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burning eyes
Burning eyes describe a burning sensation and irritation of the eyes. Burning eyes may be accompanied by itching, tearing or discharge from the eyes.
The treatment of this sensation in the eyes varies depending on the cause. In many cases, the burn disappears on its own when you move away from the irritant, such as smoke. In other cases, using over-the-counter artificial tears or antihistamines can ease the burning sensation. In the case of conjunctivitis caused by bacteria, the doctor may prescribe antibiotic eye drops or ointment. It is advisable to contact the attending physician when a burning sensation appears in the eye that does not pass, worsens or is accompanied by additional symptoms.
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Causes of burning sensation in the eyes:
Most of the causes of burning eyes are minor and will not have much effect on the eyes. However, if the burning sensation does not go away, a serious problem may develop that requires attention and sometimes medical intervention.
diagnosis
It is important to identify the cause behind the burning sensation in order to understand whether it is a serious situation and what intervention is required (if treatment is required), therefore it is important to be examined by an ophthalmologist in this situation.
Diagnosing burning eyes is done by examining the patient’s medical history and the symptoms he describes such as the timing of the onset of the symptoms, factors that ease or worsen the condition and the appearance of a similar feeling in the past. In addition to the medical history and questioning of the patient, an eye examination will also be performed to detect signs of irregularities, dryness and damage to the eye.
Some of the most common causes of this condition include:
Allergens, irritants and toxins
The most common causes are exposure to environmental pollutants such as cigarette smoke and dust. The chemicals in household cleaning products, such as bleach, soap, and shampoo, can cause eye burns, as can chlorine in swimming pools or extremely dry or cold air. Wearing contact lenses for a long time can also cause stinging or burning eyes. Allergies can cause inflammation resulting in burning eyes. The eyes may react to airborne allergens, such as pollen or animal dander, or to topical allergens, such as makeup and moisturizers. Conjunctivitis, which is an inflammation of the membranes lining the eyelids, can be caused by allergies or infection with bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms. Upper respiratory infections, such as flu or colds, can be accompanied by a burning sensation in the eyes. Other types of irritants can cause more serious problems, including chemical burns. An example of this is the penetration of sunscreen into the eyes, when the chemicals contained in the product cause a superficial chemical burn that lasts for a few days, and eventually disappears. Industrial toxins, household cleaners, paint, gasoline and other substances are very dangerous, volatile and toxic. Being around them can cause a slight chemical burn to the eyes, on the other hand, direct penetration of such substances into the eyes can cause a severe burn and require urgent medical treatment. Larger irritants such as sand can cause corneal erosion, or corneal scratches. Many of them are minor and heal quickly, but sometimes they cause inflammation of the eye, called iritis. A corneal infection can turn into an ulcer, which can lead to blindness if left untreated. The sun can be a very irritating factor for the eyes, and too much exposure to UV radiation can cause sunburn on the cornea similar to burns on the skin. This painful condition is called ultraviolet keratitis or photokeratitis. Another type of photokeratitis is snow blindness or other outdoor activity when the sun is deflected from a bright surface into the eye and causes a burn.
dry eye
Dry eye can be permanent or temporary. The temporary type can be due to eye irritations, wearing contact lenses for too long, or as a result of taking certain medications such as flu and cold medications that work by drying fluids to prevent, for example, a runny nose and may also dry the fluids in the eyes and lead to dry eyes. Temporary dry eyes can be treated with home remedies such as eye rest, eye drops and staying away from the stimulus. Chronic dry eyes can be due to a condition called dry eye syndrome. This condition can be due to poor tear quality, or insufficient production of tears. Other causes of chronic syndrome include age, environmental factors such as strong wind and smoke, eye inflammation and surgery. Treatments for chronic dry eye that may prevent burning eyes include treating the eyelids against inflammation, drinking plenty of water to ensure eye moisture, using eye drops to increase tears and taking supplements to improve the quality of tears.
Conjunctivitis, also called "pink eye"
It is an inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva that covers the white area of the eyeball. Small inflamed blood vessels become more visible, hence the symptom of red and irritated looking eyes. This disease is caused by bacteria or viruses, but can also be related to allergies or, in newborn babies, a tear duct that is only partially opened. Conjunctivitis is highly contagious, so in the case of a dry, itchy, burning or red eye accompanied by discharge and increased tearing that does not disappear within a few hours or a day, you should consult a doctor for antibiotics to prevent the spread of the disease and other treatment to alleviate the symptoms.
Pinguecula or pterygium, also called surfer's eye
These are tumors on the conjunctiva. Pingola looks like a yellow bump or spot in the eye, usually on the side of the nose. A pterygium usually begins as a pingcula, but spreads across the surface of the eye, sometimes far enough to cover part of the cornea. These conditions, which are apparently caused by too much exposure to UV radiation, can be prevented by reducing UV exposure. Usually, the condition does not require treatment as long as it does not affect vision, but if symptoms such as burning in the eyes become very uncomfortable, it is often treated with steroid eye drops to lubricate the eye.
Ocular rosacea
Rosacea is a chronic skin disease on the face that involves the enlargement of blood vessels in the face resulting in a flushed appearance of the nose and cheeks. Often, the disease spreads to the eyes and leads to ocular rosacea, which is an inflammation that causes redness, itching and burning in the eyes, but the development of the disease is possible even without facial rosacea. Heredity, environmental factors, eyelash mites, blocked eyelid glands and bacteria all contribute to this condition. When there is chronic dry eye associated with ocular rosacea, the cornea can be affected, which can worsen vision. This condition is treated by warm compresses, artificial tears or eye drops containing lipids and antibiotics, in ointment or pills.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
It is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the membranes on the joints. In such a case, the immune system dries out the membranes in the body, including the conjunctiva of the eye. The result is similar to dry eye syndrome as very little fluid is available to the eyes to lubricate their movements. A burning sensation will be felt as the eyes hurt due to the increased friction.
Blepharitis
It is an eye disease when the eyelids are irritated, inflamed or infected with bacteria and even mites. Also, the condition can be caused by a blocked sebaceous gland at the base of the eyelashes. In this condition, the eyelids are swollen and the eyes are dry and itchy, with a burning sensation and at the base of the eyes there will be an oily discharge in the form of oily flakes. The solution to this disease is hot compresses to remove flakes and reduce inflammation, antibiotics, special eye drops to soothe and proper eye and skin hygiene.
