Eyes Are Itching
Free Symptom Checker
with Physician-supervised AI
Worried about your symptoms?
Start the Eyes Are Itching test with our free AI Symptom Checker.
This will help us personalize your assessment.
By starting the symptom checker, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
Try one of these related symptoms.
Itchy eyes
Eye irritation
Left eye itching
Right eye itching
About the Symptom
It describes the itching sensation felt in one or both eyes which can be quite uncomfortable. Most commonly this is due to allergic changes and the eyes may appear red.
When to See a Doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
- Eye pain
Possible Causes
Generally, Eyes are itching can be related to:
- Allergic Rhinitis / Allergic Conjunctivitis (Including Spring Catarrh)
A condition caused by allergens like pollen and dust mites, resulting in a runny nose, stuffy nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes.
- Sjogren Syndrome
An autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the organs that produce tears and saliva, resulting in dry eyes and dry mouth. In some cases, internal organs can also be gradually affected. Disease severity is highly variable.
- Corneal Injury
Corneal damage is an injury to the cornea, which is the transparent tissue covering the front of the eye.
- Pharyngoconjunctival Fever
- Intraocular Foreign Body
- Cough Variant Asthma
- Sinusitis
- Migraine
- Atopic Dermatitis
- Hand Eczema
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Are you experiencing itchy eyes?
- When did you first start experiencing itchy eyes?
- How often do you experience itchy eyes?
- How are your itchy eyes now?
Reviewed By:
Ami Shah Vira, MD (Ophthalmology)
Dr. Shah Vira grew up in Arizona. She moved to Chicago to complete a combined engineering and medical program at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and Chicago Medical School. She completed a highly competitive two year dual fellowship in Neuro-ophthalmology and Oculoplastic at the highly regarded Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Shah Vira specializes in surgical correction of the eyelids and eyebrows, eyelid malposition and tumors, excessive tearing, and conditions involving the orbit.
Masashi Mimura, MD (Ophthalmology)
Dr. Mimura Graduated from the Osaka Medical College and obtained his ophthalmologist certification in 2007. He opened an outpatient clinic for oculoplastic and reconstructive surgery at Osaka Kaijo Hospital. Subsequently, he was appointed as the assistant professor at the Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical College, in 2014. He then served an international fellowship at the Department of Ophthalmology/Oculoplastic and Reconstructive Surgery, California State University, San Diego. Since then, he has been appointed as Lecturer in the Departments of Ophthalmology at Osaka Medical College and Toho University Medical Center Sakura Hospital. Dr. Mimura is currently the Director of Oculofacial Clinic Osaka, where he specializes in Oculofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Content updated on Feb 6, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
Was this page helpful?
Tell your friends about us.
We would love to help them too.
Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.
Try Free Symptom QuizHow Ubie Can Help You
With a free 3-min Eyes Are Itching quiz, powered by Ubie's AI and doctors, find possible causes of your symptoms.
This questionnaire is customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:
Biological Sex - helps us provide relevant suggestions for male vs. female conditions.
Age - adjusts our guidance based on any age-related health factors.
History - considers past illnesses, surgeries, family history, and lifestyle choices.
Your symptoms
Our AI
Your report
Your personal report will tell you
✔ When to see a doctor
✔︎ What causes your symptoms
✔︎ Treatment information etc.
People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- Irritation of the eyes
- My eyes are so itchy
- Itching in right eye
- Itching in left eye
- The eyes are itchy
Find Similar Symptoms
Similar symptoms or complaints
Symptoms from similar body parts
Symptoms treated by the same specialty
FAQs
Q.
Itchy, Red Eyes? Why Your Blepharitis Is Flaring & Medically Approved Steps
A.
