9 Glaucoma Symptoms You Must Know About

Glaucoma Symptoms

Most people with open-angle glaucoma don’t have symptoms. If symptoms do develop, it’s usually late in the disease. That’s why glaucoma is often called the “sneak thief of vision.” The main sign is usually a loss of side, or peripheral, vision.

What are the symptoms of glaucoma?

Patchy blind spots in your side (peripheral) vision
Tunnel vision in the advanced stages
Seeing halos (rainbow-coloured) rings around lights
Sudden vision loss
Blurry or foggy vision
Redness in your eye
Eye looks hazy (particularly in infants)
Severe throbbing eye pain
Severe headache (on the same side as the affected eye)

Congenital Glaucoma in Infants

This usually shows up in newborns or during your baby’s first few years. Symptoms include:

Tearing, sensitivity to light, and eyelid spasms
A larger cornea and clouding of the normally transparent cornea
Habitual rubbing of the eyes, squinting or keeping the eyes closed much of the time

You can prevent damage from glaucoma, but you can’t get vision back once it’s gone. That is why it’s so important to get regular exams with an eye doctor, particularly if there is a family history of glaucoma.

Also Read: Is Groundnut good or bad for your eyes?

The Best HMO in Nigeria you should try in 2022

Have you ever considered HMO for you and your family? In Nigeria, a lot of individuals do not take the idea of health insurance very seriously. Sometimes, it is because they are uninformed. Other times, personal superstitious beliefs about insurance could serve as a detriment to seeking the best health insurance package.

Whatever the case the advantage of health insurance is something one should give more than a thought to.

What is an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization)?

HMO is an organization that provides health insurance for a monthly or annual fee. It consists of a group of health insurance providers that provide medical care through medical professionals.

Over the years, health complications have appeared to be on the rise. Exposure to newer levels of pollution and other health hazards can lead to an individual’s susceptibility to diseases. In the long run, this could not only be life-threatening but financially-draining.

Subscribing to an insurance plan with an HMO is vital. It ensures that you can afford proper medical care without having to go bankrupt.

While being insured medically is essential, certain considerations should be taken into account to find the best health management organisations for you and your family.

Best HMO in Nigeria

Hygeia HMO
Reliance HMO
Redcare HMO

1. Mansard HMO

axa mansard hmo

AXA Mansard is a member of the AXA Group, the worldwide leader in insurance and asset management with 166,000 employees serving 107 million clients in 64 countries. In 2016, IFRS revenues amounted to €100.2 billion and IFRS underlying earnings to €5.7 billion. AXA had €1,429 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2016.

AXA Mansard was incorporated in 1989 as a private limited liability company and is registered as a composite company with the National Insurance Commission of Nigeria (NAICOM).

The Company offers life and non-life insurance products and services to individuals and institutions across Nigeria whilst also offering asset/investment management services, health management services and pension fund administration through its three subsidiaries AXA Mansard Investments Limited, AXA Mansard Health Limited and AXA Mansard Pensions Limited.

2. Hygeia HMO

hygeia hmo

Hygeia HMO is a leading health insurance company in Nigeria operating since 1986. As a matter of fact, Hygeia HMO is one of the best HMOs in Nigeria, if not the best. They are well known for swift customer care service, automated system of operation and giving a rich experience.

Additionally, they have great hospital options, whether for corporate or individual health needs. Hygeia network covers various services including; primary care providers like general practitioners (GPS) and secondary care specialists like dentists, physiotherapists, E.N.T practitioners and many more.

Also, at Hygeia HMO, you will always find a plan that suits your needs.

Hygeia Plans include:
Personal Plan: This plan is suitable for individual, families, pregnant women, senior citizens etc
SME Plan: This plan has two categories; HyStarter and HyStarter (Premium)
Corporate Plan: This also have several categories: HyLite, HyBrid, HyValue, HyEnhanced and HyLeague

3. Redcare HMO

redcare hmo

Redcare HMO was incorporated in April 2009 and is duly registered with National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). They also offer affordable HMO services tailored to individuals, families, companies and parastatals. The service ranges from high end to the lower end of the market.

