Itchy eyes affect all of us from time to time. Usually it lasts only a few minutes and then goes away. But sometimes the itching can become overwhelming and lasts for hours, days or even longer. If your itchy eyes have gotten bad enough to truly interfere with your daily activities, you may have a condition that needs to be treated.
The most common causes of itchy eyes include:
- Allergies - often cause redness and itching, but is not contagious
- Pinkeye (conjunctivitis) - may be caused by a bacteria or a virus, often highly contagious and common in young children
- The Common Cold - occasionally
Although these are not all of the conditions that can cause itchy eyes, they are the most common. If you think your itchy eyes are caused by something else, contact your health care provider to discuss your symptoms and get checked out. Any symptom that interferes with your daily life is something that you should discuss with your health care provider.
Need more information?
Read up on itchy eye treatments.
Source:
"Allergic Conjunctivitis." Familydoctor.org Jan 06. American Academy of Family Physicians. 02 Apr 07.
