Tears serve an important role in maintaining eye health and comfort, yet a burning sensation can indicate an underlying imbalance or irritation. This discomfort points to a disruption in the delicate balance that keeps the ocular surface lubricated and protected.
How Tears Protect Your Eyes
The eye’s protective tear film is composed of three distinct layers. The innermost mucin layer adheres directly to the eye’s surface, helping tears spread evenly. This layer is produced by goblet cells in the conjunctiva.
The middle and thickest layer is the aqueous layer, primarily water. It contains proteins, antibodies, and nutrients that hydrate the eye and defend against infections. The outermost lipid (oily) layer, produced by meibomian glands, prevents the aqueous layer from evaporating too quickly and creates a smooth surface for clear vision. An imbalance in any of these layers can lead to burning, irritation, and dryness.
Common Irritants and Environmental Factors
Common factors can disrupt the tear film and cause a burning sensation. Dry eye syndrome is a frequent culprit, occurring when eyes do not produce enough tears or when tears evaporate too rapidly. This can result from prolonged screen time, which reduces blinking, or exposure to dry indoor air from air conditioning or heating, causing tears to evaporate faster.
Allergies are another source of eye irritation, as allergens like pollen, dust mites, or pet dander lead to burning, itching, and redness. Environmental irritants such as smoke, dust, wind, and air pollution can irritate the eye surface. Eye strain from visual tasks and improper contact lens use can also contribute to burning tears by affecting tear production or distribution.
Underlying Health Considerations
Certain medical conditions can also contribute to burning tears. Blepharitis, an inflammation of the eyelids, often causes irritation, redness, and a burning sensation, sometimes accompanied by crusting around the eyelashes. Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), a condition where the meibomian glands do not produce enough oil or the oil is of poor quality, is a common cause of dry eye and burning due to rapid tear evaporation.
Systemic medical conditions, such as autoimmune diseases like Sjögren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus, can affect tear production and lead to chronic dry eyes. Diabetes is also linked to MGD and dry eye symptoms. Certain medications, including antihistamines, decongestants, some antidepressants, and hormone replacement therapy, can reduce tear production, leading to burning and dryness.
When to Consult a Doctor
While minor burning sensations often resolve with home care, certain signs indicate the need for professional medical attention. Consult a doctor if you experience persistent pain, significant vision changes like blurriness or double vision. Eye discharge that is thick, greenish, or pus-like, or excessive mucus, warrants immediate evaluation, as it may suggest an infection.
Other concerning symptoms include severe redness, increased sensitivity to light (photophobia), or a persistent feeling of a foreign object in the eye that does not resolve. If symptoms worsen despite home remedies, or if accompanied by eyelid swelling, seek an eye care professional’s assessment to determine the underlying cause and ensure appropriate treatment.
Practical Steps for Relief
Many practical measures can help alleviate burning tears and prevent their recurrence. Using over-the-counter artificial tears provide lubrication and comfort by supplementing the natural tear film. Choosing preservative-free options can minimize further irritation for frequent use.
Practicing regular blinking exercises, especially during prolonged screen time, helps spread tears evenly. Maintaining good hydration by drinking plenty of water supports tear production. Using a humidifier indoors, particularly in dry environments or during colder months, adds moisture to the air, reducing tear evaporation.
Avoiding irritants like cigarette smoke, dust, and strong winds can prevent discomfort. Wearing wraparound sunglasses outdoors protects from wind and airborne particles. Applying warm compresses to closed eyelids for 10-15 minutes can loosen clogged oil glands and improve tear quality. Ensuring adequate rest allows the eyes to recover and supports their natural function.