Also Read: Is Groundnuts good or bad for your eyes?

4. Roding HMO

roding hmo

Roding Healthcare Limted offers healthcare packages with appropriate subscription fees /deposit for health care delivery ranging from primary, secondary up to the tertiary health care level.

Our health care plans are specially tailored to meet the specific needs of individuals, families and corporate entities. Our Corporate Healthcare plans are: Basic, Classic, Unique, UniquePlus and Supreme Plans; all the plans are specially tailored to provide medical cover for individuals and families.

5. Greenbay HMO

greenbay hmo

Greenbay Healthcare Services Limited is an integrated healthcare solution provider set up to provide service as a health maintenance organization. It is a new generation health maintenance organization created in response to service delivery challenge observed within the health care service industry.

Drawing from over twenty five years cumulative experience within the healthcare industry, our overall goal is work with employers and individual in managing their healthcare expenditure while providing GUARANTY OF QUALITY for services delivered to members of the greencare™ network.

6. Anchor HMO

anchor hmo

Anchor HMO International Company Limited is a Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO) incorporated in Nigeria to carry out the business of providing easy access to quality health services for individuals and corporate entities. A member of the Anchor Insurance Group, we have an authorized share capital in excess of 500 million naira in accordance with the provision of decree 35 of the Federal Government of Nigeria, which established the National Health Insurance Scheme.

7. Lifeworth HMO

lifeworth hmo

Lifeworth Medicare Limited is a provider of managed healthcare duly registered in Nigeria by the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), 2004 and the regulatory authority, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Lifeworth HMO has developed products to meet the expectations of all categories of people (whether you are an individual, family, corporate, associations, community or schools) utilizing latest technology to provide enhances customer experience.

8. Swift HMO

Swift HMO has several plans in place to meet the needs of the society. In like manner, they provide their health care plans for large and small employers. Furthermore, Swift HMO has several health service hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centers spread across 126 cities in Nigeria.

Not only that, Swift HMO also manage outsourced work site clinics and health centers nationwide.

9. AIICO HMO

aiico hmo

AIICO Multi-shield Limited started operation in 1997 and is one of the HMO’s accredited by the National Health Insurance Scheme. They offer affordable healthcare services using best technology and human resources.

In addition, AIICO Multi-shield plan include: standard plan, executive plan, super executive plan and magnum plan. The members also have access to a nationwide network of providers you can plug into.

10. Total Health Trust HMO

Total Health Trust hmo

In 1997, three passionate doctors came together to set up Total Health Trust HMO with the aim of providing cost effective health care service. However, THT began full operation in 1998 with the financial backing of Leadway Assurance Company. Currently, THT has served over 300,000 members, 500 corporate clients and government institutions. Also, Total health Trust HMO won the 2016 Nigeria health care award.

11. Sterling Health HMO

Sterling Health MCS is a Health Maintenance Organisation established in 2006, duly accredited and regulated by the NHIS to provide healthcare services to enrolled population through a managed care concept.

We are a limited liability Company registered with the CAC with paid up capital of 500 Million shares and we have a highly capable and experienced management team made up of distinguished Nigerians and Corporate bodies as major shareholders.

12. Metro Health HMO

metrohealth hmo

Metrohealth HMO is another health management organisation established to be the HMO of choice to the general public and corporate entities alike. At Metrohealth, technology is rightly deployed to better their service
quality. Health plans include: Corporate health plans, retail health plans and sweet sixties plan.

13. Novo HMO

novo health africa hmo

Novo Health Africa is a national health maintenance organisation that provides health care service across Nigeria. Their services and products include NHA retail plans, NHA Corporate Plans, Connect-care and connect
travel.

