Eye discomfort ranges from simple itching, which can be caused by a common cold or an allergic reaction, to pain which can be a symptom of much more serious eye disease.
Conjunctivitis (pinkeye) refers to an inflammation of the conjunctiva — the outermost membrane that covers the eye and inner part of the eyelid — and is the most common eye disease. Pinkeye can be caused by bacteria, viruses, allergies, pollution or other irritants such as cigarette smoke. The most common symptoms are redness of the whites of the eyes, scratchy or itchy eyes, tearing, swelling, yellow discharge that becomes crusty at night and sensitivity to light.
Newborns are susceptible to bacteria in the birth canal that can cause a type of conjunctivitis that must be treated immediately to prevent blindness.
In all cases of eye discomfort, it’s best not to rub your eyes. This may aggravate symptoms and increase the chances of spreading a contagious infection to the other eye or to other people through personal contact. Most forms of eye discomfort respond well to self-care.
Prevention
There are some preventive measures that can reduce your risk of eye problems:
Don’t share towels.
Never use anyone else’s makeup.
Discard your mascara after a couple of months.
Wear goggles to protect your eyes against chlorinated swimming pools or airborne irritants such as chemicals or smoke.
Air conditioning in your home and/or car can reduce allergens that cause eye discomfort.
What you can do
CONJUNCTIVITIS
Avoid rubbing or touching your eyes.
Wash your hands every time you touch your eyes. If you’re around a child who has pinkeye, remember to wash your hands frequently with soap and water.
Don’t share washcloths or towels while infected with pinkeye.
Change bed linens and pillowcases daily.
Apply warm or cool compresses.
If you wear contact lenses, remove them until the infection subsides.
Over-the-counter (OTC) eye drops or boric acid washes can relieve itchiness.
Antihistamines may help relieve allergic eye discomfort.
Final notes
Eye pain sometimes is caused by injury, infection or some other disease. Pain in both eyes when exposed to bright light is common with viral infections such as flu, and will disappear when the infection clears up. Injury to the eye by a foreign object also can cause pain. This type of eye pain should be treated by your doctor.
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EYE PAIN: BURNING, ITCHING AND DISCHARGE
Posted: January 17th, 2011 under Anti-Psychotics.
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