygiene alone. Indeed, correction of sleep patterns or the correct selection of glasses and lenses can eliminate unpleasant symptoms. But in an advanced form, blepharitis becomes a serious problem. Its course may be complicated by the appearance of blood crusts on the upper eyelid, under which ulcers are often found. To avoid this, consult a doctor immediately.
Itching in the inner corners of the eyes
The most common cause of this disorder is infectious diseases. But it is also impossible to lose sight of other options for the reasons that the inner corners of the eyes itch. The reason may be quite trivial - the entry of a foreign body. On the other hand, discomfort can be caused by inflammatory processes in the organs of vision or by the body's response to the injury.
Itching can even be caused by a microclimate created in the room. In winter, the eyes are especially exposed to negative effects: there are frosts on the street, and the central heating battery is working in full swing - in both cases, the mucous membrane of the eye is overdried, and the eyelid itches. What to do in this case is not difficult to guess: just cover the battery with a damp cloth.
It will be useful to charge the eyes. For this, a number of simple techniques are used, for example, rotation of the eyeballs in different directions alternately. To prevent mucosal dehydration, you can often blink. While working at the computer, it is important to take breaks of 2-3 minutes from time to time and change the focus and range of vision: first look at some close object, for example, at your nose bridge, and then at the remote one - the top of the tree outside the window, the house - or watch moving cars.
Treatment of itching of the eyelids at home
The treatment methods, of course, are determined by the causes of the itching. In mild cases associated with fatigue, lack of sleep, or when the eyes itch in the evening, after intensive and long work on a computer or laptop, you can do with folk remedies.
Not bad calms the skin decoction of calendula or chamomile. Some people doubt whether it is possible to wash their eyes with chamomile, and therefore use lotions applied to the discomforting area. From a medical point of view, there is nothing wrong with washing with a broth cooled to room temperature. The main thing is that it be well filtered, since falling under the eyelid of a twig or leaf will only complicate the situation.
Parsley masks are popular . To eliminate fatigue, ordinary parsley is finely chopped, ground to a uniform gruel and applied to closed eyelids for 20-30 minutes. Such a tool not only eliminates itching, but also removes bags under the eyes.
A good remedy for itching and swelling is strong sugar-free green tea. Washing should be done several times a day, and at night, you can attach tea bags to the eyelids.
Another common folk remedy used when eyes itch is a mask of overripe banana, butter and honey. These ingredients are taken in equal proportions and grind to a homogeneous state (you can use a mixer or a blender). The resulting mixture is laid out in the form of a mask around the affected areas for 15 minutes.
Drug treatment for itching of the eyelids
If there is no confidence in folk remedies, or their components may be allergens, or are contraindicated for another reason, to eliminate discomfort, you can turn to ointments and drops.
It should be borne in mind that it is highly not recommended to use drugs without first consulting with a specialist. This is especially true in cases where the eyes itch for a long time and the itching is accompanied by additional symptoms. Fortunately, most ophthalmic drugs are available in pharmacies only with a prescription.
One of the most popular cures for itchy eyes is tetracycline ointment. It has antibacterial properties. But at the same time, it is strictly forbidden to use it for the treatment of children under five years of age, for the treatment of fungal and viral diseases and during pregnancy. To eliminate the discomfort associated with itching, a small amount of tetracycline ointment is laid 3-5 times a day for the lower eyelid.
When using this medication, possible side effects should be considered. This can be an allergy to the active substance, disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract and even fungal infections.
Unlike tetracycline, erythromycin ointment has virtually no side effects. This allows you to use it even to treat children. Erythromycin stops the growth of pathogenic bacteria and even destroys them. It is used, like tetracycline ointment, by laying behind the lower eyelid. The number of procedures is determined by the nature of the disease: with conjunctivitis 2-3 times are enough, and with trachoma - from 4-5 times a day.
In addition to ointments, there is a fairly wide range of eye drops in case the eyes itch. Due to the content of stronger active substances in them, they are not dispensed without a doctor’s prescription. What are these medicines? "Tobrex", "Ketotifen" and "Opatanol" are the most common drugs in the case when the eyes are very itchy. What drops from this list to apply, the doctor determines, having studied the symptoms and individual reactions of the body to the active substances that make up them.
