There are several potential causes of sore eyes, ranging from dust in the eye to glaucoma.
While it is possible for a person to treat some types of eye soreness at home, some underlying conditions require a doctor’s care.
Top Causes for Sore Eyes
Would you have guessed that sore eyes can be caused by anything from contact lens solution to wearing the wrong types of glasses? Sore eye symptoms include:
- Too much sun exposure
- Incorrect glasses
- Viral infections such as the cold
- Prolonged staring at a computer screen
- Continuously watching TV
- Excessive rubbing of eyes
- Exposure to airborne irritants
- Dry eyes due to reduced blinking
- Contact lens wear
It’s important to be mindful of your surroundings, whether it’s being out in the sun for extended periods of time or in front of an electronic device such as a computer or cell phone. These everyday activities can lead to sore eyes over time since theirs is likely an extra strain being put on them. In addition, if you’re someone who needs vision correction, you may feel even more eye irritation from contacts or glasses compared to someone who may not need vision correction.
A foreign object
A foreign object can become stuck in the eye, such as dust, pollen, or an eyelash. It can cause stinging, watering, or redness in the eye.
To remove the object:
- hold the eyelid open and gently pour warm water or artificial tears over the eye
- use one cotton swab to roll the eyelid back and use another dampened swab or cloth to remove the object
Sinusitis is an infection that causes swelling in the tissue that lines the sinuses. Pressure on the sinuses can cause eye pain.
Common symptoms of sinusitis include:
- a runny, stuffy nose
- a headache
- a sore throat
- bad breath
- pain or pressure in the face
- a cough
- postnasal drip
Sometimes sinusitis is the result of a viral infection and will go away on its own. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) suggest waiting a few days before seeing a doctor for antibiotics.
Who’s Affected by Sore Eyes?
Although statistics reflect that sore eyes have been found to be more common in women than men, the fact that 5 million Americans are affected by this is an outstanding number. 1 in every 13 people are affected with sore eyes ad 40% of Americans have stated they had symptoms of sore eyes on a regular basis. It’s important to take action, such as conducting daily eye massages in order to help prevent the feeling of sore eyes as much as possible.
Home RemediesThe following home remedies are both simple and convenient to do whether you’re at work or at home! It’s important to note that each method works uniquely and should be done in moderation for the best results. Integrate these eye hacks into your daily routine before bed to end the day in relaxation or right when you wake up to have a refreshing start to your morning.
Splash Your Eyes with Cold WaterOr wrap ice cubes in a clean cotton towel to place them on your eyes for relief.
Use Frozen FoodsIf you don’t have access to ice cubes, using frozen food items wrapped in a clean piece of cloth will do the trick as well.
Apply Slices of CucumbersSoak the cucumber slices in ice cold water for about 10 minutes and then put them on your closed eyelids to heal any soreness or irritation of your eyes.
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Using Rose WaterDip a piece of clean cotton in rose water and then gently caress the cotton over your closed eyelids. You can even use a few drops of rose water in your eyes.
CryingCrying helps to lubricate the eyes and washes out the impurities from the eyes. Add table salt to a gallon of distilled water to create your own homemade saline solution. Use a dropper to put this solution into your eyes.
Use Chilled SpoonsTake at least four metal spoons and place them all in a glass of cold water individually. Once the spoons are chilled, place them over your eyes. As the spoon starts to lose its coolness, switch it out with another chilled spoon.
Apply Tea BagsTea leaves contain bioflavonoids, which are helpful in fighting various bacteria and infections. You can place black or green tea bags on your eyes for several minutes to help decrease inflammation.
Milk and Honey SolutionA mixture of warm milk and honey can be used as an eye drop to get relief from sore eyes. With the help of an eyedropper, put this solution into your eyes.
Use Pieces of PotatoPutting a piece of grated potato on your eyes can help to reduce any sort of eye inflammation. Place the pieces of potato over your eyes for about 15 minutes and repeat this process for at least three nights.
Coriander Eye DropTake some coriander leaves and grind them to extract the juice out of them. Then take an eyedropper and suck in the liquid. Pour two drops each of this eye drop solution into both eyes.
Eye Care Tips for Sore Eyes
Because the way our eye works is similar to a camera’s lens, we should take some countermeasures to care for them so they continue working at their best in the long run. Blinking more often can help to relieve your eyes from feeling dry while looking into the distance tends to give your eyes a break from staring at a screen or fixed point for too long. Eye exercises can also help alleviate any strain you may feel such as conducting eye massages.
These DIY sore eye treatments should be done throughout the work day and during extended times in front of an LED screen to help alleviate sore eyes or simply just to take a break.
Eye pain can be due to a minor issue or a more severe underlying condition.
Sometimes, a person can treat eye pain at home. Other times, a person might require medical treatment.