14. Royal Exchange HMO

Royal Exchange Healthcare Limited is a nationwide accredited National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) health maintenance organization, providing financial intermediation within the health industry. We therefore act as a fulcrum between the enrollees and the healthcare providers selected purely on the quality of their services.

Royal Exchange Healthcare Limited’s primary function is the design of medical health plans that are both flexible and accommodating. Our provider network is spread across the country and through rigorous continuous quality auditing, we strive to ensure the highest possible standards in medical services to our clients.

15. Mediplan HMO

Mediplan Healthcare Limited was incorporated in 2000 and they offer great healthcare insurance services with the best hospitals. Not only that, they are also known for taking prime care of their subscribers.

Apart from corporate and individual clients, Mediplan also provide health cover for the staff and dependents of Federal Ministry of Works, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development, and Federal Ministry of Labour & Productivity.

In addition, their service extends to men and officers of the police force and their dependants in Oyo, Osun, and Ondo states in Nigeria.

Plans include:

All purpose Health Plan (APHP)
Enhanced Health Plan (EHP)
Enhanced Health Plan Plus (EHPP)
Ultimate Health Plan (UHP)
Super Ultimate Health Plan (SUHP)

16. Avon HMO

avon hmo

Avon HMO was registered in 2012 but began operations in 2013. The HMO is a subsidiary of the Heirs Holdings Group, an investment company. Once you subscribe to their plan and you fall sick, Avon HMO steps in to pay the bills and also ensures your full recovery.

Basically, Avon has plans for individual, couples, family, SME & small groups, companies and large groups, international coverage and so on. You can check their website for their list of providers.

Physical Address: 29, Rumens Road, Off Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi Lagos, Nigeria
Contact: 0700-277-9800, 01-277-9800
Website: avonhealthcare.com

17. Healthcare International HMO

Healthcare International HMO

Healthcare International Limited is a private company incorporated in 1997 to provide quality and affordable health insurance to different strata of the Nigerian population.

The company is owned by some of the leading insurance companies in Nigeria namely: AIICO INSURANCE PLC, COSMIC INSURANCE BROKERS, CUSTODIAN & ALLIED INSURANCE PLC, FEMI JOHNSON & CO., LASACO ASSURANCE PLC, NICON INSURANCE CORPORATION, NIGER INSURANCE PLC and OMIS INVESTMENT LTD.

18. Oceanic HMO

oceanic hmo

Oceanic Health Management Limited was established and licensed by the NHIS in 2007 for the provision of managed health care to the Nigerian public with a share capital of N400,000,000 (Four Hundred Million Naira) fully paid.

We are one of the few licensed managed health care services providers that have been recently re-accredited by the NHIS.

As your partner for life, Oceanic Health is recognized as a front liner in providing managed healthcare services. It has always been our mantra to exhibit a deep sense of responsibility in the course of delivering our services.

Therefore, we are strategically positioned to provide quality healthcare service to all segments of the society.

19. Songhai Health Trust HMO

SHTL is one of the first generation Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), incorporated since 2001 and has grown to become one of the leading HMOs in the country. We take pride in being driven by ethics in the provision of managed healthcare services to public and private sector employers/employees, as well as our teeming population in the informal sector. Our services are provided under a prepaid arrangement, in partnership with our network of carefully selected healthcare providers spread across the country.

20. Venus Medicare HMO

Venus Medicare Ltd is a health maintenance company established by Zenith Bank Group. The company caters to individuals, small employer groups, and large corporate organizations in the private sector. Additionally,
they work with NHIS to provide social health insurance programme for employees of the 3-tiers of government.

Venue Medicare services includes emergency services, outpatient services, inpatient services, maternity services, child health services, surgical services, radiological services, eye care, dental care, etc.

Physical Address: 2, Atakpame Street, off Ademola Adetokunbo Crescent opposite Ascon filling station, Wuse 2, Abuja.
Phone no: +234 70033330000, +234 7046096878, +234 7046090877
Website: zenithmedicare.com

21. Pro Health HMO

prohealth hmo

Pro-Health HMO Ltd was established in 2008 by Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund for the purpose of providing health insurance to public and private sectors. Additionally, Pro Health is also accredited by NHIS. The company’s head office is located at Abuja with zonal offices in Lagos, Ibadan, Enugu, Kaduna, Maiduguri and Port-Harcourt.

