Dry Itchy Eyes: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Dr. Anin Sethi is currently practicing at Mirchia’s Laser Eye Clinic, the best Lasik laser center & Eye Specialist hospital in Chandigarh. He has listed the symptoms, and prevention methods of  Watery eyes, dry or itchy eyes. 

What causes dry and itchy eyes? 

It is common to get watery eyes in the spring-summer or rainy season. 

There can be various reasons for this to happen. One being lack of moisture in the eyes. This is very common in females above the age of 50. 

(increased risk) People, who work at a mill, are exposed to dust, or spend a lot of time staring at the screen are at increased risk of getting dry eyes.  Or if they read a lot then also they can suffer from Dryness and allergies.

What are the symptoms of dry eyes? 

• Feel needles in the eyes
• Watery eyes 
• Strain in the eyes 
• Blurred vision for a few minutes, which goes away after blinking
• Itching in the eyes. 

How to get rid of dry eyes? 

Wash your eyes: 

To get rid of dryness or lack of moisture in the eyes, wash your eyes frequently. 

Take a break: 

If you work for long hours on your computers or laptops, take 5 mins to break after each hour. Look outside the window or close your eyes and sit. The rate at which a person blinks reduces due to increased screen time. And due to this, the moisture in the eyes evaporates. Therefore to avoid dryness one should always take a 5 min break between hours. 

Eye drops: 

There are a few eye drops to lubricate your eyes. These can be used 4-5 times a day as there are no side effects. 

How to get rid of itchy eyes? 

Getting, dull red, and itchy eyes during this season are very common. One of the common reasons for this is the allergic reactions to pollen from the flowers that bloom in spring. 

Eye drops: 

The doctor prescribes medicines, eye drops, and lubricants that soothe the itching.

The patient is asked not to rub his eyes if the allergies are severe, as it may worsen the condition. And also increase the number of the patient’s eyesight. 

Hot and cold compress: 

Use a cold compress or wash your eyes with cold water twice or thrice a day. this helps with excessive itching.

How to permanently treat dry eyes? 

There are different levels of treatment ranging from mild to severe. 

According to the patient’s level of allergy, the treatment can be modified. These allergies can be seen in any age group. Dry eyes are seasonal. So the children should be instructed not to rub their eyes. This may worsen the allergy and weaken vision or even harm the pupil. 

Go to the doctor, follow the prescribed medicines for relief. 

This is a seasonal allergy so it may go away by medications. But there are changes it can come back during the spring-summer or rainy seasons. 

At the age of 18-20 70-80%, it gets better on its own. But in other cases, it has to be treated by medications. 

Note: 

To prevent dry eyes: 

1. Do not rub your eyes. 
2. Use a cold compress
3. Consult a doctor 
4. Follow the prescription