Itchy eyes and their causes

Most people assume that itchy eyes are automatically connected to an allergic reaction, but it’s not always pollen, dust or pet hair that cause your eyes to itch. While in many case an allergy might be the cause for your discomfort, there are a number of reasons that might cause your discomfort.

One of the most common and obvious reason for itchy eyes is tiredness or eye fatigue, a condition most of us while have suffered from at more than one point in our lives. It’s caused by strenuous activities such as long driving, reading or computer work and affects 50-90% of computer workers.

To ease your discomfort, ensure to take as many breaks as possible while working on-screen and to keep devices such as computer screens, tablets or e-readers at the recommended reading distance. Holding digital devices too close causes you to blink less than half the amount you’d blink normally, which means that your eye becomes dry and itchy.

Dryness is an issue that is not only caused by the excessive use of electric devices such as smart phones or tablets, but also by hormonal change, age or environmental influences like wind, smoke or sunlight. Using eye drops, cool eye compresses or protecting your eyes with sunglasses can really ease your discomfort and if you’re unsure which style suits you, there’s this fab tool you can use to figure out which pair of sunglasses is the right one for you.

If you do however think that you’re suffering from allergy, it makes sense to have a little tool kit that can you take with you whenever you leave the house. Pack some tissues, eye drops and antihistamines of your choice and you’re good to go. If you prefer something more natural, check out Pycnogenol supplements. Pycnogenol is a plant extract that originates from the bark of the maritime pine trees grown in sustainable forests in south-western France and combats itchy eyes, a runny nose while promoting general well-being.

Are you suffering from itchy eyes? What helps you?

This is a post with images by John Sheets and Edward Badley via Flickr.