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Dry eyes during pregnancy: Symptoms, causes, treatments

If the eyes do not produce enough tears or cannot maintain a healthy moisture layer, a person may have dry eye syndrome. People may experience dry eyes during pregnancy due to fluctuating hormone levels.

The overall rate of dry eyes is higher during pregnancy. Doctors do not fully understand what causes this phenomenon, but hormonal shifts may make it more difficult for the eyes to produce enough tears. Dry eyes in pregnancy can be uncomfortable, but several treatments can help.

This article discusses the symptoms and causes of dry eyes in pregnancy. It also explains the home remedies and medical treatments that people can use to manage this condition.

A note about sex and gender

Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms “male,” “female,” or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. Click here to learn more.

An individual may notice the following dry eye symptoms:

• eyes that feel dry, itchy, or uncomfortable
• feeling the need to blink frequently
• sensitivity to light
• watery eyes
• dried mucus or stringy fluid in the corners of the eyes
• red eyes
• trouble putting in or taking out contact lenses, in those who wear them
• changes in vision
• a sensation of the eyes feeling tired or droopy
• feeling as though something is in the eyes

Researchers do not yet fully understand why pregnant people commonly experience dry eyes, but several studies support this finding. For example, a 2019 study of 134 pregnant people in Nigeria found that dry eyes peaked in the third trimester, with the lowest rates at 6 weeks postpartum.

Females are more likely than males to have dry eyes, especially when hormonal changes occur, such as during pregnancy or menopause or when taking some forms of birth control.

Males have higher levels of hormones called androgens, which include testosterone. These hormones may protect them from dry eyes because they support tear production from the lacrimal glands. Although females also have these sex hormones, their levels are lower, which might explain why they have higher rates of dry eyes than males.

Androgens alone cannot explain dry eyes during pregnancy, as these hormones usually increase during pregnancy. For example, testosterone levels rise by about 70% during pregnancy.

However, the levels of estradiol — a hormone present in higher levels in most females — also increase with pregnancy. Estradiol may counteract the protective effects of androgens by suppressing genes that help with tear production. This action might explain why more people experience dry eyes as their pregnancy progresses.

Aside from hormone fluctuations, various other health conditions and lifestyle factors can cause dry eyes. People should, therefore, see a doctor for an evaluation. Other potential causes of dry eyes include:

• allergies
• vitamin A deficiency
• spending prolonged periods using computer or phone screens
• autoimmune diseases, such as lupus
• medications, such as antihistamines and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

People may find that skin issues such as rosacea and eczema cause dry eyes. These skin conditions may worsen during pregnancy and further compound the problem of hormone-associated dry eyes.

Some home remedies and lifestyle adjustments may help ease symptoms of dry eyes. People can try:

• drinking plenty of water to prevent dehydration
• using a humidifier to prevent the air from becoming too dry
• applying over-the-counter artificial tears
• taking a fatty acid supplement, such as fish oil or an omega-3 supplement
• wearing sunglasses outside to minimize sun damage to the eyes
• trying warm compresses or eyelid massage
• avoiding fans or heaters near the face, which can further dry the eyes

People should also avoid using potential irritants, such as certain lotions and creams, around the eyes. If an individual uses several products, they can try eliminating one product at a time and logging their symptoms. For example, a person might find that their eyes only become dry when using a specific brand of mascara.

Doctors must determine the cause of dry eyes before they can treat them. If someone has an underlying illness, such as an autoimmune disease, a doctor may refer them to a specialist while offering prescription eye drops or other treatments.

Medical treatment options include:

• Prescription drops: A doctor might prescribe prescription-strength artificial tears or eye drops to reduce inflammation.
• Tear plugs: A doctor can fit removable tear plugs into the tear ducts, which help the tears remain in the eyes for longer.
• Steroids: Steroids can help treat some types of eye inflammation. A doctor may recommend using steroid creams on the eyelids or trying steroid eye drops.
• Moisture goggles: Wearing moisture goggles at night can help keep the eyes lubricated. A doctor may recommend using the goggles alongside eye drops or ointments.
• Antibiotics: Some antibiotics have anti-inflammatory properties and may help relieve the symptoms of dry eyes. However, these treatments may not be suitable during pregnancy.
• Surgery: A doctor may recommend surgery if other treatments do not alleviate the symptoms. One option is to seal the tear ducts permanently, keeping tears in the eyes for longer. Another procedure, called tarsorrhaphy, sews parts of the upper and lower eyelids together to narrow the eye opening and reduce dryness. Skin grafts may also help.

For most people, dry eyes are a minor annoyance rather than a serious medical condition. People who notice dry eyes for the first time during pregnancy may find that their symptoms improve after delivery.