Actually, Pro-Health HMO has wide range of products and services to meet your lifestyle needs. From providing NHIS standard healthcare services to secondary and tertiary healthcare services.

Head Office: BASSAN Plaza, Plot 759 Independent Avenue Central Business District, Abuja
Phone no: 0700776432584
Website: prohealthhmo.com.ng

22. Reliance HMO

reliance hmo

Reliance HMO is a health insurance company that operates like a technology company. They use software, data science and telemedicine to make their service accessible to all. Reliance HMO offer affordable and great insurance plans with reliable and good customer service

For as low as N3,500 per month, you can get an individual plan. Equally, they have affordable plans for family, people with special needs and businesses.

Address: 18, Jimoh Oladehinde Street, Gbagada, Lagos, Nigeria
Phone no: 0700-73542623
Website: reliancehmo.com

23. Clearline International HMO

Clearline was registered in January 1994 but, began full operation in 1997 as a National Health maintenance organisation. Not only that, Clearline has over 2000 partner hospitals nationwide.

Their product ranges from corporate health insurance scheme to family/individual policy and tertiary institution health insurance plan.

Physical Address: Clearline House, 290 Ikorodu Road, Anthony, Lagos.

Phone: 08076490101, 08076490111, 08071010840
Website: www.clearlinehmo.com

24. Military HMO

DHML is also known as the military HMO. It currently operates 138 health care facilities across the country. To partake in their service, you will need to enroll so that adequate professional staffing and resources can be made
available in both military and supporting facilities.

Additionally, every member under Defence Health Maintenance HMO is assigned a primary care provider (PCP).

Head Office: Plot 1323, Aderemi Adesoji Street, Off Samuel Jereton Mariere Road, Gudu District, Abuja.
Contact: +234-8069305886, +234-7037921025
Website: www.dhmlnigeria.com

25. Integrated Healthcare hmo

integrated healthcare

Integrated Healthcare Limited is another HMO provider in Nigeria that began operation in 2000. IHC caters for your health needs and enable you live a fulfilled life. Plans include: Corporate Plan, Family Plan, Individual Plan, Formal Sector Plan, The Tertiary Institutions Social Health Insurance Programme (TISHIP) Plan and Community Based Health Insurance Plan.

Physical Address: No. 19, Jos Street, Area 3, Garki District, Abuja, Nigeria.
Tel: +234 81 4612 0236, +234 90 2000 8294, +234 80 9723 6759
Website: integratedhealthcareltd.com.

List of HMO in Nigeria

Forst Eye Clinic accept the following list of HMO in Nigeria. We do this so that your appointment costs you less time, money and aggravation. We also file insurances on your behalf. If you have insurance and you do not see it on this list, please give us a call because we may still take the insurance as some insurances don’t necessarily require us to be on their panel. We hope to see you soon!

Mansard Health HMO
Hygeia HMO
Liberty Blue/THT HMO
Multishield HMO
Avon HMO
Redcare HMO
Premier Medicaid HMO
Marina Health HMO
Oceanic Health HMO
Healthcare International HMO
Roding Health HMO
Anchor HMO
Metro Health HMO
Managed Health HMO
United Health International HMO
International Health Mgt. Services HMO
Fidelity Bank HMO
Novo Health Africa HMO
Mediplan Healthcare HMO
Royal Exchange HMO
Sterling Healthcare Services HMO
Songhai Health Trust HMO
Prepaid Medicare Services HMO
Non Such HMO
MH HMO
Lifeworth HMO
Greenbay HMO
Maayorit HMO
Thebe HMO
Wellness/Investicorp HMO
Pine Wood Medicare PPO
LIfecare Partners
Distinct Healthcare Limited
Metro Health HMO
Swift HMO

Conclusion
A lot of people do not take the huge step of finding the best insurance package in Nigeria. This is because they think they are rigid and too expensive.

