Although dryness and itching in the eyes may have mild and temporary symptoms, they can sometimes indicate serious health problems. This discomfort can negatively impact daily life and reduce a person's quality of life. Dryness and itching in the eyes can arise from various causes such as dust particles in the air, allergies, or reduced tear production. Understanding the symptoms and determining the correct treatment methods is crucial for overcoming this condition.
What are Dryness and Itching in the Eyes?
Dry eyes occur when your eyes do not produce enough tears or when the tears produced are not of the right quality. This condition can lead to the eye surface not being properly moisturized, causing the eyes to feel red, irritated, and uncomfortable.
Itching in the eyes is often an effect of allergic reactions. Contact with allergens such as pollen, pet dander, and dust mites can trigger inflammation that causes itching in the eyes. Eye itching can also result from infections, the use of contact lenses, or dry eye syndrome. Symptoms of eye itching include a burning sensation, redness, or increased tear production.
What Are the Symptoms of Dry Eyes?
Dry eye is a common condition characterized by various symptoms. Common symptoms of dry eyes include:
- Burning or stinging sensation in the eyes: This feeling often becomes more chronic later in the day.
- Red or irritated eyes: Your eyes may frequently appear red and irritated.
- Sensation of a foreign body: You may constantly feel as if there is something in your eyes.
- Excessive tear production: Dry eyes can sometimes result in excessive tear production. Excessive tear production occurs because your eye produces a high volume of low-quality tears to compensate for not producing enough quality tears.
- Sensitivity to light: Increased sensitivity to sunlight or intense indoor lighting is also a symptom.
- Vision problems: You may experience vision problems during activities such as reading, working on a computer, or driving at night.
If you experience any or a few of these symptoms, it is important to consult an eye doctor. Dry eyes are treatable, and there are various options available to alleviate symptoms.
What Causes Itching in the Eyes?
Eye itching can be caused by various factors such as allergic reactions, infections, or foreign bodies. Allergic reactions are the body's hypersensitive response to pollen, dust, or pet dander and can cause itching in the eyes.
Eye infections can also lead to itching. Examples include conjunctivitis (inflammation of the lining of the eyelids) and blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelash follicles at the edge of the eyelid).
Foreign bodies can enter the eye as a result of dust particles or contact lens usage and cause irritation that triggers eye itching.
While these conditions are generally common, persistent eye itching should be evaluated by a healthcare professional. Because sometimes it can be a sign of a more serious health issue. If other symptoms accompany eye itching, you should seek medical help.
Main Causes of Dry Eyes
The causes of dry eyes can vary from person to person and many factors can trigger this condition.
Prolonged gazing at digital device screens such as computers, tablets, or phones significantly reduces blink frequency. This situation leads to rapid evaporation of the tear layer that naturally protects the moisture of the eye surface, causing the eyes to dry out.
Environmental factors such as the use of air conditioning, excessive heating, windy weather conditions, or generally dry air promote the rapid evaporation of the tear layer, causing dry eyes.
The incorrect use of contact lenses can lead to faster evaporation of tears. This is a common problem among lens users.
As age progresses, a decrease in the natural production of tears by the body is observed. This especially leads to dry eye problems in elderly individuals.
The use of certain prescription medications such as antihistamines, antidepressants, and blood pressure medications can also cause dry eyes. These medications cause the eyes to dry out by reducing the body's production of tears.
The presence of autoimmune diseases such as Sjögren's syndrome can also lead to dry eyes. Such diseases cause the body's own cells to attack themselves, damaging the tear glands and thus making it difficult to moisturize the eyes.
How to Relieve Dryness and Itching in the Eyes?
Treatment for dry eyes and similar discomforts usually begins immediately after determining the underlying cause of the disease. An effective treatment plan needs to be tailored to the individual because each person's lifestyle and health status are different. Some common and potentially effective methods include:
- Using artificial tear drops: Prescription tear drops can be used to maintain the moisture of the eye surface. These drops mimic natural tears and help reduce dryness in the eyes.
- Avoiding allergens: Allergic reactions to factors like house dust, pollen, or pet dander can be avoided.
- Paying attention to eye hygiene: The eyelids should be regularly cleaned with warm water or special cleaning solutions. It helps prevent eye infections and maintains eye health.
- Moisturizing eye creams: Dermatological moisturizers can be used for individuals with complaints of dryness and flaking under the eyes. These creams provide moisture balance to the under-eye area and strengthen the skin barrier.
- Using a room humidifier: A humidifier device can be used to maintain the humidity balance in home or office environments. This minimizes the effect of weather conditions on dry eyes, reducing dryness complaints.
- Taking a break from contact lens use: During periods of dry eye complaints, it is advised to temporarily take a break from using lenses.
Dryness and Flakiness Under the Eyes: Could It Be a Skin Problem?
Dryness in the under-eye area is often not solely the result of a problem originating from the eyes. Certain skin diseases are among the causes of this condition. Skin conditions such as eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, and allergic contact dermatitis can create a marked feeling of dryness, itching, and flakiness around the eyes.
Eczema is characterized by inflammation of the skin and is associated with dry, flaky skin. Seborrheic dermatitis is a skin condition manifesting with redness, typically seen in oily areas. Allergic contact dermatitis occurs as a result of an allergy that develops against certain substances.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the symptoms of dry eyes?
Burning, stinging, redness, and blurred vision are common symptoms of dry eyes. In addition, discomfort on the surface of the eyes and sensitivity to light can be observed.
What causes dry eyes?
Prolonged screen use, dry air, aging, certain medications, and rheumatologic diseases can cause dry eyes by reducing tear production. This condition can impair the health of the cornea, triggering various discomforts.
How to relieve eye itching?
Antihistamine drops and cold compresses can be applied for allergy-related itching. Itching due to dry eyes can be controlled with tear drops.
What causes eyelid itching?
Eyelid itching is caused by blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelid), skin allergies, or infections. A detailed eye examination should determine the underlying cause.