Comfort a Sore and Itchy Eye

Itchy eyes are usually caused by allergies, which can be irritating. Itchiness can also be caused by pink eye, eye strain, or eye fatigue. If you are in a lot of pain or suspect an infection, see your doctor as soon as possible. If you find yourself with itchy, red eyes but they aren't infected, there are some options to help relieve your symptoms.

Steps

Dealing with Possible Allergies

  1. Use a cold compress. If your eyes are itchy and irritated, try putting a cold compress over your eyes. This can also help if they are swollen and red. Grab a soft washcloth or towel. Soak it in cool water and wring it out. Close your eyes and lean your head back, placing the compress on your face. Remove after about 20 minutes. Repeat as many times as necessary to prevent further itching.[1][2]
    • You can also lie down if holding your head back for that long hurts your neck.
  2. Flush out your eyes. If your eyes are itchy and irritated, you may need to flush them out. This can also be necessary if you get an allergen, such as dust, in your eye. To start this, lean over a sink and turn on lukewarm water. Lean down slowly under a lightly running but not too harsh stream of water from the faucet. Let it run over your eyes for a few minutes, or until you think you removed all the allergens.
    • You can also do this in the shower if leaning over a sink is too hard. Just make sure the water isn't too hot. You don't want to injure your eyes with too much heat.[2]
  3. Use eye drops. There are two different kinds of over-the-counter eye drops you can use. You can use antihistamine eye drops, which have allergy fighting medications in them that should relieve itching and redness. You can also use lubricating eye drops, also known as artificial tears. These help relieve itchiness by adding more moisture into your eyes and allowing them wash away allergens.
    • Popular brands of antihistamine eye drops include Alaway or Zaditor. Brands of artificial tears include Clear Eyes, Artificial Tears, and Visine Tears.
    • You can also get prescription antihistamine eye drops from your doctor, such as Patanol. However, many experts believe that over-the-counter options work just as well for mild to moderate cases.[3][4][5]
    • Try placing artificial tears in the fridge — cool drops feel better and can soothe burning itchy eyes.
  4. Avoid rubbing your eyes. When you are suffering from itchy eyes, rubbing them is one of the worst things you can do. This most likely will just make symptoms worse. It puts pressure and rubs against the already irritated surface of your eyes. It can also spread allergens to your eyes through your hands, which will just make the itching worse.
    • Avoid touching your eyes at all. This means you should steer clear of wearing eye makeup when you are having an eye allergy attack.[5]
  5. Protect your eyes. If you are bothered by outside allergens, wear sunglasses when you go outside. This will add an extra layer of protection on your eyes that will keep out these allergens more than leaving your eyes exposed.
    • You can also do this when you are cleaning. If you know that dust or pet dander bother your allergies, wear protective eye wear in the house when you clean.
    • Also avoid touching your eyes right after you pet an animal if pet dander irritates your allergies.[6]
  6. Take out your contacts. When your eyes are irritated, keeping your contacts in will only make them worse. They rub against your eyes, which are already irritated. They can also collect allergens, which will make your symptoms worse. Instead, switch out your contacts for glasses. This will give your eyes a break and has the added bonus of protecting your eyes for possible allergens as well.
    • If you don't have glasses, switch to single use disposable contacts. This will help prevent any possible allergen build up on your contacts.
    • Remember to wash your hands well before putting your contacts in or taking them out. You don't want to spread allergens unnecessarily.[7]
  7. Try an over-the-counter antihistamine. Eye allergies are caused by mostly the same allergens as nose allergies. This includes dust, mold, pet dander, grass, and pollen. Because they are the same, over the counter antihistamines can help relieve your eye symptoms.
    • For non-drowsy antihistamines you can take during the day, you can try loratadine (Claritin), fexofenadine (Allegra), or cetirizine (Zyrtec).
    • Benadryl is also effective, but it can make you drowsy.[5]

Dealing with Treat Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)

