When we experience our eyes burning this is usually due to a minor irritation which often subsides quite quickly as tears wash away and clean the eyes. However, if you experience a burning sensation for a few hours or longer then this could be a sign of something a little more severe such as dry eye, blepharitis or conjunctivitis.
Eye Conditions That Can Cause Burning Eyes
Dry Eye
You can get dry eye if your eyes do not produce enough tears or your tears dry up too quickly. You are more likely to develop dry eye if you wear contact lenses, are over the age of 50, work with computers (especially for prolonged periods with no breaks), take certain medicines such as some antidepressants, you are out on a windy or dry day or you spend prolonged periods in air-conditioned or heated environments.
Blepharitis
Blepharitis can be caused by a type of bacteria that lives on the skin, having a skin condition such as seborrhoeic dermatitis or from the glands inside the eyelids not producing enough oil. It is usually easily treatable by washing the eyelids daily however if this doesn’t work there are professional treatments which can help.
Conjunctivitis
Also known as pink eye, conjunctivitis is an eye condition usually caused by infection or allergies. You can try and treat conjunctivitis yourself at home by following these steps:
1) Boil some water and let it cool down before gently wiping your eyelashes to clean off crusts with a clean cotton wool pad (make sure to use 1 piece for each eye).
2) Hold a cold flannel on your eyes for a few minutes to cool them down.
To stop conjunctivitis from spreading it is very important to wash your hands regularly with warm soapy water, wash your pillowcases/ face cloths in hot water and detergent and cover your mouth and nose when sneezing. Do not share pillowcases, towels or face cloths and make sure to keep your hands away from your eyes.
Environmental Causes Of Burning Eyes
Allergies
One of the main environmental reasons for runny or dry, itchy eyes is having an allergy such as being allergic to household pets.
Fragrances
Some people can be overly sensitive to certain fragrances in body sprays, perfume or aftershave.
Chemicals
Some chemicals found in aerosol sprays and other cleaning products can be extremely irritating to the eyes.
Foreign Objects
Sometimes when some dirt or other small particles get stuck in your eye it can bring on a burning sensation.
What Can I Do If The Symptoms Do Not Alleviate?
If you suffer from burning eyes for a few hours or longer then you really should see an eye specialist who will be able to examine your eyes and help diagnose the problem. Camden Opticians offers a treatment for dry eye and blepharitis called NuLids. NuLids is a new offering from Camden Opticians and works by using an oscillating tip combined with an all-natural gel that gently cleans and massages the closed eyelids helping to remove material buildup.