The thing is, these Health Maintenance Organization provide a lot of options to choose from. In the end, there are no excuses for not getting that health insurance for you and your loved ones.

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contact lenses side effects

Contact lenses side effects are not uncommon, but they are associated with improper use and care of the contact lens.

Getting your first set of contact lenses would feel like an amazing upgrade to eyeglasses. You can see the world more clearly just by popping them in and you would look good too! They can fit in easily onto the eye and allow you to perform numerous tasks that might be uncomfortable in glasses such as traveling, exercising, etc.

However, if you do not use contact lenses properly, you will be exposed to some side effects which could even affect your vision in the long run.

8 RISKS AND SIDE EFFECTS OF USING CONTACT LENSES

1. Blockage of Oxygen Supply to the Eyes

Since contact lenses lie directly on the eye and cover the entire cornea, the amount of oxygen reaching your eyes will decrease. Good oxygen supply is absolutely critical to keep the eyes healthy.

Choose soft or silicone hydrogel lenses as they transmit more oxygen than the conventional soft contact lens materials. They will even be better for your eyes in the long run. Avoid wearing contact lenses for long hours at a stretch.

2. Dry Eyes

Contact lens reduces the quantity of tears getting on the cornea as they absorb most of our tears to keep itself soft. This lack of tears causes dry eye syndrome leading to itchiness, burning sensation and redness of the eyes. If the eyes get too dry, it will lead to the scarring of the cornea which can be extremely painful.

If you suffer from chronic eye dryness, use eyedrops to lubricate the eyes to provide some relief to them.

3. Irritation when Combined with Medication, especially Birth Control Pill

Concurrent use of contraceptive pills and contact lens together will result in chronic dry eyes and irritation. You will experience changes in the tear film, which primarily consists of three main layers which come together to protect, bathe and nourish the eye surface.

The combination of birth control pills and contact lenses will upset this balance in the tear film and cause excessive tearing, burning eyes and a gritty foreign body sensation in the eye. The restricted flow of oxygen to the eye will aggravate the condition.

Avoid using lenses as long as you are on the pill.

4. Diminished Corneal Reflex

Using contact lenses may cause diminished corneal reflex in the eye. Corneal reflex is a protective mechanism of the eye where the brain signals the eyelids to drop down to protect our eyes whenever the slightest amount of pressure is applied to the cornea. Corneal reflex makes sure that we close our eyes if something may cause a direct trauma to them, like a flying object coming towards our eyes or if someone tries to poke us.

When you use contact lenses constantly, you teach your body to ignore the natural corneal reflex. This may dull the eye’s response to corneal reflex, which could lead to the eye being damaged if you can’t shut your eyes fast enough in case of danger.

Keep the usage of the lenses to a minimum. Use glasses when you are at home to ensure that corneal reflex isn’t diminished too much by constant use.

5. Corneal Abrasion

There is a possibility of the contact lenses scratching your cornea, causing corneal abrasion if they are not fitted properly or when your eyes are too dry.

Never sleep with contact lenses in as the risk of abrasion will increase. The lenses will trap particles like dirt and sand and rub against your cornea. These abrasions will create an opening for bacteria and virus to seep through and give birth to eye infections, which can result in loss of vision too.

You may even scratch your cornea when you insert or extract contact lenses carelessly. Ensure that you fit the lenses carefully and you never sleep in them.

6. Red Eye or Conjunctivitis

There will be a high risk of conjunctivitis and stye if you wear contact lenses for long hours at a stretch, especially through the night. They provide a moist environment which acts as a potential breeding ground for microorganisms like viruses and bacteria. Additionally, since less oxygen reaches the cornea when you wear lenses, the body doesn’t fight off an infection that is caused by bacteria or viruses as effectively as it should.

Giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC) is the most common type of conjunctivitis that contact lens wearers get due to repeated irritation from the contact lenses.

Always, always, always remove your contact lens before sleeping.

7. Ptosis

Ptosis is a condition where the eyelids start drooling and the affected individuals are unable to open their eyes fully.

If you use contact lenses, they may move into the eyelid tissues causing scarring and contraction, which further leads to a lid retraction. This especially holds true for hard contact lens wearers as the eyelid is repeatedly stretched during lens removal.

Switching to soft contact lenses would be a good idea.

8. Corneal Ulcer

This occurs when an open sore caused by fungus, bacteria, parasite infection or viruses is formed in the eye’s cornea. A corneal ulcer can cause permanent blindness if it is not treated quickly. If it does lead to blindness, a corneal transplant will probably be the only way to restore vision.

PREVENTING SIDE EFFECTS CAUSED BY CONTACT LENS

Do not over-wear your contact lenses and discard/replace them as directed by the doctor. Remember that lens deposits will continue to build up on your contact lenses over a period of time. The longer you go without replacing the lenses, the more will be the lens deposits — this will reduce the oxygen supply to the corneas, eventually damaging the eyes.

Do not miss your routine contact lens eye exams. Being regular with the check-ups will help your eye doctor detect problems caused by the contact lens in the early stages and prevent them from getting serious by giving you timely treatment.

If your current contact lenses are uncomfortable, try changing them or get an updated prescription. This will help in relieving contact lens irritation. Moreover, you can consider LASIK as a permanent solution to contact lens discomfort.

ask a doctor

care of the eyes

Effect of Groundnut on the Eyes

The Effect of Groundnut on the Eyes

Promote Heart Health
Boosts Memory
Promotes Fertility
Helps in Weight Loss
Prevents Gallstones
Helps Fight Depression
Boosts Hair Growth

Is Groundnut Good for Eyesight ?

Groundnuts are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E, which boost your eye health and protect the eye’s cells from “free radicals” that could break down the eye’s tissue

We all know that our eyes require vitamin E to prevent the development of cataract. Groundnut contains this vitamin and can help you to protect your vision from being damaged.

It is also believed that groundnuts include resveratrol. This is an exciting element that can potentially slow down the ageing effect and keep your vision good for a long while.

Nutrition facts

Here are the nutrition facts for 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of raw peanuts:

Calories: 567
Water: 7%
Protein: 25.8 grams
Carbs: 16.1 grams
Sugar: 4.7 grams
Fiber: 8.5 grams
Fat: 49.2 grams
- Saturated: 6.28 grams
- Monounsaturated: 24.43 grams
- Polyunsaturated: 15.56 grams
- Omega-3: 0 grams
- Omega-6: 15.56 grams
- Trans: 0 grams

Other Benefits of Groundnuts

Here Are Some Amazing Benefits of Groundnut Or Peanuts

1. Promote Heart Health

According to researchers, people who regularly eat groundnuts were far less likely to die of heart stroke or disease. Peanuts and other nuts can also lower the bad cholesterol (LDL) levels. Bad cholesterol can lead to plaque development on the blood vessels & peanuts can prevent this.

Groundnut can also reduce the inflammation that can cause heart disease. The resveratrol in groundnuts also helps fight heart problems.

2. Boosts Memory

Peanuts contain vitamin B3 or niacin content whose many health benefits include normal brain functioning as well as boosting memory power.

3. Promotes Fertility

Groundnut also contains a good amount of folate. Several studies have shown that women who had a daily consumption of 400 micrograms of folic acid before & during early pregnancy reduced the risk of having a baby born with a serious neural tube defect by up to 70 percent.

4. Helps in Weight Loss

Peanuts or groundnuts are called energy-dense foods. If you include them as a snack then it will make you eat fewer calories later in the day. Compared to consuming them with a meal, groundnuts elicited stronger feelings of fullness when eaten as a snack. This will ultimately help with weight loss.

