What Causes Eye Itching? How to Pass?

Eye itching is a complaint that can occur for many reasons and can happen to almost everyone. During seasonal changes and spring, flower or tree pollen flying in the air can affect the eyes. On the other hand, various factors such as dust, polluted air, some medications and chemicals can also affect the eye. In this context, the first reaction of the eye and surrounding tissues is usually a feeling of itching. The eye is one of the most sensitive organs in our body. The thinness of the eyelid, which protects the eye, and the skin around the eye indicate that it is vulnerable to all sensitive influences.

What is Eye Itching?

Body; It produces a substance called histamine due to many reasons such as pollen and dust. This substance may cause an allergic reaction. This reaction usually manifests itself as itching. Eye itching is also caused by histamine secretion in the eye. Eye itching usually occurs in the inner part of the eye close to the nose. In this respect, scratching the inside of the eye may cause more histamine secretion, which may cause more itching. On the other hand, in addition to allergies or external effects, itching may also be a symptom of some eye diseases. In case of eye itching, you should definitely consult the nearest eye hospital.

What Causes Eye Itching?

Many reasons can be listed that cause eye itching. These are as follows:

• Allergy: Allergies to various things to which a person is sensitive can cause itching in the eyes and eyelids. Although seasonal allergies caused by plant pollens are generally seen in a large part of the society, there may also be people who have chronic allergic reactions that continue throughout the year. Some pet hair, dust, and various chemicals can also cause allergies in a person. These trigger eye itching by increasing histamine secretion in the eyes.

• Eye Diseases: Eye itching may be seen as a symptom of some diseases. These diseases can cause dryness in the eyes, eyelid inflammation called blepharitis, and various infections can cause itching. In addition, side effects of medications such as birth control pills, antihistamines, painkillers or antidepressants can also cause eye itching. In case of dry eyes, there may be itching and redness in the eyes due to the decrease in fluid in the eye. With this itching, the eye tears and the fluid increases. This continues in a cycle. That's why it's important to treat dry eye before treating itching. Some eye infections can also lead to particularly inflammatory consequences. In this respect, it is important to treat both the infection and the itching it causes. Treatment of the other disorders mentioned is an important step in resolving eye itching.

• Dirty Air: There are many small particles in the air that we cannot see with the naked eye. These; Various factors in the air, such as exhaust fumes, perfume, cigarette smoke, and very small ash particles, can affect the eyes. In this respect, it may cause itching in the eyes as a reaction.

• Chemicals: Most chemicals have the ability to affect not only the eyes but also our entire body. However, the eyes are usually the first organs affected. These chemicals, which come into contact with the eyes due to various reasons such as disproportionate use of various cleaning products generally used at home or splashes, etc., can also cause itching. On the other hand, some creams, body lotions, shampoos, soaps and make-up materials used for the face can also cause allergies. Allergy can also manifest itself with itching.

• Eye Strain: Another reason that can be considered as the cause of itching in the eyes is eye fatigue. Many reasons cause eye fatigue, such as people being exposed to the screen for a long time, trying to read a book in dim light at night, or not having a good sleep pattern. In this case, the eyes may itch, usually as a reaction. Resting the eyes, making the light environment healthy, or using a blue light filter or blue light glasses if there is a work environment that depends on long-term screen use, can make the eyes less tired. Additionally, not being sleep deprived is also a factor in preventing eye fatigue.

• Hygiene: Eye hygiene is an important factor in eye health. Failure to pay attention to hygiene at this point may directly affect the eye, which is very sensitive, and may manifest itself with itching. In this respect, shared face towels, contact lenses, and eye drops may cause infection in one person to be transmitted to another. On the other hand, touching the eyes after touching various places can also cause eye infection and itching in the eyes. In this respect, eye hygiene should be taken into consideration and care should be taken to ensure that eye-related personal care products are personal.

• Other: In addition to all these reasons, the use of contact lenses, Some eye drops can also cause itchy eyes. In particular, contact lenses are not used appropriately; Contact lenses may cause eye itching if they are left in the eye for too long or if they are not removed hygienically. On the other hand, eye redness and itching may occur due to the side effects of eye drops used for other reasons.

How to Diagnose Eye Itching?

The eye may itch for a short time due to temporary reasons. However, if the itching situation persists, the nearest ophthalmologist should be consulted. Eye itching can be a result in itself or it can be the cause of various diseases. In this respect, tests and observations used to diagnose diseases can be used for diagnosis.

How to Get Rid of Itchy Eyes?

Treatment of itchy eyes is an often neglected treatment. As an answer to the question of how to relieve eye itching, if you experience eye itching, you should first remove any contact lenses and take a break from personal care products such as perfume, soap, and shampoo until you see a doctor in order to relieve the itching. Also, washing the face with cold water can relieve itching. These are intended to relieve eye itching and are not a substitute for treatment. Additionally, no other application should be made to relieve itching. Because some applications may increase the severity of itching instead of relieving it. For example, applying heat can often increase itching. Therefore, a doctor should be consulted as soon as possible.

It is important to treat the allergy that causes eye itching first. Some drops or medications can be used to treat year-round or seasonal allergies. However, to prevent this situation from occurring frequently, the cause of the allergy must be found. For example, if a person is allergic to pollen, the person can be extra careful during pollen seasons, or if he is allergic to a chemical, products that do not contain that chemical should be preferred.

On the other hand, itching, which can be a symptom of eye diseases, is likely to disappear when these diseases are treated. To eliminate chronic dry eye, infection or other causes, the treatment protocols applied by the doctor must be adhered to. Because if eye diseases are left untreated, they can cause different problems beyond eye itching. Treatment of eye diseases should definitely not be neglected.

There may be some different suggestions to relieve eye itching caused by polluted air. Especially due to the long time spent at home, frequent cleaning of air filters at home, installing filters on opened windows, or using products that clean the air in the house may be solutions. On the other hand, if you use contact lenses, they should be removed and worn daily, not sleeping with contact lenses at night, and hygiene protocols should be followed.

When Should You See a Doctor When You Have Itchy Eyes?

• If there is no improvement in your symptoms,
• If there is heavy discharge in the eyes,
• If the eyelids are stuck together,
• If you cannot keep your eyes open,
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• If your vision has changed or become blurry,
• If there is something foreign in your eye,
• If you see a halo around the lights,
• If you have difficulty looking at bright lights
• If your pupils are of different sizes,
• If the eyes are swollen,
• If the pain in the eye is gradually increasing,

You should consult the nearest ophthalmologist as soon as possible. .

Is Scratching Your Eyes Harmful?

Eye itching usually begins mildly. Since histamine secretion increases with scratching, the feeling of itching increases as you scratch. Since eye scratching is an external practice, its intensity may not be adjustable, which may damage the eye. Scratching the cornea, various infections, or damaging the eye in various ways can be listed among these. Therefore, in case of eye itching, you should definitely see a nearby ophthalmologist as soon as possible.