What You Need To Know About Itchy Eyes
Your eyes are one of the most important organs in your body. Yet, many people fail to protect them and care for them as they should. For instance, some people may take a problem with their feet more seriously than they would a problem with their eyes. This is dangerous and could result in serious complications. One thing that you might deal with is an itching eye. Here are some reasons why your eyes might be itching and what you should do about it.
1. Conjunctivitis
Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, is one of the most common infections that you can have in the eyes. It is a highly contagious infection that affects the skin around the eye and can even harm the eyeball itself. If the problem goes untreated or ignored, it could lead to more serious problems with the eyes.
If you notice that your eyes are red, itchy, and are discharging a green or yellow liquid, then you are probably infected with conjunctivitis. You need to see a doctor right away and get a medicated eye drop that has antibiotics in it. This will help to clear the infection. Otherwise it could damage the eye.
2. Improper Contact Use
If you wear contacts, you need to be extremely careful about your eyes. Any problems such as itching, pain or redness are signs that something is wrong. It may be an infection such as pink eye, or it could be something more serious with your contacts. When you notice these problems, immediately stop wearing your contacts. You could be damaging your cornea and causing the infection to become worse.
You should be replacing your contacts every night and shouldn't sleep in them. Even contacts that are designed for long time use should not be overused. Follow your doctor's directions at all times, otherwise you could be doing irreversible damage to your cornea.
3. Allergies
Allergies are another common reason for itchy eyes. Your eyes may be watery, itchy and even swollen. However, in some cases even allergy medication won't take away the discomfort. Luckily, you can find eye drops that that are specifically designed for seasonal relief. Make sure to find ones with ketotifen in them. This is an active ingredient that can help your eyes to build up a resistance to the allergies. You should use these eye drops not as needed, but daily to build up resistance. This will give you the most success.
If your eyes continue to itch, burn, and hurt, you need to see a vision specialist right away. The problem could be more severe. Contact professionals like Cripe Stephens & Stickel to learn more.