IS THERE anything more maddening than itchy eyes? You finally get some relief after rubbing your tear duct raw – only for the infernal tickle to start all over again, leaving your peepers puffy and sore.
With season well underway – and pollen levels predicted to be very high across the country this week – chances are the itching is caused by an allergy to the tiny pollen particles shed by grass and trees.
Itchy eyes are often a symptom of hay fever – but could they be caused by something else? Credit: Alamy
But in some cases, your tickly, streaming eyes could be down to something different or more serious.
Opinder Malhi, an optometrist at Opticians, tells : “The eyes are the body’s most highly developed sensory organ.
“Up to 80 per cent of the information we receive from the world comes through our eyes, so it’s vital to keep them healthy.
“Many people experience temporary problems like itchy eyes which are often treatable with simple lifestyle changes.
“However, in rare cases, itchy eyes can be a warning sign that could indicate more serious issues within the eye.”
So, how do you tell apart the benign and easily treatable from the serious?
From hay fever to dryness, infections or skin condition, here’s what’s making your eyes itch and when to get your symptoms checked out urgently.
1. Hay now
Pay attention to when your symptoms come on – have you been outside, or is it peak hay fever season? Credit: Getty
At this time of year, it’s often safe to assume hay fever – also known as allergic rhinitis – is the culprit behind your itchy eyes.
It’s thought 10 million people in have the condition, which is most rife between May and September – and it certainly seems to be the case right now.
Pollen counts have soared along with temperatures, with the Met Office predicting very high levels for England as well as parts of Scotland until the end of the week.
You’ll typically be able to spot a pollen allergy if your itchy eyes are accompanied by other telltale symptoms.
“With hay fever, both eyes tend to become red, watery and very itchy at roughly the same time,” says Kenny Chan, Numark’s lead information services pharmacist.
“The itch can be intense enough to make you want to rub your eyes constantly,” he says.
Your eyes won’t usually be painful – unless you overdo it with the rubbing – but you might get a bit of discharge, which is “typically clear and watery rather than thick”, Kenny adds.
“Crucially, the eye symptoms almost always come with other allergy symptoms such as sneezing, a runny or blocked nose, and sometimes an itchy throat.”
Watch out for when your symptoms strike too – if you get an itch when you’re outside and the Met Office says pollen levels are high, that’s another clue that hay fever is the cause.
They usually improve with antihistamines and by avoiding triggers.
And if your symptoms improve by taking antihistamines, sounds like you’ve hit the nail on the head.
2. Tickle me pink
Conjunctivitis can cause itching as well as soreness and discharge Credit: Getty
Another common cause of eye itching is an infection called conjunctivitis – or pink eye.
Kenny says: “Conjunctivitis tends to feel more sore and gritty rather than purely itchy.
“It often starts in one eye and then spreads to the other, whereas hay fever usually hits both eyes together.”
Bacteria can trigger the condition, as well as a virus – so think back to whether you’ve had a recent cold or sore throat.
“In bacterial conjunctivitis, the discharge is thicker, yellow or green, and can glue the eyelids together in the morning,” the pharmacist says, while “viral conjunctivitis often produces a watery discharge”.
“People with conjunctivitis usually don’t have much sneezing or nasal itching,” he adds.
And unlike hay fever, conjunctivitis can be very contagious, meaning it “may spread quickly through a household”, Kenny warns.
Opinder says: “To reduce the risk of spreading it, wash your hands regularly, avoid rubbing your eyes and don’t share towels.
“If you wear contact lenses, remove them straight away [if you notice pink eye symptoms] and speak to your optometrist.
“You can help soothe symptoms by gently cleaning your eyes with warm water or holding a cold flannel over them to ease irritation.”
A pharmacist may also suggest eye drops or antihistamines to help with your symptoms. You won’t usually need to speak to a , unless you have a child under two with pink eye, the says.
3. Put a lid on it
Soreness on your lid around the lash line could indicate blepharitis Credit: Getty
Are the lids of your eyes swollen and itchy?
Blepharitis could be behind this.
Kenny says: “Here, the itch and irritation are focused on the eyelids rather than the eyeball itself.
“The edges of the lids often look red and thickened, with tiny crusts or flakes at the base of the eyelashes.
“People often describe a gritty, burning feeling, and their eyelids may stick together on waking.
“Blepharitis tends to be a chronic, day to day problem that fluctuates rather than appearing suddenly in pollen season.
“It is not usually associated with sneezing or a runny nose, and the key visual clues are the inflamed, crusty lid edges and the long-term nature of the symptoms, which helps distinguish it from hay fever.”
Opinder recommends cleaning your eyelids daily if you’re suffering from the condition.
Specialist wipes can also help remove excess oil and any dirt or bacteria that’s built up at the lashline.
4. Skin-flamed
Eczema can also affect your eyelids, causing itching and cracking Credit: Getty
Skin conditions that affect other parts of your body can also crop up on your lids too.
is very common, affecting one in 10 adults in the UK, many of whom might get symptoms on the sensitive skin around their eyes.
