The most common cause of itchy eyes is an allergy. Itchy eyes can be triggered by exposure to pollen, animal fur, mould, dust mites, make-up or eye drops. The body reacts to the trigger by releasing histamine, causing the blood vessels in the eye to dilate and irritating the nerve endings so the eyes water.
The warmth and beauty of spring can lead to itchy eyes. So can infection and other conditions. The good news is they usually aren't a sign of something serious.
See a healthcare provider if eye irritation is severe and sudden or lasts longer than a few days. You should also see one right away if you have symptoms such as: Discharge or “goop” in your eye, especially if it's green or yellow. Sensitivity to light.
Medical conditions such as blepharitis, dry eye, and conjunctivitis are common causes of sticky eyes.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of loss of vision in people over 65 years of age. AMD is characterized by degeneration of the macula, the area of the retina responsible for central vision (Figure 1).
Itchy eyes are usually caused by an allergy or by a condition called dry eye syndrome. You might also have itchy eyelids, usually at the base of the eyelashes, and your eyes and/or eyelids might be swollen.
Diabetes can lead to dry eyes when the nerves that help you make tears are damaged so you produce less tears than usual. If you have diabetes and your eyes are often red, itchy and sore you're not alone. Dry eye is commonly seen in people who have type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Eye infection and inflammation
Other forms of conjunctivitis, unrelated to allergic reactions, also frequently contribute to itchy eyes. Conjunctivitis can develop in the aftermath of viral or bacterial infections and illnesses, like the common cold, the flu and COVID-19.
As a symptom of dehydration, the best treatment for dry eye is rehydrating by drinking plenty of water. Eye drops can also help alleviate the symptoms by lubricating the eye and washing away foreign materials.
Eye allergies can come with a variety of symptoms, ranking from minor eye irritation to more visible and annoying reactions. ZYRTEC® is only indicated for itchy, watery eyes.
To save on skin care, dermatologists recommend using petroleum jelly to: Relieve dry skin, including your lips and eyelids. Dry skin can flake, itch, crack and even bleed. Since ointments are more effective and less irritating than lotions, consider applying petroleum jelly to dry skin, including your lips and eyelids.
Benadryl and Claritin are both antihistamines, but Claritin is likely more effective for itchy eyes. It also causes less drowsy effects and only needs to be taken once per day, whereas Benadryl needs to be taken every 4-6 hours to manage allergy symptoms.
Eye strain is a term used to describe many symptoms that can be brought on by stress or even just overstraining your eyes. Some of the symptoms include blurry vision, headaches, dizziness, and dry, itchy eyes.
Dry, itchy skin
High blood sugar (glucose) can cause this. If you have a skin infection or poor circulation, these could also contribute to dry, itchy skin.
In later stages of the disease, blood vessels in the retina start to bleed into the vitreous (gel-like fluid that fills your eye). If this happens, you may see dark, floating spots or streaks that look like cobwebs.
Xerophthalmia refers to the ocular manifestations associated with vitamin A deficiency; these include nyctalopia (night blindness), conjunctival and corneal xerosis (drying) and keratomalacia (corneal necrosis/ulceration) [5,7].
Intense itching of the eyes is a symptom only associated with eye allergies. Pink eye caused by viral conjunctivitis often starts in one eye and spreads to the other, while eye allergies usually affect both eyes at once.
Coronavirus and Conjunctivitis
Allergic conjunctivitis typically affects both eyes with itching, burning, and redness. You may also experience itchiness and puffiness around the eyes, and will likely experience other allergy symptoms such as runny nose and sneezing.
The signs of 'sticky eyes' can sometimes be confused with an infection called 'conjunctivitis'. With conjunctivitis the white of the eyes become red and there is more yellow or green sticky goo which comes back regularly. If you notice this and it continues for more than 24 hours, contact your health visitor or GP.
About conjunctivitis
People often refer to conjunctivitis as red eye. Other symptoms of conjunctivitis include itchiness and watering of the eyes, and sometimes a sticky coating on the eyelashes (if it's caused by an allergy). Conjunctivitis can affect one eye at first, but usually affects both eyes after a few hours.