What Is An Eye Irritation?

An Eye Irritation is the most common cause of red eyes. The cause of eye irritation can be anything from shampoo, smoke, dust, debris, or even chlorine from a swimming pool getting into the eyes. There are a large number of children who are affected by this problem and more often than not it is caused by touching the eyes with dirty hands or hands that contain food, or soap.

Fighting The Cause Of Eye Irritation

An irritation can last a couple or hours or if more serious it may last a couple of days and treatment may be required. In the case of children the redness and irritation in the eyes will disappear when the eyes are washed and they are mostly caused by dirt or debris.

If the irritation is more serious it could be a sign of conjunctivitis which is an irritation of the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is the transparent membrane that lines the outer eye and the eyelids. It is a very common condition also but some people may be more prone to it than others.

Dust particles can cause allergic conjunctivitis and a course of anti-allergic treatments combined with tear supplements may be required. It you suffer from this condition you should always ensure that you take extra precaution in dusty environments.

Preventing Irritations In Children

If your child is prone to irritations of the eyes there are a couple of steps that you can take.

• Use soap to wash your child’s face and eyelids. Rinse them carefully with water and this will remove any irritants from the skin and eyes.
• If there is an irritant in the eyes rinse them for about 5 minutes with warm water.
• If the eyes are red from the irritants and washing them doesn’t help some artificial tear eye drops can help.

If the problem is not solved or the redness lasts for more than two days you should take your child to see the doctor. If you child develops a yellow discharge from the affected eye you should also see your doctor.

 
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Optics Place Site. Please see Medical Disclaimer