General Eye Conditions and Tests
Why are my eyes itchy?
Itching is the hallmark of allergy. Dust, pollen, harmattan dust, animals, cosmetics and eye drops themselves can all trigger it, usually in both eyes with watering and puffy lids. Dry eye and inflammation of the lid margins also itch. Rubbing makes everything worse and, in children, repeated hard rubbing can weaken the cornea over time.
Allergic eye disease
Allergy releases histamine at the eye surface, producing itching, watering, redness and swelling of the lining of the lids. It is often seasonal or triggered by dust, and frequently accompanies sneezing and a blocked nose. In children a more severe, long lasting form can occur, with thick discharge and stringy mucus, which needs specialist supervision because it can affect the cornea.
Other causes of itching
- Dry eye, where itching accompanies burning and grittiness
- Blepharitis and meibomian gland dysfunction, with itching at the lash line
- Contact allergy to cosmetics, creams or preservatives in eye drops
- Demodex mites at the lash bases, causing itching and sleeve like deposits
What helps
- Cool compresses, which relieve itching quickly
- Preservative free lubricants, which dilute and wash away allergen
- Antihistamine or mast cell stabilising drops, used regularly during a season rather than occasionally
- Reducing exposure, by keeping windows closed on dusty days, changing pillowcases and washing hair after outdoor exposure
- Not rubbing, and keeping fingernails short in children
What to avoid
Avoid drops that whiten the eye, which do not treat allergy and cause rebound redness. Do not use steroid drops without supervision, since prolonged use can raise eye pressure and cause cataract, and they can worsen an unrecognised infection. Severe or persistent cases should be assessed rather than self treated.
When to seek urgent assessment
- Reduced vision, significant pain or light sensitivity
- Thick ropey discharge with severe itching in a child, which needs specialist review
- Cloudiness or a white spot on the cornea
Frequently asked questions
- Why does rubbing feel good then make it worse?
- Rubbing releases more histamine, so relief is brief and itching returns more strongly. Sustained rubbing also thins and distorts the cornea over years.
- Can allergy affect only one eye?
- It usually affects both. One sided itching suggests a contact allergy on that side, a lash problem or another diagnosis, so it is worth examining.
Concerned about these symptoms?
Arrange an eye examination with our consultant ophthalmologist in Garki, Abuja.
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