Why are my eyes scratchy even though there is no dust?

Stiff eyes, feeling like there is a foreign object along with tears causing discomfort. The cause may be eyelashes or dust falling into the eye, but sometimes there is no foreign object in the eye.

Dry eyes

With dry eye, you may feel a foreign object even when there is nothing inside. The eyelids protect the cornea, disperse the tear film on the surface of the eyeball, and remove debris. But if there aren’t enough tears, these surfaces will rub against each other, causing discomfort. Using artificial tears can help lubricate the surface and correct the condition in the short term. Treating the cause of dry eyes may provide more lasting results.

Eye stye

Normal oil glands are responsible for keeping the eye surface free of irritation. A stye or chalazion is a condition in which red, swollen masses appear on the eyelids due to clogged oil glands. Swellings that appear along the base of the eyelashes due to an eyelash root infection can also make you feel like something is stuck in your eye.

To reduce a stye or chalazion, place a warm, moist compress on the eyelid several times a day. The warmth of the compress aids in diluting the oil, allowing for better circulation, increasing blood flow to the area, helping to reduce inflammation.

Blepharitis

Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelids, which can be caused by bacteria or clogged oil glands. Feeling like something is stuck in your eye is a common symptom. Other symptoms include redness, itching, burning, and scaling on the eyelids or eyelashes. Clean your eyelids with warm water to soften the crusts on the eye area and prevent clogging of oil glands. Your doctor may prescribe steroid eye drops to reduce redness and swelling or antibiotics to fight infection.

Corneal damage

If the clear membrane at the front of the eye (cornea) is damaged, the person may feel a scratchy feeling even though nothing is stuck in the eye. People injured by chemicals should immediately flush their eyes with water, continue for at least 15 minutes, then seek medical attention for appropriate treatment.

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, causes the membrane covering the inside of the eyelids and the white part of the eye (conjunctiva) to become inflamed. At that time, the patient feels a scratchy feeling in the eye as if something is stuck inside. Pink eye is often caused by viruses, bacteria, allergies or irritants. The illness usually goes away on its own within a week or so. Using over-the-counter (OTC) medications, applying warm compresses, or using soothing artificial tears may also relieve discomfort.

Eye herpes

The herpes simplex virus (HSV) can reside in the facial nerves. At a favorable time, they can develop into mouth ulcers and eye ulcers. If there is an eye ulcer, the patient will feel like there is a foreign object in the eye. If the scratchy eye feeling is caused by the HSV virus, your doctor can prescribe appropriate antiviral medication.