What causes stinging eyes?
As we’ve said, there are several causes that can result in a stinging or burning sensation. Possible irritants can be from within and around your home, like the usage of a humidifier, fan, or air-conditioning, chemicals in cleaning products, make-up, moisturisers, sunscreen, soap, or chlorine from a swimming pool.
Stinging eyes can also be caused by external environmental factors and allergens, such as dust, smoke, animal hair or mould. Plus, during allergy seasons when there’s a high pollen count, those with hay fever may find themselves experiencing irritated eyes more often. Dry, hot or cold air can serve as another instigator of stinging eyes, especially if the conditions are windy.
If you’ve got the flu or a cold, your burning eyes can really flare up. The same will happen if you’re experiencing an eye allergy. In some cases, the sensation can be a sign of a more serious eye condition.
These conditions can include:
- Ocular rosacea
- Chronic dry eyes
- Pink eye
- Blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids)
- Bacterial / allergic conjunctivitis
Generally, the symptoms that occur along with stinging eyes can be an indication of the actual cause. If you’re experiencing eye discharge, this could mean you’ve got an eye infection, or if your eyes become incredibly itching, you might be suffering from allergies. Continuous burning, regardless of the cause, means that you should reach out to your optometrist or eye doctor.