Why do my eyes burn?
Burning eyes can have several possible causes, ranging from simple to complex. The burning sensation can occur with or without other symptoms, such as itching, eye pain, watery eyes or eye discharge.
Frequently, burning eyes are caused by unavoidable environmental influences, such as strong winds or high pollen counts. However, similar sensations can be symptoms of a more serious eye problem that requires medical attention.
To select the appropriate treatment, it’s important to first establish the cause (or causes) of your burning eyes.
Are your eyes on fire?
When your eyes are burning, it's often difficult to focus on anything else. In some cases, that burning sensation is uncomfortable but is nothing to be too worried about.
However, if that burning just won't die down or you're concerned about the cause, schedule an appointment with a local eye doctor today. They can help you figure out what's going on and recommend treatment options.
Causes of burning eyes
Sometimes, it’s easy to tell what’s causing the eyes to burn. For example, your eyes might burn if you get chemicals in them, such as shampoo ingredients, chlorine from a swimming pool or sunscreen. Other common irritants that can make your eyes burn include makeup, skin moisturizers, soap and cleaning products.
Wearing contact lenses for long periods of time can also make your eyes burn.
Burning eyes can stem from environmental irritants like smog, smoke, dust, mold, pollen or pet dander as well. If you’re allergic to any of these substances, they’re even more likely to make your eyes burn. However, even “clean” air can cause your eyes to burn, especially when it’s particularly hot, cold or dry.
Although getting something in your eyes can cause them to burn, burning eyes sometimes signal a serious eye condition. For example, conditions such as ocular rosacea, dry eyes and blepharitis can cause this symptom.
Anything that causes inflammation can create a burning sensation in your eyes. Eye allergies, as well as bacterial and viral eye infections, can cause inflammation that leads to burning eyes. Even a common cold or the flu can cause the eyes to burn.
In rare instances, burning eyes can be a sign of a serious sight- or life-threatening condition such as uveitis (inflammation in the middle part of the eye) or orbital cellulitis (an infection of the tissues immediately surrounding the eye, resulting in pain, swelling, discomfort when moving your eyes and decreased vision). Orbital cellulitis is a medical emergency that requires prompt treatment to prevent vision loss.
Often, burning eyes occur alongside other symptoms that can give your eye doctor clues about the root cause of your discomfort. For example, when burning eyes occur with itching, it may signal allergies. If you have burning and eye discharge, this could mean an infection.
Burning eyes can have many causes. A trip to the eye doctor is the best way to get relief.
Burning eyes and conjunctivitis
A burning or stinging sensation can be a symptom of pink eye, which is also called conjunctivitis.
But this type of infection almost always comes with other symptoms, too.
Symptoms of conjunctivitis can include:
- Burning eyes
- Stinging eyes
- Eye redness
- Eye discharge
- Watery eyes
- Sensitivity to light
- Feeling like something is stuck in your eye
Pink eye can affect one or both eyes. It can have various causes, including viruses, bacteria and allergies.
How to get relief from burning eyes
If a household product gets in your eyes and causes burning, the first thing you should do is check the product label for specific instructions. In many cases, you will be able to safely rinse your eyes to alleviate the burning sensation.
For example, children and adults often get sunscreen in their eyes during the warmer months. Though the burning or stinging may initially be significant, rinsing the eyes gently will often provide quick relief.
If you’re an allergy sufferer, your doctor may prescribe specific eye drops that can minimize the burning you might usually experience during allergy season. These drops differ from oral allergy medicines, which can sometimes cause the eyes to burn by drying them out.
If you’re taking an allergy medication, or any other medication (including eye drops), that you believe is causing your eyes to burn, make sure to discuss your concerns with your doctor before discontinuing use.
Burning eyes caused by a dry eye condition can usually be relieved with frequent use of lubricating eye drops (also called artificial tears). When selecting a brand of artificial tears, consider one that is preservative-free — particularly if you plan to use the drops frequently. If your discomfort continues, let your doctor know, since there are other dry eye treatments that may be more effective and can also help relieve your burning eyes.
Cool compresses gently applied over your closed eyelids can also help soothe burning eyes.
SEE ALSO: How to use eye drops without spilling
What to do if you get sunscreen in your eyes
Sunscreen is an absolute must for both children and adults to protect the skin from the sun’s dangerous ultraviolet (UV) rays. But these products cause more than their fair share of burning eyes.
In fact, getting sunscreen in your eyes at the beach is a common cause of burning eyes.
Although getting sunscreen in your eyes might not cause any permanent damage, it can lead to significant burning, eye inflammation and other eye problems.
If you get sunscreen in your eyes, the first thing you should do is remove your contacts if you wear them. Then flush your eyes with a sterile eye wash or lubricating eye drops if you have either product handy.
It’s best to avoid rinsing your eyes with tap or bottled water. Both can harbor microorganisms that can cause serious eye infections, such as Acanthamoeba keratitis. So it’s always a good idea to take a bottle of sterile eye wash liquid or artificial tears with you to the beach — whether or not you wear contact lenses.
Cold, wet compresses over closed eyes also help ease the sting of sunscreen in the eyes.
You can help the burning subside even more quickly by frequently applying preservative-free lubricating eye drops until you feel better.
Also, if you wear contact lenses, consider using daily disposable contacts so you can immediately replace your lenses with fresh ones if they become contaminated with sunscreen.
SEE RELATED: 7 best sunscreens that won't burn your eyes
When to call a doctor
If your burning eyes are accompanied by pain or excessive light sensitivity, or if you have any eye discharge, blurred vision, eye floaters, flashes of light, double vision or other unexpected symptoms, contact your eye doctor right away for immediate attention.
Even if none of these additional symptoms occur, you should contact your eye doctor if your eyes continue to burn for more than a few days.