Eye Disease Prevention
Most preventive measures aimed at preventing the occurrence of eye infections, itching, redness and swelling are based on the requirement to comply with basic hygiene standards. It is enough not to touch the eyes with dirty hands and with a confidence of 95% it can be argued that no pruritus should be feared.
But as already mentioned, eyes can itch for various reasons. In particular, this may be a consequence or symptom of a disease of the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, you should monitor your diet, focus on foods containing high amounts of vitamins and minerals. This is especially true for the transitional seasons - spring and autumn, when the body is especially vulnerable.
Air pollution in large cities and large amounts of dust negatively affect eye health. To minimize the damage caused by these factors, it is recommended to wash your face with cool water after each walk using mild detergents.
Office workers or teenagers who give the lion's share of their time to computer games are especially recommended to make moisturizing eye masks at least three times a week. Such procedures not only create additional protection and relieve fatigue, but also have a positive cosmetic effect.
Women's eyes are especially vulnerable due to the use of various cosmetics. It is recommended to carefully study its composition in order to avoid fakes, use only high-quality products and cleanse eyelids, eyelashes and eyebrows daily.
People of both sexes and all ages should avoid direct exposure to bright sunlight on the retina. The ozone layer, which prevents the penetration of ultraviolet light through the atmosphere, is gradually thinning, and this is one of the reasons that the number of ophthalmic diseases is constantly growing and at least the eyes are red and red. Sunglasses can minimize possible risks.
Finally, with already identified vision problems, one should be especially careful when choosing glasses and lenses. At the slightest discomfort associated with wearing them, you should immediately consult a doctor. Delaying or ignoring this problem can lead to grave consequences.
Itching of the eyelid as an allergic reaction
Problems associated with seasonal or chronic allergies constitute a separate corpus of causes for itching. What to do in this case, you can find out by visiting the doctor’s office.
The exact reason why the body is hypersensitive to certain substances is unknown to science. Anything can become an allergen: plant pollen, pet hair, household chemicals, cosmetics or food. Allergens are most often found in the air, so the mucous membranes of the nose and eyes come into contact with them most often.
Once in the eye, an allergen provokes a reaction of the body. It can be expressed in lesions of the skin, inflammation of the choroid, and in severe situations lead to inflammation of the optic nerve. In these cases, the eyes swell and itch, and the usual methods of dealing with these symptoms are powerless.
To make sure that itching is caused precisely by an allergic reaction of the body to an external stimulus, it is necessary to take tests: a blood test for eosinophils, skin samples to detect an allergen.
Allergy pruritus treatment
The first step in the treatment of allergies is the isolation of the patient from the source of the disease, as well as the prevention of possible subsequent contacts with him.
Drug treatment is the use of a complex of drugs aimed at eliminating both the symptoms and the underlying causes of allergies. Thus, histamine receptor blockers interfere with the release of substances that cause allergic reactions in the body. They can be indicated as eye drops or oral medications.
Anti-inflammatory drugs are used to eliminate the external forms of the expression of diseases - redness, swelling and swelling. For the same purpose, the doctor may prescribe vasoconstrictor drugs. However, they can only act as an additional means, since the effect of their use is not long-term.
With allergies, the thin skin of the eyelids suffers. To improve its condition after treatment, you can take brewer's yeast.
Prevention of eye allergies
Most recommendations coincide with general tips for the prevention of inflammatory processes in the eye area. However, the diet of allergy sufferers should be built not only on the principle of eating as many vitamins as possible. The main importance is the consumption of hypoallergenic products such as fresh vegetables and leafy greens, dairy products, various cereals (oatmeal, rice), boiled beef and white poultry. Citrus fruits, coffee and chocolate, eggs, mushrooms, all types of smoked meats, and alcohol are completely prohibited.
Eyes are an important sensory organ, thanks to which a person receives a substantial part of information about the world around him. Therefore, you need to treat them especially carefully. Overfatigue, frequent stress, lack of sleep - all this provokes health disorders of varying severity, and the eye is almost the first to be affected. Therefore, hygiene, diet and sleep are especially important in the prevention of both the natural causes of eyelid itching and those caused by allergic reactions. If you can’t cope with discomfort at home, a visit to the doctor is the only reasonable and reliable way to prevent serious consequences.