Including groundnut or other nuts in your diet is a great way to enhance palatability & nutrient intake without causing weight gain.

5. Prevents Gallstones

Consumption of peanuts is also linked to a lowered risk of gallstones. Men having 5 or more units of nuts that include groundnuts in a week had a low risk of gallstone disease. Likewise women who consume 5 or more units of nuts in a week had a reduced risk of cholecystectomy (removal of gallbladder).

6. Helps Fight Depression

Groundnuts are good sources of tryptophan, which is an essential amino acid that is important for the production of serotonin, one of the important brain chemicals involved in mood regulation. When depression takes place, a decreased amount of serotonin may be released from the nerve cells in the brain. Tryptophan can increase serotonin’s antidepressant effects when there is an increased amount of serotonin in the blood.

7. Boosts Hair Growth

Few researchers believe that as peanuts contain all the amino acids & protein, they could be a good supplementation to a diet for hair growth.

The side effects of Groundnuts

It must be noted that peanuts should not be consumed in excess as it can be harmful for the body. Some studies reveal that peanuts might cause allergies to some people.

Itchy Eyes: 8 Reasons Your Eyes Itch

Itchy Eyes

When your eyes become itchy and red, you’ll do just about anything to relieve the irritation. But knowing the cause of your itchy eyes can help you find the right treatment and get some relief.

The differences between symptoms of allergy and infection, for example, is important to understand so you don’t make your condition worse.

The following are eight causes of itchy eyes and some possible treatment options, including home remedies and prescription medications.

Causes of itchy eyes

Most of the time, itchy eyes are caused by some type of allergy. An irritating substance (called an allergen) — such as pollen, dust and animal dander — causes the release of compounds called histamines in the tissues around the eyes, which results in itching, redness and swelling.

1. Seasonal allergies

If you get itchy eyes around the same time every year, you may have a seasonal allergy to ragweed or something else that blooms and releases pollen during certain times of year.

One way to tell if you’re dealing with an allergy, as opposed to an eye infection, is that you’ll have other allergic reactions, such as sneezing and nasal congestion.

Allergic symptoms are triggered by histamine, a compound released by cells to defend against allergens. Histamine causes an inflammatory response, and itchy eyes are among the common signs of histamine at work. One way to reduce symptoms is to avoid contact with seasonal allergens. Strategies include:

Pay attention to local weather reports and stay indoors when pollen counts are high.
Keep home and car windows closed during pollen season.
Take showers and wash clothes more frequently to help keep pollen away from your airways.
Wear a pollen mask when you have to be outside.
Over-the-counter antihistamine medications can be helpful in controlling symptoms.

If your symptoms are especially serious every year, you may benefit from a prescription allergy medication. Because these medications can take some time to be effective, your doctor may recommend that you start taking them a few weeks prior to the onset of your allergy season.

2. Perennial allergies

Unlike seasonal allergies, perennial allergies are those you may have all year long. Things like mold, dust, and pet dander are among the more common perennial eye allergies.

You also may be allergic to certain products in your home. The contact lens solution you use may be irritating your eyes. Or, the soap or shampoo you use may be the problem.

If environmental allergens have been eliminated as the cause of your itchy eyes, try taking a break from a product that comes in contact with your eyes. It may be a process of elimination that leads to a solution, but it could be well worth your time.

To find out whether you have an allergy, an allergist can administer a skin test for specific allergens. Small amounts of allergens, such as ragweed or pet dander, are administered just under the skin to see if the skin around the injection site shows any kind of reaction. These tests are safe for most children and adults.

In addition to trying to reduce your exposure to an allergen, you can take medications, such as antihistamines or corticosteroids, to help reduce inflammation.

3. Airborne irritants

Some people are particularly sensitive to smoke, diesel exhaust, or even certain perfumes. Avoiding exposure to these irritants is the simplest solution. Soothing eye drops or a cool, damp cloth over your closed eyes may help you feel better fast.

