Burning eyes or burning eyes have become a kind of common disease in modern times. This refers to a burning or itching sensation in one or both eyes, which may also be accompanied by a foreign body sensation. The causes of burning eyes can be quite different in individual cases.
What are burning eyes?
In many cases, there is no external cause for burning eyes. If the discomfort lasts for several days and is accompanied, for example, by headache, difficulty concentrating or fever, it is advisable to see a doctor. Many people suffer from itchy or burning eyes. Those affected complain of a foreign body sensation under the eyelid that cannot be eliminated. Often the eyes are sticky when the sufferer wakes up in the morning. Depending on the individual case, the burning eyes can either water more or be significantly too dry instead. It is not uncommon to find a secretion in the corners of the eyes, which can be watery or viscous. In many cases, no external cause for the burning eyes can be found. If the discomfort lasts for several days and is accompanied, for example, by headache, difficulty concentrating or fever, it is advisable to consult a doctor.
Causes
Burning eyes can have many different causes. Inflammation of the conjunctiva or eyelid cause the annoying burning and itching as well as minor injuries to the eye. Often, however, the discomfort can also be caused by overexertion of the eye. This occurs particularly frequently when the affected person spends many hours in front of a computer screen. Contact lenses can also cause itchy or burning eyes. Lastly, allergies such as hay fever or contact with chlorine – for example in a swimming pool – can also cause burning eyes. To what extent treatment becomes necessary and what this should look like in the individual case, the doctor can decide.
Diseases with this symptom
- Corneal inflammation
- Allergy
- Hay fever
- Conjunctivitis
- Eczema
- Cataract
Diagnosis and progression
Burning eyes do not always require medical treatment. In the case of irritation, for example, by chlorine or overexertion, it may be sufficient to rest the eyes for a while until the discomfort disappears on its own. In case of doubt, however, an ophthalmologist should always be consulted. The ophthalmologist begins his diagnosis with a detailed questioning of the patient, in order to determine when exactly the complaints began and with what they could possibly be connected. This is followed by an examination of the eyes. Injuries or inflammations are often manifested by redness or swelling, which the doctor can interpret accordingly. If necessary, swabs can be taken and examined in the laboratory.
Complications
Complications can occur in association with burning eyes. Because there is increased tear formation in burning eyes, the surface of the eyes is moist. The moist surface causes the eyes to become susceptible to allergies and inflammation. Bacteria multiply on the moist surface and can cause severe irritation of the eyes. The bacteria can cause other diseases. Pain can develop from a simple itch. Eye burning can cause allergies such as hay fever, herpes on the eye, viral conjunctivitis or upper respiratory infections. In addition, there are serious and dangerous diseases that can develop in connection with eye burning. Asthmatic symptoms can develop from a hay fever allergy. Allergy can spread to other allergens. Eye burning may be associated with atopic dermatitis. Eczema may cause inflammation that affects vision. Eye burning may indicate an infection of the eyelids or subcutaneous tissues, or inflammation of the ocular structures. Cataracts or corneal damage may develop in particularly susceptible individuals. If wearers of contact lenses or glass eyes suffer from burning eyes, the mucous membrane is additionally irritated. Palpillar-like growths and, in rare cases, cancers may develop. Burning eyes can generally lead to the spread of infection and blindness in particularly bad cases.
When should you go to the doctor?
Burning eyes can affect one or both eyes. In addition to burning, burning eyes may also cause itching or a foreign body sensation. Depending on the cause, burning eyes may water or be very dry. A visit to the doctor is usually not mandatory immediately for burning eyes. For example, working for hours on the PC can cause burning eyes, which quickly disappear after a break or the end of work. The situation is different if burning eyes last for days and are possibly accompanied by headaches, concentration problems or fever. Burning eyes also occur when the eyes come into contact with chemicals or even toxins. In such a case, the ophthalmologist should be consulted immediately. Those affected by burning eyes should first consult their family doctor or an ophthalmologist. An allergist may also be consulted as part of the examination. Burning eyes are often associated with certain allergies such as hay fever or house dust allergy. Contact lenses can also cause burning eyes. In addition, of course, diseases of the eyes can directly trigger burning eyes, for example conjunctivitis. Likewise, a previously unknown visual impairment or a deterioration of vision can underlie the burning eyes.
Treatment and therapy
Once the doctor has made a diagnosis and determined where the burning eyes come from, he can initiate a therapy tailored to the individual case. If the eyes are only temporarily irritated, for example due to working too long at the computer, it is often sufficient to cool them or give them supporting drops to prevent a feeling of dryness. If the discomfort is due to a previously undetected visual impairment, an appropriate visual aid can provide relief. If the reason for the burning eyes is an inflammation or infection of the eye, the doctor can prescribe antibiotic or also cortisone-containing eye drops, depending on the trigger, which eliminate the inflammation. In the case of an allergy, it should first be determined which substances are triggering so that these can be avoided if possible. Acute symptoms can be alleviated with special eye drops for allergy sufferers. For this purpose, the affected person can take so-called antihistamines, which generally weaken the symptoms of the allergic reaction. If burning eyes occur due to a foreign body or even a toxic substance in the eye, it is imperative that this be washed out immediately before further measures can be taken. If the burning eyes do not have any of the above triggers, they may be due to a more serious condition. In this case, a comprehensive examination of the patient should take place to determine the cause and provide targeted treatment.
Outlook and prognosis
Burning eyes are not necessarily a medical complication. For many people, they occur only for a short time and are not a particularly serious problem. The burning sensation in the eyes often occurs during overwork and can be controlled again with sleep and rest. Not infrequently, the burning sensation also occurs when certain chemical substances have entered the eye. Here, the patient must differentiate for himself whether the substance could be harmful to the eye or not. In the case of shampoo or soap, it is usually not necessary to consult a doctor. In these cases, it is usually sufficient to rinse the eye with warm water until the burning sensation is removed. This may take a few minutes. However, if other chemical substances have gotten into the eye, a doctor must be consulted urgently. Juicy injuries to the eye can occur here if the burning sensation is not treated. The chemical substances can severely damage vessels in the eye, so that no ordinary vision is available afterwards. In many cases, treatment with eye drops is also set to remove the burning from the eyes.
Prevention
Those who suffer from frequent burning eyes should take some preventive measures. Allergy sufferers can already take preventive medication to avoid more severe allergic reactions. If burning eyes occur particularly in connection with VDU work, it can help to take regular breaks and make sure that the humidity in the room is not too low. An appropriate distance from the monitor should be maintained in any case to relieve the eyes.
You can do it yourself
Moisturizing eye drops help eyes that burn because of dry eyes or mild allergy. In the case of burning eyes because of long work at the computer screen, attention should be paid to regular breaks and good moistening of the eyes. Moisturizing eye drops known as “artificial tears” also help here. These are available over the counter in pharmacies or drugstores. It is important to use them according to instructions and to pay attention to hygiene. Otherwise, possible pathogens will move from one eye to the other. Treatment of conjunctivitis can be supported with sterile eye compresses. Here, too, hygiene is essential. Suitable tinctures for compresses are extracts of eyebright, black tea, oak bark, fennel, sage and turmeric. They relieve itching. Fennel also helps against swelling of the eyelids. Castor oil helps with blepharitis: it is effective against dryness, inflammation and infection. The oil must be cold-pressed and hexane-free for use on the eye. A few drops of the oil on the eyelid should alleviate the discomfort. If age-related changes in the conjunctiva are the main cause of dry, burning eyes, eye drops can also help. Care should be taken to use either non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroids. If the symptoms cannot be alleviated, a visit to the ophthalmologist is unavoidable.