  1. Know the symptoms. Pink eye, also known as conjunctivitis, is another common cause of itchy eyes. If your eyes are just itchy, you likely don't have pink eye. However, if your itchiness is combined with multiple other symptoms, you may have pink eye. These can include:[8]
    • Redness
    • Burning
    • Liquid discharge from the eye, which can be white, clear, gray, or yellow
    • Swelling
    • Watering
    • Gritty feeling
  2. See a doctor. Pink eye can be either viral or bacterial and it is highly contagious for up to two weeks. You want to get it treated as soon as you can so you lower the risk of passing it on. See your doctor at the first signs of pink eye.
    • Your doctor will examine your eye and decide what kind of pink eye you have. If he suspects a larger issue, she may run additional tests.[9]
  3. Take an antibiotic. Most cases of pink eye are caused by a viral infection, but if your doctor decides you have bacterial pink eye, she may prescribe antibiotics. These can reduce the time you have bacterial pink eye from a week to a couple of days. However, antibiotics will not work on viral pink eye.[10]
  4. Follow home remedies. There is no treatment for viral pink eye since there is no cure for viruses. Your doctor may prescribe antiviral medication if your pink eye is caused by certain forms of viruses. For these cases, and for any type of pink eye, follow the simple home remedies that work for eye allergies, such as cold compresses, contact removal, and limited eye contact or rubbing.[10]

Assuaging the Pain of Eye Fatigue

  1. Know the symptoms. Another common symptom of itchy eyes is eye fatigue. It can cause itchy eyes, as well as sore or tired eyes. You may also have blurred vision, watery eyes, or be more sensitive to bright lights.[11]
    • See your doctor right away if you have double vision.[11] Prolonged eyestrain can be a sign of another issue, so if it persists, see a doctor.[12]
  2. Reduce the causes. Eye fatigue is most often caused by staring too long at one thing, whether it be the road, a computer screen, or a book. Try to reduce your time doing these activities if you can.
    • Trying to read or work on a project in dim light can also cause eye strain. Add light to help reduce strain.[13]
    • However, if you're working on the computer or watching television, lights that are too bright can cause problems. Adjust lighting so there isn't a glare.[14]
  3. Rest your eyes. In order to reduce eye fatigue, you need to rest your eyes. To do this, follow the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, glance away from what you are focusing on for 20 seconds. The object you look at should be at least 20 feet away. Repeat this every 20 minutes while you are reading or using a computer or looking at one thing for a long time.
  4. Change your eyeglass prescription. If you are suffering from eye fatigue, you may have the wrong eyeglass prescription. Make an appointment with your eye doctor and explain what has been going on with your eyes. They may suggest a different prescription for your everyday glasses or possibly suggest a pair of work glasses. This may help reduce fatigue from your computer or reading distance.[15]
  5. Adjust your work environment. When you are working on a computer, you are likely to get eye fatigue. While you work, your screen should be about {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} away from you. It should also be slightly below eye level, or where your glance would normally fall.
    • You should also keep your screen clean, because any dirt, dust, or smears on the surface can make your eyes strain to see through it.[14]
    • Use a microfiber wipe and a screen cleaning solution to wipe down your screens. Turn off your screens before cleaning.[16]

Warnings

  • Even a seemingly benign symptom such as itchy eyes can be a sign of a more serious problem, such as atopic keratoconjunctivitis.[17] Always check with your eye doctor about persistent problems with your eyes.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.randeye.com/cold-compresses/
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.medicinenet.com/eye_allergy/page5.htm#what_is_the_treatment_for_eye_allergies
  3. ↑ http://www.drugs.com/mtm/artificial-tears.html
  4. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-eyes/expert-answers/artificial-tears/faq-20058422
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3387/65522/ways-deal-allergies/
  6. ↑ http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003034.htm
  7. ↑ http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/allergies.htm
  8. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pink-eye/basics/symptoms/con-20022732
  9. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pink-eye/basics/tests-diagnosis/con-20022732
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pink-eye/basics/treatment/con-20022732
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/eyestrain/basics/symptoms/con-20032649
  12. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/eyestrain/basics/risk-factors/con-20032649
  13. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/eyestrain/basics/causes/con-20032649
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/eyestrain/basics/lifestyle-home-remedies/con-20032649
  15. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/eyestrain/basics/treatment/con-20032649
  16. ↑ http://www.realsimple.com/magazine-more/inside-magazine/ask-real-simple/clean-computer-screen
  17. ↑ http://www.aao.org/publications/eyenet/201002/pearls.cfm
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