4. Infection

Your eyes are vulnerable to viral, bacterial, and fungal infections — all of which can bring on itchy eyes.

One of the more common eye infections is conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye because the white part of the infected eye turns pink. It’s very contagious and often accompanied by drainage from the affected eye.

Another possible eye infection is called uveitis, an inflammation of the iris — the part of your eye with color. Uveitis can cause eye pain and an extreme sensitivity to light.

Both types of infections should be evaluated and treated by a doctor. Antibiotics may be used to treat conjunctivitis. Steroids also may be necessary. Anti-inflammatory eye drops may be enough to treat uveitis.

In more severe cases, immune-suppressant drugs may be needed. Uveitis, if not treated effectively, can lead to severe vision loss and complications such as glaucoma and cataracts.

5. Dry eye

Tears, which are a combination of water, oil, and mucus, keep your eyes moist and refreshed. For various reasons, your eyes may stop producing enough tears to keep your eyes from getting dry and itchy. One common cause is simply getting older. As you age, tear production tends to wane.

Likewise, conditions such as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis can also lead to fewer tears. Certain medications list dry eyes as a possible side effect. Those include:

antidepressants
medications that lower blood pressure
birth control pills
decongestants

Your eyes can also dry out because tears are evaporating too quickly. If you’ve ever been outside in the wind for a long time or in an environment with very low humidity, you may have noticed your eyes getting dryer and itchier. Sometimes, a blocked tear duct or tear gland leads to dry and itchy eyes.

Treating dry eyes may be as simple as using over-the-counter artificial tears, which are available as drops. Follow the instructions carefully. If you experience chronic dry eyes, see an eye doctor. You may need medicated drops.

6. Eyestrain

Staring at a computer screen for a long time, or trying to read in a poorly lit area, can strain your eyes, causing them to feel itchy and tired. Driving for a long time, especially at night or on a bright, sunny day, can strain your eyes, too.

Eyestrain can also develop if you’re forcing yourself to keep your eyes open and remain awake when you’re tired. For some people, indoor heat or air conditioning can lead to strained, itchy, and irritated eyes.

The best treatment is to simply rest your eyes periodically. If driving is putting a strain on your eyes, pull over and close your eyes. Take a nap or switch drivers, so your eyes can focus on closer objects than a long stretch of highway or oncoming headlights.

7. Contact lens use

Keeping your contacts lenses in too long or failing to replace your lenses regularly can irritate your eyes, making them itchy and red.

If you wear contact lenses, remember to take them out at night and follow other basic lens care steps. Follow your doctor’s advice about how to care for your lenses and how often you should replace them.

8. Blepharitis

Red and itchy eyes may result from an inflammation of the eyelids known as blepharitis. It occurs when the little oil glands at the base of your eyelashes become blocked. Sometimes just keeping your eyelids clean is enough to resolve blepharitis symptoms, which may also include watery eyes and swelling.

Blepharitis won’t usually cause vision loss, but it can be a chronic problem that leads to conjunctivitis and other complications. Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications may be necessary to provide relief and avoid further problems.

Home Treatments for Itchy Eyes

Here are two reliable home remedies that you can use to treat itchy eyes.

Always make sure to see a doctor if symptoms become severe enough to affect your day-to-day life.

Eye drops

Over-the-counter eye drops for itch relief are always helpful. Some are designed for allergies and redness, while others work like artificial tears for dryness. The best types are preservative free. Some help all these conditions in addition to itching.

Cold compress

You can also try a cold compress. A cold-water compress can relive the itch and have a soothing effect on your eyes. Simply take a clean cloth, soak it in cold water, and apply to closed itchy eyes, repeating as often as needed.

When to see a doctor

Most cases of itchy eyes don’t last very long, and they might even go away on their own.

To be safe, see a doctor if:

you feel there is something lodged in your eye
an eye infection develops
your vision starts to get worse
your itchy eyes turn into moderate to severe eye pain

If you experience any of the above, discontinue home treatments immediately and visit your doctor.

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