Occasionally, in our daily life, there is a feeling of a foreign body in the eye that feels like sand or foreign matter is stuck in the eye. This feeling of foreign body can be experienced once due to overwork, stress, long work, work, or schoolwork. However, if the foreign body sensation persists for a long time rather than a temporary form that recovers when the eyes are rested, the onset of a specific disease may be suspected. So today, I would like to find out about the various causes and specific diseases that affect the occurrence of foreign body sensation in the eyes.
Causes and diseases that cause foreign body sensation in the eyes
1. Causes of foreign substances and irritation The most common cause of foreign body sensation is that foreign substances have entered the eye. If the cause is a foreign object that got into the eye, the best way is to wash it off with artificial tears so that the foreign object can pass naturally without rubbing the eye. In addition, the use of contact lenses may cause strain on the eyes, or foreign substances between the lens and the eye may feel a foreign body sensation. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the use of contact lenses for a long time, and to take sufficient rest after removing the lenses after using them for a certain period of time. In addition, when you are exposed to various physical and chemical stimuli and allergens that can irritate your eyes, you may feel pain and foreign body sensation in your eyes.
2. Dry eye syndrome
One of the reasons for the feeling of foreign body in the eyes is the effect of dry eye syndrome. Dry eye syndrome is a condition caused by excessive evaporation of tears or insufficient tears. It causes a tingling sensation, including a feeling of a foreign body like grains of sand. In addition, it is accompanied by various symptoms such as a feeling of cold and dry eyes, frequent eye mucus, and in severe cases, symptoms such as redness and headache. Because dry eye syndrome is not a simple symptom of discomfort, it belongs to an eye disease, so if left untreated for a long time without proper treatment, it can lead to complications such as deterioration of vision, damage to the cornea, and keratitis. The main cause that affects the occurrence of dry eye syndrome is a combination of several environmental factors such as computer work, smartphone use, game console use, or reading for a long time without rest, a lifestyle of staying in a dry room for a long time, sunlight, and dust. Overlapping will affect the occurrence.
3. Stye
Stye is an inflammation of the glands, such as the Zeiss, Meibomian, and Molar glands. It is red, swollen, and itchy with a foreign body feeling like sand in the eye, accompanied by pain. In most cases, eye sty will get better on its own, but if the outer stye or inner sty is not treated properly, the infection may spread to surrounding tissues. To prevent sty, you need to keep your eyes clean and avoid rubbing or touching your eyes frequently. If you must touch your eyes, it is important to wash your hands thoroughly before touching them.
4. Conjunctivitis
The conjunctiva is a transparent, thin membrane that covers the inside of the eyelids and the outside of the eyeball. Conjunctivitis is a condition in which the conjunctiva is inflamed due to environmental factors such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi, as well as environmental factors such as pollen and chemical stimuli. Bacterial conjunctivitis is said to improve within a few days with appropriate antibiotic treatment. In addition, it is known that most cases of viral conjunctivitis heal spontaneously in about 2 weeks without any special treatment, and antibiotics or eye drop steroids can be administered to prevent further infection. In the case of allergic conjunctivitis, symptoms will improve if you do not come into contact with the allergen, but if you come in contact with it, the inflammation becomes more severe.
How to prevent foreign body sensation
In order to prevent a foreign body feeling in the eye, it is necessary to make sure that the eyes are not tired and dry. Avoid prolonged use of computers, smartphones, and reading, and make sure to take adequate rest in between. It is also important to maintain proper humidity so that the room does not dry out, get enough sleep, and drink plenty of water to prevent dry eyes. In addition, it is known that if you regularly consume foods that are good for eye health, such as berry fruits such as blueberries, bilberries, and blackberries, nuts, dark green vegetables, back blue fish, legumes, and brown rice, it is known that the symptoms of foreign body sensation can be improved. Other diseases such as stye and conjunctivitis are caused by hygiene management, so you should always wash your hands and avoid rubbing and touching your eyes.
