Symptoms
Eyestrain typically does not occur as an isolated sign of the disease, but is accompanied by various, mostly rather unspecific symptoms. Frequent, simultaneously occurring signs of the disease are a feeling of pressure or a foreign body, as well as a feeling of dryness in the affected eye. Burning eyes are also a common symptom, as they are often reddened (even if only by constant rubbing with the fingers by the affected person).
This redness can affect both the eyelids and the conjunctiva. Another characteristic symptom associated with eye burning is itching of the eyelid margins. In some cases, patients notice a sticking of the eyelashes in the morning after waking up, which is caused by a secretion produced at night.
This secretion can have different consistencies depending on its origin and can be either watery, slimy or even purulent. Dandruff can also form on the eyelids or the base of the eyelashes. In some cases, vision may also be impaired.
Blurred or blurred vision may also occur, although not typically. Headaches may also occur as a result of the eye pain. As described above, a burning eye can be accompanied by a variety of other symptoms.
In some cases, these may also include an influence on vision, for example in the form of blurred vision. However, it should be noted that blurred vision is not a leading symptom of the above-mentioned causes and clinical pictures that cause burning eyes. In most cases, it is rather due to an insufficient wetting of the ocular surface with tear fluid, which is necessary to ensure a perfect bundling of the light rays on the retina.
Dry eyes therefore lead to a weak scattering of the light rays and thus to blurred vision. With this knowledge it is often easy to counteract burning eyes and blurred vision at least acutely by using eye drops. However, if the symptoms persist for several days or even increase in intensity, it is strongly recommended to consult an ophthalmologist or at least your family doctor, if only because dry eyes can promote conjunctivitis.
Just as burning eyes can be accompanied by a dry eye surface, increased lacrimation can also occur as an accompanying symptom. If the lacrimation is so strong that the tear fluid runs out over the eyelid margins, this is called epiphora. The salty lacrimal fluid fulfils a number of different tasks.
First and foremost, it ensures a low-friction eyelid stroke and thus protects the cornea from damage, which would lead to a disturbance of the refraction of light and thus to a deterioration of vision. In addition, the tear fluid contains various proteins such as antibodies and enzymes, which have an antibacterial and antiviral function. An excessive production of tear fluid can therefore be caused by an irritation or infection of the eye and thus represent an attempt by the body to flush out foreign bodies or ward off infections.
This connection corresponds well with the symptom of burning eyes. Another background for watery eyes is a disturbed tear outflow via the tear-nose duct. However, this would most likely not be associated with a burning eye.
From this we can ultimately deduce possible causes for the combination of tears and burning eyes. A very probable cause is paradoxically dry eyes. A disturbed composition of the tear fluid can lead to it not being able to fulfil its function adequately.
Tearing of the eyes is also possible as a result of overexertion of the eyes. Likewise, infections of the eye, such as conjunctivitis, can be the trigger for excessive tear production. In any case, prolonged tearing and burning of the eyes should be taken seriously and clarified by a doctor.
Headaches and burning eyes are a very unspecific combination of symptoms. This is particularly the case because pain in the head and neck area, including eye pain, very often results in headaches. However, these two symptoms often occur when the eyes are overstrained.
On the one hand, this can be caused by uncorrected visual impairment such as short-, long-sightedness or even presbyopia, but on the other hand it can also simply be caused by working in front of the computer screen for a long time. Prolonged working at the computer without taking appropriate breaks also favours keratoconjunctivitis sicca, which is characterised by a burning sensation in the eyes due to a lack of tear production. This can also cause the combination of symptoms mentioned above.
Latent strabismus (heterophoria) can also lead to the two symptoms in the course of a day. In fact, strabismus is not uncommon to a certain extent. From birth on, the brain usually adjusts to the shifted visual axes.
However, strabismus, especially in children, can lead to eye burning, headaches and other symptoms such as watery eyes and blurred vision and should be treated. In general, the combination of headaches and burning eyes is therefore harmless. However, it is important to define the exact character of the pain in the eyes.
If severe eye pain as well as headaches (especially in the forehead area) occur very suddenly, this could be an acute angle block in urgent need of treatment, i.e. a glaucoma attack in glaucoma. However, burning pains are rather untypical for this clinical picture. Other typical signs of this disease are vegetative symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, visual disturbances such as blurred vision and reddening of the affected eye.
Furthermore, a rock-hard consistency of the eye becomes noticeable when touched. If the above symptoms are present, it is strongly recommended to visit an emergency clinic to avoid a severe course of the disease. A burning sensation of the eyes, especially when closing them, cannot necessarily be distinguished from a permanent burning sensation and does not necessarily contribute to the exclusion of the above mentioned suspected diagnoses.
The fact that the eyes burn more when the eyelids are closed should instead be considered in such a way that a significantly stronger irritation of the conjunctiva is then caused by rubbing the eyelid on it. The most probable diagnosis here remains the dry eye syndrome (keraton conjunctivitis sicca). This clinical picture can have various causes, such as working in front of a computer monitor for a long time.
Typical accompanying symptoms are a foreign body sensation in the eye, as well as itching of the eye area and, if more severe, reddened eyes. Acute relief of the symptoms can be achieved in particular by using eye drops.