“The itch is centred on the eyelids and surrounding skin, which may look dry, red, scaly or thickened, and in more severe cases can crack or weep,” according to Kenny.
“This often occurs in people who have eczema elsewhere on the body.”
You may get eczema on your eyelids after using make-up or face creams, but the condition can also be exacerbated by soaps and washing detergents, pollen, dust mites or even certain foods.
Heat, stress and hormonal changes can make things worse too.
“While hay fever can cause puffiness around the eyes, it doesn’t usually cause scaly, cracked skin. If the skin itself looks inflamed and rough, and especially if symptoms flare after using particular products, eczema or contact dermatitis is more likely than hay fever,” Kenny adds.
To keep eczema on your lids at bay, try and avoid known triggers, Opinder adds.
“Keep the area well moisturised and seek professional advice before applying any medicated creams near the eyes,” she notes.
5. High and dry
Dryness can cause burning and stinging in the eyes Credit: Getty
Dry eyes can sometimes be mistaken for an allergy, but Kenny says the sensation is usually different.
“People with dry eyes often describe burning, stinging or a gritty feeling rather than intense itch,” he says.
“Vision may blur and then clear when they blink, and symptoms are often worse after long periods of screen use, in air conditioned rooms or in windy environments.
“The eyes may water, but this is a reflex response to dryness rather than the profuse tearing seen in hay fever.”
Plus, you won’t get other symptoms like sneezing or a runny nose.
Make sure to take breaks to rest your eyes when using screens or watching TV, and wear glasses for a bit if you’re a contact lens wearer.
Using eyedrops or gels may also help, as well as using a humidifier.
Sun Health's tips to beat hay fever hell on a budget
Triggered when the immune system reacts to the allergen pollen, common symptoms include watery, itchy eyes, a tickly throat and a runny, congested nose.
Holly Shaw, a nurse adviser for charity Allergy UK, puts this down to “better diagnosis but also climate change, with warmer temperatures causing pollen seasons to start earlier and last longer”.
But if of daily anti-histamine tablets, nasal sprays and balms from the chemist are not doing the trick, don’t lose hope, there are other hacks you can deploy.
From regularly showering and vacuuming the home to scoffing chocs, here are some tactics backed by experts not to be sneezed at . . .
- Wear wraparound sunglasses and a hat with a peak or big brim or go for a face mask
- On high pollen days, have a bath or shower and wash your hair. Change your clothes when you get home.
- Avoid mowing the lawn or raking leaves – ask someone else to step in.
- Try not to dry clothes or bed linen outside when the allergen count is high.
- Keep windows firmly closed, especially early in the morning and in the evening, when higher levels of pollen are released.
- Wipe down pets with a damp cloth, as they can bring pollen into the home. Also, think about keeping your dog or cat away from you if you can.
- Put Vaseline around your nostrils to trap particles before they can work their way up your nose.
- Take a few minutes each day to vacuum well, especially if you have deep-pile carpets. Hoover over upholstered furniture where particles may have spread through an open window.
- Wipe down window panes and sills regularly.
- Wash your bedding once a week at a high temperature to remove any pollen that may have transferred from you and your clothes.
- Take vitamin D supplements. Research has shown they can regulate immune system cells that help to prevent allergic reactions.
- Experts say diets high in antioxidants such as broccoli, spinach, potato and carrot can help to ward off stuffy noses caused by hay fever.
- Dark chocolate can also help to reduce symptoms, it is said.
- If all else fails and you feel hay fever is ruining your life, or even causing asthma attacks, pay a visit to your doctor who could refer you to a specialist clinic
When itchy eyes are a worry
“It is always recommended to get your eyes checked if you notice any changes to your vision,” Opinder notes.
“If itchy eyes also appear with discharge, eyelid crusting, skin changes or continue outside of allergy season, it’s worth getting them checked,” she adds.
Kenny shared red flag symptoms that may indicate something more serious is going on.
- Sudden or severe pain in the eyes
- A noticeable change in vision
- Sensitivity to light
- Physical injury or foreign object stuck in the eye
- Changes to pupils
Get itching checked out if you’re a contact lens wearer, and don’t ignore gunk that’s “thick, yellow or green and glues your eyelids together”.
If one eye becomes very swollen, hot and tender around the lid, or if the skin around your eyes becomes very red, cracked, oozing or crusted, again that’s a sign to see a professional.
“This can indicate an infection of the eye or surrounding tissues,” Kenny explains.
In rare cases, eye irritation that doesn’t go away could be a sign of eye cancer.
Other symptoms include , bulging, a lump on the eyelid, partial or total vision loss, a dark patch that’s getting bigger or shadows, flashes of light or .
There are several different types of eye cancer, including eye melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and .
About 940 cases are diagnosed in the UK every year.
But it’s most likely that your eye symptoms are caused by another, much less serious condition.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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