There is a lack of extensive research on how dry eyes may progress if someone does not treat the condition. For many people, dry eyes become a chronic condition that may improve or worsen at times. With home treatment, symptoms may improve. When they do not, a person may need more intensive medical care.

Pregnant people should talk with a doctor before trying home remedies, as some options may not be safe during pregnancy.

The hormone fluctuations that people experience during pregnancy can worsen dry eyes. Although seldom a serious condition, individuals may find dry eyes unpleasant and have difficulty with everyday tasks because of pain and irritation.

A range of treatments can help ease dry eye symptoms. However, pregnant people should exercise caution when using both prescription and over-the-counter medications for dry eyes. A doctor, optometrist, or ophthalmologist can advise pregnant individuals on which treatments are most suitable.

Read this article in Spanish.

Why does the skin itch during pregnancy?

Skin itching during pregnancy is not a very common phenomenon. Most often, the skin begins to itch unbearably (as after mosquito bites) in the evening, closer to night, which can provoke insomnia and generally worsen a woman’s mood. Usually itching does not harm the baby and goes away after childbirth. However, it is still worth consulting with a gynecologist and dermatologist.

What does it come from?

The cause of itching during pregnancy in most cases is a violation of the liver: the production and outflow of bile, a general increase in the level of bilirubin in the blood. This is due to a hormonal failure in the body of the future mother - a violation of the synthesis of estrogens, as well as due to fetal pressure on the bile ducts. The fatty acids produced in large quantities enter the woman's skin with the bloodstream and irritate the nerve endings, causing excruciating itching. Similar phenomena associated with stagnation of bile in the body can make themselves felt in the third trimester of pregnancy. Sometimes itching is accompanied by such dangerous diseases as diabetes mellitus.

Who is predisposed?

Itching during pregnancy is usually observed in women with chronic diseases of the biliary tract and with high levels of cholesterol in the blood. Such future mothers need to regularly (at least once a month) do a biochemical blood test to exclude toxic effects on liver cells.

How to fight?

A pregnant woman should tell her gynecologist about the discomfort associated with skin itching. In some cases, itching can be a sign of the development of such a dangerous disease as hepatitis. The doctor will conduct appropriate examinations. If, according to an objective examination, itching does not pose any danger, it is often possible to get rid of discomfort simply by following a diet aimed at lowering cholesterol levels, limiting the intake of fatty, spicy and salty foods that prevent the liver from coping with the function of bile secretion, as well as drinking plenty of water - it is necessary to eliminate dry skin. If the diet does not help, the doctor may prescribe choleretic drugs suitable for pregnant women.

It is important to find the cause of the bothersome itching, eliminating a whole group of skin diseases that can occur during pregnancy.

Itching in the abdomen and chest

This itch is worth mentioning separately. As a rule, the skin on the abdomen or chest itches in the second and third trimesters due to its stretching, because it is these parts of the body that increase in volume during pregnancy. In this case, it is very important not to scratch the skin - this will lead to the appearance of stretch marks, which, unlike itching, will not go away after childbirth. Regularly use moisturizing creams, special products for stretch marks, do a light massage of the chest and abdomen with circular movements of your fingers and do not take hot showers.

You can get answers to any questions about pregnancy and childbirth from leading EMC experts in the classes of the School of Moms.

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What to put into the eyes when they itch unbearably?

Contents

Why do eyes itch Eye diseases that cause itching and burning General symptoms Overview of eye drops for itching General recommendations Diagnostics Prevention Why do eyelids itch in the morning? What causes itchy eyes during pregnancy? Why do the corners of the eyes itch?

No one needs vision problems at all, so burning in the eyes, along with other unpleasant sensations, is always very disturbing. Eyes itch and water from a variety of reasons. How to understand what's bothering you, how to prevent it, and what inexpensive eye drops for itchy eyes can be used to quickly relieve symptoms.

Why eyes itch

There are quite a few reasons to experience a burning sensation in the eyes. The two main ones are pathologies of the organs of vision or other systems of the body and influence from the outside. When the mucous membrane of the eye itches, there is little pleasant. And, as a rule, trouble does not come alone. Itchy sensations are often accompanied by such unpleasant symptoms as:

• sand effect on the cornea;
• cutting pains;
• eye discharge;
• constant feeling of fatigue of the organs of vision;
• veil, mist before the eyes.

Eyes itch and water most often for one of the following reasons:

1. Stay in a dusty, polluted place.
2. Non-compliance with sanitation and personal hygiene.
3. Heavy smoke.
4. Allergy to wool, food, drugs, etc.
5. Use of poor quality or expired facial cosmetics.
6. Insufficient amount of rest, in particular night sleep.
7. Continuous operation with electronic devices.
8. Unsuitable contact optics.
9. Avitaminosis.
10. Viral, infectious and other health disorders.

