Where does the burning sensation come from and what to do with it

Most often, the burning sensation in the eyes, although unpleasant, is safe. However, there are exceptions to any rule.

When to see a doctor urgently

Here are some symptomsEye burning - itching and discharge / Mount Sinaithat require the consultation of a therapist or ophthalmologist:

• Perceptible eye discomfort lastsBurning Eyes / All About Vision more than 3 days.
• There is a thick, greenish, or pus-like discharge from the eyes.
• It hurts you to look at the light.
• In addition to burning, cutting sensations appeared.
• Burning sensation is accompanied by blurred vision, flashes of light, double vision.
• Eyelids noticeably swollen.

This can manifest itself as a bacterial infection, severe allergies or other life-threatening conditions. They must be dealt with by a qualified physician.

If there are no threatening symptoms, you can try to get rid of the discomfort yourself. To do this, you need to assume what exactly it is caused by.

Where does the burning sensation come from and what to do with it

1. Soap got into my eyes

Or shampoo, Mascara, chlorinated pool water. Or maybe sunscreen left on your fingers that you accidentally rubbed your eyes with. Most often, such agents and substances are generally safe, but they canBurning Eyes / All About Vision irritate the mucous membrane of the eyes, causing itching and burning.

What to do

Wash yourself with clean water. Or just blink often. Burning sensation caused by makeup or chlorinated liquid will go away by itself as soon as the affected eye is free of the irritant.

2. It is a reaction to wind, cold or smoke

Environmental conditions can also adversely affect the mucous membrane. Two factors play a role here: both the fact that a certain irritant has got into the eyes, and the fact that the mucous membrane loses moistureWhy Do My Eyes Burn and Water Suddenly for No Apparent Reason / Cleveland Clinic.

What to do

Usually the body tries to cope with the problem on its own: you probably noticed how they begin tears flow in strong winds or if smoke gets into your eyes. This natural protection is sufficient in most cases, and the burning sensation will quickly go away by itself as soon as you leave the area with unfriendly conditions.

To speed up the process, blink: this will allow moisture to return to the mucous membrane faster. Or use over-the-counter drops for the eyes of the "artificial tear" type.

3. You wear contact lenses and forget to take them off on time

Doctors recommendWhy Do My Eyes Burn and Water Suddenly for No Apparent Reason / Cleveland Clinic use contact lenses for no more than 14-16 hours in a row. Then you need to take them off and take a break for several hours (for example, at night).

The reason is this: the lenses impede the flow of oxygen to the cornea, and the eyes need a break to "breathe". In addition, we do not blink during sleep, which means that the lenses are not moisturized and cleaned as effectively as during the day. If they are not removed before bedtime, the mucous membrane of the eyes will dry out and a burning sensation will occur.

What to do

As soon as you notice the unpleasant sensations, remove your lenses and give your eyes a rest. Apply artificial tears to quickly restore moisture balance. In the future, try not to wear your lenses for longer than the period indicated by their manufacturer or your optometrist, and be sure to remove them before bed.

4. You stared at the screen of a laptop or other gadget for too long

When we stare at a monitor or screen, we blink an average of 66%Computer vision syndrome / University of Iowa Health Care less often than usual. Because of this, the mucous membrane of the eye clears less well (and the air around you can be full of dust) and dries out. The result is a burning sensation.

This is one of the key symptoms of the so-called computer vision syndrome, which, according to American doctors, affects up to 75% of all people working at a computer. over 40 years old.

What to do

StandardComputer vision syndrome / University of Iowa Health Care recommendation - try to blink more often, but there is dataJ. K. Portello; M. Rosenfield. Effect of Blink Rate on Computer Vision Syndrome / Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Sciencethat it doesn't always help. So catch the other two: regularly, once every 2-3 hours of intense screen work, use an artificial tear, and also watch indoor air humidity - it should not fall below 40%.

5. You have dry eye syndrome

Or otherwise - keratoconjunctivitis dry. So calledDry eyes / Mayo Clinic a condition in which production of tear fluid decreases or decreasesDry eye / American Optometric Association its quality.

Normal tear film covering the conjunctiva The conjunctiva is the clear mucous membrane of the eye , consists of three layers: lipid (fatty), water and mucin (mucous). Each of them plays an important role. Watery moisturizes the surface, smooth lipid slows down the evaporation of moisture, and mucinous - evenly distributes fluid over the conjunctiva. Problems with any of the three layers can lead to dry patches and, as a result, a burning sensation.

Dry conjunctivitis can occur for a variety of reasons. For instance:

• Aging. It has been noticed that the production of tear fluid decreases with age.
• Pregnancy or menopause in women taking oral contraceptives. The hormonal changes associated with these factors also reduce the production of tears and can affect their composition.
• Lack of vitamin A in the diet.
• Taking certain medications. Antihistamines and decongestants, drugs for controlling hypertension, anti-acne, Parkinson's disease, antidepressants can influence the amount of tear fluid.
• Some diseases. For example, Sjogren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, sarcoidosis, thyroid malfunction. Or posterior blepharitis - inflammation of the inside of the eyelid.

What to do

If a burning sensation in the eyes has recently appeared, you can tryDry eye / American Optometric Association deal with it on your own. Drink more liquid, monitor the humidity in the room, use an artificial tear (if possible, choose a solution without preservatives: sometimes they can irritate the mucous membranes).

In the event that a burning sensation in the eyes follows you for several days in a row, despite moisturizing and drops, consult an ophthalmologist. The doctor will find out what exactly caused chronic dryness in your case and prescribe the most appropriate treatment.Dry Eyes / Mayo Clinic. For instance:

• Anti-inflammatory drops.
• Antibiotics.
• Pills that stimulate the production of tears.
• Eye drops from the patient's own blood serum.
• A procedure in which the lacrimal canals are sealed with removable silicone plugs. This is necessary so that there are not too many tears and they do not leave the eyes too quickly.
• Special contact lenses for moisture retention.
• Warm compresses or eye masks: These help clear blocked sebaceous glands and thus normalize the composition of the tear fluid.
• Massage or light therapy of the area of ​​the lacrimal glands.

6. You are allergic

Plain, seasonal, for pollen. Or house dust, mold, animal dander. As a rule, with allergies, the eyes turn red, swell and watery, but sometimes these "joys" are accompanied by a burning sensation.

It is curious that such symptoms are most oftenEye allergies: Get relief from itchy, watery eyes / All About Vision are observed when meeting with allergens that travel through the air. With food sensitization or stings of bees and other insects, the mucous membrane of the eye is much less likely to suffer.

What to do

Same as what you usually do with allergies: avoid irritants and take antihistamines if necessary. In addition, doctors recommendEye allergies: Get relief from itchy, watery eyes / All About Vision refuse contact lenses until the discomfort stops.

If these measures do not help, consult a physician, ophthalmologist, or allergist. Your doctor may prescribe prescription antiallergic eye drops.

7. You have a viral infection

A burning sensation in the eyes sometimes appears even with the flu and the common coldBurning Eyes / All About Vision. And also at COVID-19.

What to do

Recover. Once you get over the infection, the discomfort in your eyes will go away on its own.

To make your life easier, drink plenty of fluids, monitor the humidity in the room and use an artificial tear if necessary.