Your eye health is important to both your vision and your overall well-being. Not only should you have a thorough annual checkup, but you should also try to avoid irritants that may aggravate your eyes. This can be a challenge, especially in the Sonoran Desert where the land itself seems designed to cause redness, itchiness, and watering.
Awareness of what can irritate your eyes is key to preventing uncomfortable symptoms. To get you started, here are three things that can cause eye irritation.
- Allergies. Allergies don’t only happen in springtime or summer, though those are common times for them to flare up. Dust in your home, a new pet, or a change in perfume can all leave your eyes weepy and pink.
- Environmental irritants. These can include a range of substances that leave your eyes unhappy. Tobacco smoke can irritate your eyes. Cleaning products used in an improperly ventilated space can also cause your eyes to protest. If you take a dip in your neighbor’s pool, you may find you have pink and itchy eyes after. Even the chlorine-laden fumes from sitting near a pool can adversely affect your eye health.
- Foreign objects in your eye. One good gust of wind can leave you with your very own piece of the Sonoran Desert upsetting your eye. You might also end up with eyelashes, crumbs, and other detritus irritating you. It often feels very obvious when a foreign object has found its way into your eye.
Common Symptoms of Irritated Eyes
Your eyes aren’t shy about sending you a message. If your eyes have become irritated, you may experience:
- Redness in one or both eyes
- Eye itching, either during the day or at night
- Watery eyes or eyes that won’t stop tearing up
- Pain in one or both eyes
- Blurry vision
- Sensitivity to light
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and they do not fade in a reasonable time, it is important to contact an eye health professional.
Valley Eyecare Center Wants to See You Soon
Chronic eye irritation can be a sign of a vision health issue. Contact Valley Eye Care Center today at (602) 955-2700 for an appointment to discuss eye discomfort, or for your annual eye exam. We can’t wait to see you!
