Most people experience an occasional itching of the eye.
But for some, life is a never-ending battle with irritated,
itching, uncomfortable eyes.
Some patients suffer from dry eyes caused by an
insufficient production of tears. Some patients have an
overabundance of tears, but their tears are defective;
their tears do not have the ability to “coat” the front of the eye adequately. This can lead to severe
irritation. Some patients suffer allergies so severe that
their eyes are always swollen and irritated, requiring
strong medications to control their symptoms.
What
is happening?
Rubbing
and touching the eyes are some of the main causes of eye
irritations. It is possible that there may be an underlying
allergy or dryness to the eye, but these conditions are
usually mild. It is when the patient intervenes with his
fingers or with a facial tissue, that this becomes a severe
problem.
Rubbing the eye will irritate the delicate soft tissues
that cover the eye. Millions of tiny sensitive nerve
endings are exposed when the mucous layer covering them are
rubbed away. The rubbing also causes the tissues around the
eye to swell, forming tiny pimple-like elevations that can
rub the eye like sandpaper. This leads to the development
of symptoms even more severe than those that prompted the
rubbing in the first place, and it becomes a vicious cycle:
the more you rub, the more it itches.
When the patient touches his eye with his fingers, more
than a million bacteria can be transmitted into the eye.
Contamination of the eyes can cause a low-grade infection,
leading to the production of mucous and crusted eyelids.
What can I do?
Treatment
of the irritated eye is two-fold. First, it is necessary to
avoid contact with the eyes. This means no touching the
eye, no rubbing the eye, and no wiping the eye even with a
facial tissue. If the eye tears, wipe the skin of the
cheekbone area, staying away from the eyelids. Even the
most innocent touch to the corner of the eye can deposit
bacteria or fibers from the facial tissue.
Once the urge to rub, wipe, or touch the eye has been
consciously suppressed, the second half of the treatment
should be effective. Warm compress therapy should be
applied to the closed eyelids with a soaking-wet washcloth
using luke-warm water from the tap. The water should not be
hot, just luke-warm. The washcloth should not be wrung out.
It might be necessary to bend over a sink, since water will
be dripping. The washcloth should be held over the eyelids
with the eyelids gently closed. This will allow the warmth
and the wetness to penetrate the eyelids and to bathe the
eyes. If the eyelids were to remain open, too much fresh
water would enter the eye causing discomfort.
While you are doing the warm compresses, dip the washcloth
in the warm water and then bring it into firm contact with
the eyelids. Hold this for 10 to 20 seconds. Dip the
washcloth again and repeat this over and over. Do this
approximately 10 to 20 times.
Warm compresses are best when used upon awakening, for a
few minutes, and just before bedtime, also for a minute or
two. If the eye feels uncomfortable during the day, an
additional warm compress application should be utilized.
If eye drops are being used for another condition, such as
for glaucoma, the moisture from the compresses could dilute
and reduce the effectiveness of the drops. Therefore, it is
wise to make sure that any warm compress therapy be
performed at least one half hour before or after any eye
drop medication.
Warm compress therapy should not be used after a recent eye
operation without your doctor’s permission.
It seems so simple, but it is so effective. By merely
holding a warm wet washcloth over the eye with the eyes
gently closed, and by avoiding rubbing, touching and wiping
the eye, the vast majority of patients with an irritated
eye can ease this problem. But even one careless rub can
set the progress of the treatment back significantly.
Complete compliance is essential for success. If all the
above guidelines have been followed without resolution of
the problem, a more severe condition may be present. If
such is the case, of course, call your doctor.
