Causes of Sore Eyes
By Geoff Ryder
One of the most common causes of sore eyes is tiredness, however sore eyes could be a symptom of something more serious.
Soreness of the eyes can be uncomfortable when vision becomes blurred, not being able to take in your surroundings clearly. Soreness can sometimes be accompanied by swelling or burning sensation and irritation of the eyes. A watery discharge may occur resulting in the eyelids becoming stuck shut after sleeping. Sore eyes can affect any age group including small children and the elderly.
Conjunctivitis or pink eye is one of the more common causes behind soreness of the eyes. It is a condition where inflammation occurs in the thin membrane named conjunctiva that covers the inner part of the eyelids and eyeball.
There are three different forms of conjunctivitis:-
In all the above cases the eyes turn red and severe itching is prevalent. The infective conjunctivitis is highly contagious and can spread easily from one person to another. This can happen via direct contact with the infected person or through a secondary contact such as a handkerchief, towels, tissues etc.
An allergic reaction is another cause of sore eyes. Smoke, pollution, dust and pollen are the main triggers. This tends to occur more in the summer months when these particles fly are more abundant in the air and enter the eyes. The most common symptoms of allergies affecting the eyes are constant itchiness and watering of the eyes. Often they eyes become photosensitive and one experiences pain on exposure to light. Other common symptoms include a runny nose and sore throat.
Dry eyes occur when the thin layer of tear that provides lubrication for the eye dries up because of a malfunctioning tear gland or the lacrimal gland. As a result, there is less lubrication for the eyes leaving the eyes sore and sensitive. Often this is caused from prolonged use throughout the day. Because of this soreness due to dry eye is usually felt in the mornings. Other causes of dry eye include, ageing, side effects of medications, inflammation in the tear glands etc.
Spending long hours in front of a computer or television will cause your eyes to fatigue and can make them sore. This happens due to the fact that when you concentrate you blink less often and the eyes start to dry out. It can result in headaches, blurred vision and sore eyes. The symptoms are compounded further if the air is dry like in an air-conditioned room.
Treatments;
The treatment of sore eyes depends on its underlying cause. Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are treated with antibiotics contained within an eye drop. Compression by a warm wet cloth is highly beneficial for infective conjunctivitis as it prevents the growth of germs.
For dry eye conditions, eye drops and ointments are given that can improve the production of tears.
The treatment for allergic conjunctivitis includes frequent flushing of the eyes with tap water. In more severe cases, anti-inflammatory eye drops and oral antihistamine medications are prescribed.
Taking frequent breaks will relieve the symptoms caused by prolonged reading or viewing a monitor. Looking into the distance and focussing on a distant object every 20 minutes will assist in reducing eye strain as will consciously remembering to blink regularly.
The majority of sore eye problems can be prevented with the aid of proper eye care. Wash your eyes at least 2-3 times per day in order to clean out dust and germs accumulated in them. General hygiene is important, remember to wash your hands, don't share a towel, napkin handkerchief or eye cosmetics with others. With the use of proper eye care, you can minimise the risks of getting sore eyes.
Soreness of the eyes can be uncomfortable when vision becomes blurred, not being able to take in your surroundings clearly. Soreness can sometimes be accompanied by swelling or burning sensation and irritation of the eyes. A watery discharge may occur resulting in the eyelids becoming stuck shut after sleeping. Sore eyes can affect any age group including small children and the elderly.
Conjunctivitis or pink eye is one of the more common causes behind soreness of the eyes. It is a condition where inflammation occurs in the thin membrane named conjunctiva that covers the inner part of the eyelids and eyeball.
There are three different forms of conjunctivitis:-
- Bacterial conjunctivitis
- Viral conjunctivitis
- Chemical conjunctivitis - caused by exposure to allergens or chemicals eg shampoo.
In all the above cases the eyes turn red and severe itching is prevalent. The infective conjunctivitis is highly contagious and can spread easily from one person to another. This can happen via direct contact with the infected person or through a secondary contact such as a handkerchief, towels, tissues etc.
An allergic reaction is another cause of sore eyes. Smoke, pollution, dust and pollen are the main triggers. This tends to occur more in the summer months when these particles fly are more abundant in the air and enter the eyes. The most common symptoms of allergies affecting the eyes are constant itchiness and watering of the eyes. Often they eyes become photosensitive and one experiences pain on exposure to light. Other common symptoms include a runny nose and sore throat.
Dry eyes occur when the thin layer of tear that provides lubrication for the eye dries up because of a malfunctioning tear gland or the lacrimal gland. As a result, there is less lubrication for the eyes leaving the eyes sore and sensitive. Often this is caused from prolonged use throughout the day. Because of this soreness due to dry eye is usually felt in the mornings. Other causes of dry eye include, ageing, side effects of medications, inflammation in the tear glands etc.
Spending long hours in front of a computer or television will cause your eyes to fatigue and can make them sore. This happens due to the fact that when you concentrate you blink less often and the eyes start to dry out. It can result in headaches, blurred vision and sore eyes. The symptoms are compounded further if the air is dry like in an air-conditioned room.
Treatments;
The treatment of sore eyes depends on its underlying cause. Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are treated with antibiotics contained within an eye drop. Compression by a warm wet cloth is highly beneficial for infective conjunctivitis as it prevents the growth of germs.
For dry eye conditions, eye drops and ointments are given that can improve the production of tears.
The treatment for allergic conjunctivitis includes frequent flushing of the eyes with tap water. In more severe cases, anti-inflammatory eye drops and oral antihistamine medications are prescribed.
Taking frequent breaks will relieve the symptoms caused by prolonged reading or viewing a monitor. Looking into the distance and focussing on a distant object every 20 minutes will assist in reducing eye strain as will consciously remembering to blink regularly.
The majority of sore eye problems can be prevented with the aid of proper eye care. Wash your eyes at least 2-3 times per day in order to clean out dust and germs accumulated in them. General hygiene is important, remember to wash your hands, don't share a towel, napkin handkerchief or eye cosmetics with others. With the use of proper eye care, you can minimise the risks of getting sore eyes.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Geoff_Ryder
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