These factors do not necessarily cause burning in the eyes, but if they do, it is recommended to consult an ophthalmologist to get an appointment for eye drops for itching and tearing.

Everyday factor

In everyday life, we are constantly confronted with various types of irritants. Provokes unpleasant sensations in the eyes, for example:

• cleaning the house without gloves using aggressive cleaning agents;
• dirt, dust, earth, sand, which, together with unwashed hands, fall on the cornea;
• cigarette or campfire smoke;
• excessive amount of perfume.

When itching occurs, we involuntarily try to scratch the eye, which can lead to even more discomfort. Before you independently examine the organs of vision, you need to wash or disinfect your hands. Then, to eliminate a spontaneous reaction, it is enough to rinse the eyes with clean water, use eye drops from redness and pain, and then go out into fresh air.

Allergic reaction

Most often, patients who are disturbed by burning in the organs of vision are those who are susceptible to various types of allergens. The reaction also occurs on the nasal mucosa, on the skin, and swelling of the eyelids and redness of the sclera are added to the eye itching. Allergies can occur for many reasons, the most common of which are:

• food, especially nuts, milk, citrus fruits;
• cosmetics;
• pollen from flowers, trees;
• wool, animal sweat;
• active UV radiation.

If your eyes itch, to determine the specific allergen, you need to visit an allergist for tests and recommendations on which antihistamines and eye drops to buy.

Itching as a side effect

The human visual system can simply not cope with the load placed on it:

In all these cases, the solution to the problem will be regular rest and moisturizing the cornea with special solutions. What means is better to use when the eyes itch with fatigue, you can ask the pharmacy or the ophthalmologist.

It is important to remember that chronic overwork can create a situation where even the best medicines will not help. Take care of your eyesight, rest more often.

Injuries and burns

Even the slightest mechanical impact on the mucous membrane can be the answer to the question of why the eyes itch. An eyelash, a mote, a piece of mascara, and other minor impurities can be easily removed on their own with clean hands, a mirror and clean water. If a large foreign object got inside, you should contact an ophthalmologist as soon as possible.

Thermal or chemical burns of the surface of the visual organs can be obtained by contact with boiling water, steam, exposure to aggressive chemicals, during construction work, for example, when working with a welding machine.

Eye diseases that cause itching and burning

Sometimes the eyes itch due to developing inflammatory processes or pathological changes in the visual organ. The symptom manifests itself during such diseases as:

• conjunctivitis - inflammation of the mucous membrane;
• cataract - partial or complete clouding of the lens;
• barley - acute purulent inflammation of the eyelash hair follicle;
• glaucoma - gradual destruction of the optic nerve.

Diseases of other organs of the human body can also cause an urgent desire to scratch the eyelids. This happens, for example, with diabetes mellitus, parasitic or hepatic pathologies, with endocrine disorders.

Drops from burning in the eyes in this case are selected taking into account the therapy of the identified disease. An unpleasant symptom will disappear as soon as the main problem is solved.

General symptoms

Itching can manifest itself in different ways. Sometimes the eyelids just itch, and sometimes the irritation becomes so intrusive and unbearable that it causes severe pain. What usually coexists with such signs?

• swelling of the eyelids, edema, redness of the sclera;
• secretion of a sticky transparent substance which becomes a crust after drying;
• tearing;
• decreased visual acuity.

Associated symptoms:

• headache, dizziness, lethargy, apathy;
• fever.

When there are several symptoms, it is better to consult a general practitioner, and then to an ophthalmologist.

Review of eye drops for itching

If your eyes itch, which drops to drip - only a doctor with a specialized education can answer this question correctly. The secret of the success of therapy lies in the correct diagnosis

All ophthalmic solutions are divided into several groups according to the nature of the impact.

Moisturizers

Corneal moisturizers are considered to be the most harmless preparations: they compensate for the lack of fluid caused by dry air, hard work or prolonged contact lens wear.

Effective eye drops with a good price-quality ratio - Russian ophthalmic solution Gilan Comfort and Gilan Ultra Comfort . Hyaluronic acid quickly fills the organs of vision with moisture, forming a protective layer on the surface of the cornea from dryness and inflammation. Gilan is available in the form of convenient disposable unidose. Now you do not need to think about how to store eye preparations after opening the package. Gilan acts instantly, is compatible with all types of contact optics, and is allowed during pregnancy.

To prevent the cornea from drying out while wearing lenses, it is recommended that you carefully choose the means for storing and processing optics. The unique multifunctional solution Aqua Optic from hyaluronic and succinic acid completely solves the required issue with disinfection, reduces the risk of hypoxia, helping the eyes feel moisturized and rested.

