What are itchy eyes?
Itchy eyes are very common, affecting almost everyone at some point. Though a bit uncomfortable, itchy eyes aren't generally a cause for concern. The itchiness can be due to a number of different causes, including allergies or wearing contact lenses.
Itchy eyes usually feel scratchy or irritated and can range from mild discomfort to persistent irritation. They’re often accompanied by other symptoms such as redness, watering, a gritty or dry sensation, swollen eyelids or a strong urge to rub your eyes. Most cases are harmless, but if your eyes are painful, your vision changes or symptoms don’t improve, you should speak to your optician, pharmacist, or GP.
What causes itchy eyes?
There are several reasons why your eyes may feel itchy. These include:
Allergies (perennial allergies)
An allergy to house-dust mites and/or pets can occur when your eyes react to tiny airborne particles inside your home. They’re also called perennial allergies because they occur year-round. These allergies can cause ongoing itchiness, redness and watery eyes. Find out more about allergies here.
Hay fever and seasonal allergies
Hay fever is triggered by an allergy to pollen from trees, grasses or flowers. You may be sensitive to some types of pollen and not others. Symptoms often include itchy, red or watery eyes, along with sneezing, a runny nose or an itchy throat. Find out more about hay fever here.
Contact lenses
Wearing contact lenses for too long or not cleaning them properly can irritate your eyes. In rare cases, this can trigger giant papillary conjunctivitis, a specific allergic reaction related to contact lens wear. If you notice persistent itchiness while wearing lenses, it may help to switch to glasses until your eyes recover.
Giant papillary conjunctivitis
This is uncommon and can be related to wearing contact lenses. It causes itching, redness and discomfort, particularly when lenses are worn.
Contact conjunctivitis
Some people have an allergic reaction to cosmetics, eye drops or other chemicals. This can lead to redness, itching and watering of the eyes shortly after exposure.
Blepharitis
A common condition where the edges of the eyelid become red, swollen or crusty. It is often caused by blocked oil glands or bacteria along the eyelid margins and can result in persistent itchiness, flaky skin near the eyes and sticky eyelashes.
Dry eyes
If your eyes don’t produce enough tears or if tears evaporate too quickly, your eyes can become dry and itchy. Environmental factors such as air conditioning, central heating, windy weather or prolonged screen use can make dry eyes worse.
Eye infections
Viral or bacterial conjunctivitis can cause itchy eyes along with redness, swelling and sticky discharge. Unlike allergic conjunctivitis, infections may produce yellow or green discharge and can be contagious.
How are itchy eyes treated?
Treatment can vary depending on the cause of the itchy eyes. It generally helps to:
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Stop wearing contact lenses until symptoms have gone away and for 24 hours after the last dose of a drop or ointment (ask your optometrist for advice regarding wearing lenses with itchy eye symptoms)
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Avoid rubbing your eyes, as this can cause more inflammation and worsen symptoms
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Avoid the cause of the allergy (for example, stay away from animals or keep windows closed during high pollen counts)
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Practise good hand hygiene to reduce irritation or infection
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Take regular breaks from screens to reduce eye strain
If symptoms are mild, they're likely to go away on their own without treatment. If symptoms are severe, painful, affect your vision or persist, visit your optician or GP, who may prescribe eye drops or tablets.
Treating allergies
Eyedrops including antihistamine eye drops and mast cell stabiliser eye drops are commonly used. They can help relieve itching, redness and watering caused by allergies and may help keep symptoms away until the cause of allergy is removed.
If your eyes are very swollen, it may take a few days for eye drops to ease your symptoms. Your pharmacist or optometrist can advise on which eye drops may be suitable.
For more severe allergy symptoms, oral antihistamines may also be recommended. If allergies are ongoing or difficult to control, your doctor may refer you to an allergy specialist for further assessment and treatment options.
Treating blepharitis
If you have blepharitis and are experiencing crusty eyelids and lashes, a daily eyelid-cleaning routine can help ease symptoms. There are three main actions that should be carried out. In order, these are:
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Every morning and evening, clean your eyelids to remove dirt, bacteria and excess oil. You can buy specialist wipes and solutions to help with this
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Using a warm compress – this helps make the oil in the glands around your eyes more fluid. This is generally done a few times a week or as advised
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Gently massaging your eyelids to encourage oil flow from the glands, usually after applying a warm compress
If your symptoms worsen or persist after using home treatments, or if your eyes feel sticky or crusty due to infection, visit your GP or eye specialist. More severe cases may require antibiotic treatment applied to the eye or eyelid.
Over-the-counter treatments for itchy eyes
Your optician or pharmacist can recommend a range of treatments to help relieve itchy eyes, depending on the cause. These may include:
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Lubricating eye drops for dry or mildly irritated eyes
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Antihistamine or mast cell stabiliser eye drops for allergy-related itching
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Cooling eye masks or gels to reduce puffiness and soothe irritation
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Eye gels or ointments, particularly for overnight comfort if dryness is a problem
If over-the-counter treatments aren’t helping, it’s best to seek advice from your optician or GP.
Next steps
If you have itchy eyes, try to identify the cause and avoid the trigger if possible. Ask your pharmacist or optometrist for advice on treatments that may help relieve your symptoms.
If symptoms worsen, become painful, affect your vision or don’t improve, visit your GP or optician. They may prescribe medicine such as eye drops, tablets or antibiotics depending on the underlying cause of the itchy eyes.
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