Why Is My Eye Irritated but There Is Nothing in It?

Everyone has experienced eye irritation at some point. The feelings of dryness, itchiness, grittiness, and desire to rub the eye are common. For most people, the symptoms go away without treatment.

Having a corneal injury, infection, or a foreign body can create the feeling of something in the eye. Eye irritation or the sensation of something in the eye can be a symptom of an eye disease. Find out why your eye is irritated but there is nothing in it.

Understanding Eye Irritation

Eye irritation is the feeling of discomfort inside or around the eye. The sensation is often accompanied by dry eyes, blurry vision, itchiness, watery eyes, and sensitivity to light. Some people experience irritation accompanied by redness, pain, or swelling.

Eye irritation may improve with over-the-counter medications or some home remedies. In some cases, eye irritation can be a symptom of an underlying medical condition.

Common Causes of Eye Irritation

There are several causes of eye irritation. They include:

Prolonged contact lens use.
Eye allergies.
Blocked tear ducts.
Digital eye strain.
Eye infections.
Environmental irritants.
Foreign object stuck in the eye.
Styes.

Underlying medical conditions can cause eye irritation. They include cluster headaches, blepharitis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, ocular rosacea, trichiasis, and Sjogren’s syndrome. Treating the underlying condition can help to relieve the symptoms.

Complications of Eye Irritation

For most people, eye irritation is easy to relieve. However, for others, eye irritation can lead to complications such as corneal damage. The cornea is a thin layer of tissue covering the eye. The sensitive layer is susceptible to abrasion.

Mild corneal abrasion can easily be resolved with prescription eye drops. Severe abrasion can lead to vision loss. Several treatments can help to prevent eye complications. Doctors consider the root cause when prescribing treatment.

Dry Eye Syndrome

Eye irritation or the sensation of something in the eye is a common symptom of dry eye syndrome. The condition occurs when the eyes do not produce sufficient tears to keep the surface healthy and lubricated.

Sometimes, the tears produced evaporate too fast, leaving the eyes dry and uncomfortable. When the thin tear film fails to work properly, it results in dry eye syndrome. The condition is more common among women over 55 and people in dry climates.

Treating Dry Eye Disease

Doctors recommend treatment depending on the underlying cause. Treatment options include:

Artificial tears.
Prescription eye drops.
Tear duct plugs.
Autologous serum drops.

Effective in-office procedures are thermal pulsation therapy (Lipiflow) and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy. Eye specialists may recommend therapeutic contact lenses to treat the condition. Doctors consider the severity when recommending treatment.

If dry eyes are causing the sensation of something in the eye, visit an eye specialist for diagnosis and treatment. If OTC eye drops fail to bring relief, the doctor will prescribe an effective solution to treat the condition. Various home remedies can help to soothe the symptoms.

Using a warm compress over the eyelids and using eyelid scrubs can help. Reducing screen time and frequent blinking when using the computer can reduce eye dryness.

For more on why your eye is irritated but there is nothing in it, visit Beach Cities Optometry. Our office is in Manhattan Beach, California. Call (310) 906-4426 to book an appointment today.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/24607-eye-irritation

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/feels-like-something-is-in-the-eye#dry-eyes