Allergy drops

If the cause of chronic itching is an allergic reaction, the source must first be identified and eliminated, then the unpleasant symptoms can be eliminated. To alleviate the condition during allergy attacks, inexpensive Sigida crystal eye drops are recommended. The drug quickly constricts blood vessels, reduces redness and moisturizes the irritated mucosa as much as possible. The solution is made without preservatives, it is completely safe for all patients, including children from two years old.

Drops for viral or bacterial infection

If the eyelids itch not because of fatigue, but because of the inflammatory process, solutions with active ingredients that can eliminate the pathogenic microflora and all the symptoms that it causes are required for treatment.

Each type of pathology has a specific treatment regimen prescribed by a doctor. Drugs are prescribed on the basis of the collected history, laboratory tests and clarification of the patient's contraindications. Depending on the type of disease, for medical support are used:

• Vixipin eye drops treat inflammatory manifestations in the organs of vision, help with chemical or thermal burns of the cornea, with retinal thrombosis.
• Trilactan solution is prescribed by ophthalmologists in the complex therapy of glaucoma.

Children's Itching Drops

For pediatric patients, drugs should always be prescribed only by an ophthalmologist after an examination. If the eyelids of a child itch during an allergic reaction, it is safe to use Sigida crystal eye drops. The solution is approved for use by children over two years old. Sigida Crystal does not contain preservatives, moisturizes well, safely removing inflammation, swelling, and irritation.

Folk remedies

Sometimes traditional medicine recipes help with burning and itching. It should be remembered that self-medication can sometimes be harmful, so always discuss any ideas with your doctor.

There are many popular options for getting rid of tickling sensations, here are just a few of them:

• Lotions from fresh cow's milk gently cleanse impurities and eliminate microbes, soothing irritated eyelids.
• Patches of fresh potato wedges, placed for 15 minutes 2 times a day, effectively relieve swelling, eliminate itching.
• If your eyelids itch, you can use a proven grandmother's recipe - a tea compress. Tannins contained in tea, after a few minutes, soothe severe itching.
• Fresh cucumber mask moisturizes, cools, soothes and tones the skin around the eyes.
• The burning sensation is quickly stopped by a lotion of fresh aloe juice and honey.
• Washing or compresses from rose water saves from discomfort.

General recommendations

Eye products should be used according to the instructions for a specific drug. Most anti-itch solutions are instilled 2-3 times a day, and the standard dosage is 1-2 drops in each conjunctival sac.

If the medicinal product is stored in a refrigerator, bring it to room temperature before use. Before the instillation procedure, be sure to wash your hands.

Modern products, which include Gilan solution, are available in convenient dropper tubes or in unit doses. The advantage of this form of release:

• The dose contained in the dropper tube is sufficient for one instillation procedure.
• No more worries about storing an open pack of eye drops.

Diagnostics

To identify the cause of irritation of the visual organs, ophthalmologists use the following methods:

Prevention

Burning with redness due to increased exercise can be prevented. To do this, just follow simple steps:

• Take regular breaks during intensive visual work. Sometimes it’s enough just to close your eyelids for a few minutes or go outside for 10 minutes.
• Choose a computer monitor with eye protection. If you have to work frequently at the computer, order special glasses to reduce the load.
• Perform regular gymnastics.
• Proper selection and use of optical aids.
• Have your eyes checked annually.
• Keep moisturizing eye drops on hand to help the mucosa recover from stress.

Do's and Don'ts

Try to restrain your urge to scratch your eyelids during an attack, as this can make the problem worse. The warning symptom should not be ignored. If irritation of the mucous membrane bothers the patient for a long time, it is better to visit a doctor.

Why do eyelids itch in the morning?

During the day, the visual system adapts to daylight and to the planned load. In the morning, the organs of vision are still weakened after a night's rest, the sensitivity is increased, which causes a desire to comb the eyelids.

Evening itching is also quite understandable - by the end of the day, vision especially needs rest, but not all people allow it to relax. With the onset of darkness, the visual muscles become especially tense, so people who work for a long time at night often scratch their eyelids in an attempt to eliminate an unpleasant symptom. Doctors recommend that with increased visual load, it is imperative to moisten the mucous membrane with special moisturizing ophthalmic solutions.

Morning itching does not always indicate the onset of the disease. Immediately after waking up, our eyelids are a little stuck together, and hard formations accumulate in the corners, which cause a feeling of tickling. In order not to comb your face, a simple wash with warm water is enough.

What causes itchy eyes during pregnancy?

During the period of childbearing, a woman becomes very sensitive to most allergens. What in the normal state did not cause trouble, during pregnancy can stimulate swelling, redness, burning of the mucosa. In this situation, you should quickly find out the source of irritation in order to take the necessary measures.

Why do the corners of the eyes itch?

Ophthalmologists know that eye infections usually cause the urge to scratch the inner corner of the eye. Most often, any allergic reaction manifests itself in this way.

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