What Causes Eye Itching? What Relieves Eye Itching?

The eye is the organ that provides a visual connection to the external world, perceives light, refracts it, and transmits it to the sensory center in the brain. Due to its sensitive nature and exposure to external factors, the eye is quickly affected by environmental conditions. Eye itching, which often results from the influence of external factors, is one of the common eye ailments. Eye itching can arise from air pollution, allergic factors, and pathogenic microorganisms. However, eye itching should not be taken lightly as it can also be a sign of more serious diseases. As the name suggests, the first symptom of eye itching is itching itself. Additionally, symptoms such as redness and watering in the eyes, clear or thick discharge, swelling of the eyelids, a burning sensation, and a stinging sensation may also occur.

What Causes Eye Itching?

The most common factors causing eye itching include conjunctivitis due to infection and allergy. Other factors causing eye itching include:

Allergy: One of the most common factors causing eye itching is allergies. Seasonal allergies or other environmental allergies can sometimes cause eye itching. The formation of allergies is characterized by the release of histamine, which causes the capillary, sensitive vessels in the eye to expand, triggering itching and redness.

Dry Eye Disease: Dry eye disease, which occurs due to the loss of moisture in the eye, can cause itching. Excessive dryness of the eye can also cause symptoms such as redness and pain along with itching.

Eye Infection and Inflammation: Infections occurring in the eyelids and around the eye can cause a feeling of itching.

Blepharitis: Blepharitis is an infection that occurs at the point where the eyelids meet the eyelashes. It emerges due to the excessive colonization of bacteria on the eyelids. This disease, which occurs when the small oil glands at the base of the eyelashes are blocked, can cause redness, itching, and irritation.

Non-Allergic Conjunctivitis: This type of conjunctivitis occurs after viral or bacterial infections such as colds, flu, and COVID-19 and often causes eye itching.

Contact Lens Usage: Using contact lenses without proper cleaning or not regularly replacing them according to usage time can irritate the conjunctiva. This condition, called papillary conjunctivitis, caused by improper use of contact lenses, leads to swelling, itching, and redness in the eye. Contact lenses should only be used with a doctor's recommendation, ensuring they are suitable for the eye and will not cause irritation.

Post-Eye Surgery Recovery Process: After cataract surgery or other eye-related operations, itching symptoms may occur in the eye. These patients feel the presence of a foreign body in the eye along with itching, which increases the urge to scratch. During this process, eye rubbing should be avoided, and a doctor should be consulted if the itching symptom persists for a long time.

Eye Fatigue: Activities that tire the eyes, such as long-distance driving, reading for long hours, or studying, can cause eye itching. Itching due to eye fatigue is usually seen along with tension. When it is necessary to engage in eye-straining activities, following the 20-20-20 rule can prevent itching and other symptoms. This method involves looking at something 6 meters away for at least 20 seconds every 20 minutes.

Exposure to Irritants: Exposure to dirty air or chemical fumes and dusty environments can cause irritation in the eyes, leading to itching. Besides airborne irritants, indirect exposure can occur through the contact of cosmetic products and lotions around the eyes. This type of irritation can result in contact dermatitis or eyelid dermatitis, further aggravating the itching.

Foreign Object in the Eye: One of the common causes of eye itching is the presence of a foreign object in the eye. Sand, dirt, and other small particles can easily get into the eye. In such cases, the eye should not be rubbed or touched. The healthiest action to take when a foreign object enters the eye is to blink naturally to expel the object.

Medication Usage: Some medications can cause eye dryness as a side effect or directly. Eye dryness is one of the factors leading to itching. Antihistamines, decongestants, birth control pills, and oral acne medications can trigger dryness-related eye itching.

Dermatitis and Rosacea: Dermatitis, commonly known as eczema, and rosacea, known as rosacea, can cause conjunctivitis when they occur on the eyelid. Conjunctivitis can also trigger the formation of dry eye. The accumulation of skin flakes caused by eczema on the eyelid in the eye can also result in irritation and itching.

What Relieves Eye Itching?

There are several methods to relieve eye itching. These methods include:

• Using artificial tear drops, available over-the-counter or by prescription.
• Using anti-allergic eye drops under medical supervision.
• Taking oral antihistamines under medical supervision.
• Paying attention to the cleanliness and hygiene of the eye area.
• Avoiding eye strain by taking breaks and resting the eyes whenever possible.

How to Relieve Eye Itching at Home?

Although eye itching is often seen as a simple medical condition, it can sometimes indicate a serious illness. In particular, professional help should be sought and home remedies should not be considered in the presence of certain symptoms. These symptoms include:

• Thick green or yellowish discharge from the eyes.
• Abnormal swelling of the eyes.
• Blurred vision, sudden increase in eye degree.
• Extreme sensitivity to light in the eyes.
• Unbearable eye pain.

If these symptoms are not present and mild itching has developed, the following can be done at home:

• Washing the eye area to remove any accumulated harsh, irritating, and infectious substances such as pollen and dander. This washing process should be done with clean, warm water. Be gentle during rinsing, and do not rub the eyes.
• Applying a cold compress is recommended for both pain and itching. The symptoms of itching can be alleviated by holding a clean cloth or towel soaked in cold water over the eyes. Since the cold compress application usually does not yield effective results in the first application, it may need to be repeated several times.

How to Prevent Eye Itching?

Eye itching can be prevented by taking certain measures. Actions that can be taken to prevent eye itching include:

• Ensuring hygiene and not exceeding the usage time of contact lenses prevents both infection and itching. Hands should be thoroughly washed before replacing lenses, and lenses suspected of being unclean should not be used.
• Washing the eye area and especially the bases of the eyelashes with shampoos specifically developed for the eyes before going to bed at night prevents the triggering of eye dryness by preventing possible infections.
• Removing makeup residues before going to bed is one way to prevent eye itching. This prevents pores and the bases of the eyelashes from becoming clogged and susceptible to infections. Additionally, makeup products should be personal and not shared with others.
• If the cause of the itching in your eye cannot be identified and the itching is increasingly severe, seeking help from health professionals is the best option. The factor causing the itching can be identified and appropriate treatment started with diagnostic methods, allowing you to easily get rid of this health problem.