Itchy, red, gritty eyelids with crusting often signal blepharitis, most often flaring from blocked oil glands, bacterial buildup, skin conditions like rosacea or dandruff, allergies, contact lenses, or old eye makeup. First-line relief includes warm compresses, gentle lid hygiene, preservative free artificial tears, pausing eye makeup, and treating underlying skin issues, with prescription antibiotics or short steroid drops if needed and urgent care for severe pain, vision changes, or spreading swelling. See below for step by step care, prescription options, red flags, and prevention tips that could change your next best move.
References:
* Kim R, Jernigan DL. Blepharitis. [Updated 2023 Jul 31]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-.
* Pinna A, Bua I, D'Amico S, Fea AM, De Simone M. Blepharitis: A Review with a Focus on Treatment Updates. J Clin Med. 2023 Jun 13;12(12):4030. doi: 10.3390/jcm12124030. PMID: 37373977; PMCID: PMC10299661.
* Lemp MA, Nichols KK. Blepharitis: a review of contemporary management. Ocul Surf. 2024 Oct 29;22:222-229. doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2024.10.003. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39474773.
* Danda S, Venkata C, Reddy JK. Blepharitis and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction: A Comprehensive Review. J Clin Diagn Res. 2023 Oct;17(10):NC01-NC05. doi: 10.7860/JCDR/2023/68352.18520. Epub 2023 Oct 1. PMID: 38045437; PMCID: PMC10672045.
* Duncan K, Jeng BH. Medical and Surgical Management of Blepharitis. Ophthalmol Ther. 2024 Jan;13(1):15-28. doi: 10.1007/s40123-023-00813-0. Epub 2023 Sep 16. PMID: 37715761; PMCID: PMC10720499.
Q.
Zyrtec for Women 30-45: Symptom Relief & Your Action Plan
A.
Zyrtec offers fast, 24-hour relief for women 30 to 45 with seasonal or indoor allergies and hives, with a typical dose of 10 mg once daily (some do well with 5 mg) and generally mild side effects like sleepiness. There are several factors to consider that can affect your next steps, including whether to add a nasal steroid for congestion, when persistent or severe symptoms require medical care or urgent attention for breathing trouble, and special caution during pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney or liver disease, or with sedatives; see below for a step-by-step action plan, safety guidance, and comparisons with Claritin, Allegra, and Benadryl.
References:
* Chong LY, et al. Second-generation antihistamines for seasonal allergic rhinitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Pharmacother. 2013 Aug;47(8):1052-61. doi: 10.1177/1060028013495804. Epub 2013 Jul 23. PMID: 23880353.
* Li H, et al. Efficacy and safety of cetirizine in chronic urticaria patients: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Ann Palliat Med. 2021 Apr;10(4):4629-4638. doi: 10.21037/apm-20-2212. PMID: 33455122.
* O'Mahony L, et al. Comparative efficacy and safety of cetirizine, fexofenadine, and desloratadine for chronic idiopathic urticaria: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2014 Dec;47(3):343-52. doi: 10.1007/s12016-013-8409-5. PMID: 24399723.
* Church DS, et al. Second-generation antihistamines: structure, new developments, and role in allergic diseases. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2013 Mar-Apr;1(2):137-43. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2012.11.002. PMID: 24089201.
* Bousquet J, et al. ARIA (Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma) 2016 Revision: A synopsis of the international guidelines. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2016 Apr;137(4):1048-55.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2016.02.001. PMID: 27083120.
Ubie is supervised by 50+ medical experts worldwide
Our symptom checker AI is continuously refined with input from experienced physicians, empowering them to make more accurate diagnoses.
Ubie is recognized by healthcare and tech leaders
“World’s Best Digital
Health Companies”
Newsweek 2024
“Best With AI”
Google Play Best of 2023
“Best in Class”
Digital Health Awards 2023 (Quarterfinalist)
Which is the best Symptom Checker?
Ubie’s symptom checker demonstrated a Top-10 hit accuracy of 71.6%, surpassing the performance of several leading symptom checkers in the market, which averaged around 60% accuracy in similar assessments.
Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Red eyes- American Academy of Ophthalmology
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/symptoms/red-eye-3