7 Eye Symptoms and What They Could Mean - Article Health

Whether you look like you pulled the world's longest all-nighter or feel so itchy you want to claw your eyeballs out, you shouldn't just slap on a pair of sunglasses and ignore it. Treating eye issues properly can help you avoid complications, says Stephanie J. Marioneaux, MD, spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology with a clinical practice in Chesapeake, Va. "Especially if you have pain, a change in vision, discharge, light sensitivity or any symptoms that persist, it could be a sign of a serious problem, and you should see an ophthalmologist," she says. Decode your eye problem with this guide.

Your symptoms:
Red eyes
Both eyes are itchy and watery
It's probably allergies, aka allergic conjunctivitis—a reaction to pollen, pet dander, or something else in your environment. Get away from the trigger if possible, whether it's a fluffy cat, a dusty attic or a park full of ragweed. Then take an oral antihistamine to halt the immune system reaction, says Tim Mainardi, MD, an allergist with New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. Over-the-counter allergy drops may calm inflammation and soothe itchiness directly. You can also ask your eye doc about prescription drops.

Your symptoms:
Red eyes
Discharge that's thick and crusty (along with itching)
You might have conjunctivitis—inflammation from an infection of the outer layer of your eye. Your primary care doc can do a culture to see if it's viral or bacterial. The viral variety is "like a common cold in the eye" and is extremely contagious, says Dr. Marioneaux. Individual vials of artificial tears and cold packs will help relieve irritation and swelling.

Your symptoms:
Red eyes
A gritty, sandy feeling
It could be dry eye, a condition in which the eyes aren't getting enough moisture because you're not making enough tears, your tears aren't watery enough and/or they're evaporating too quickly, which can happen when oil-producing glands in your eyelids are inflamed. Staring at screens without blinking regularly is a culprit. "If you're not blinking every four seconds, oil doesn't get released and tears evaporate, leaving the eye dry and irritated," says Dr. Marioneaux.

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