Why Are Your Teenager's Eyes Sore?

Is your teenage child complaining of soreness and pain around the eyes? If so, here are 3 possible reasons why.

Makeup Mistakes

If you're the parent of a teenage girl or modern-minded boy who's beginning to experiment with cosmetics, makeup mistakes could be the cause of their sore eyes. There are many ways makeup can cause eye pain and discomfort. Teens who are just getting to grips with cosmetics may accidentally get mascara, foundation or eyeshadow in their eyes and create irritation and redness.

Others fail to clean their makeup brushes properly, and dirty brushes are a hive of bacteria that can easily get into the eyes and cause soreness or infection. If you think makeup could be the cause of your teen's eye problems, advise them to take a look at beauty blogs and videos online to learn how to apply makeup properly and keep their tools clean.

Constant Crying

Puberty can be an emotional rollercoaster for teens of both genders. Whether they're struggling with study or getting turned down by a crush, it's common for teenagers to cry a lot. In the short-term, crying and rubbing at the eyes can make them get red, swollen and uncomfortable. If your teen is particularly teary, intense crying fits or long-term upset can even rupture blood vessels in the eyes. The best way to stop eye pain from crying is to fix the root cause of the sadness, but a cold compress can also help cool down some of the soreness.

Sleep Shortage

Does your teen stay up all night gaming, chatting to friends or even studying? If so, that could be what's making their eyes feel sore. Sleep is an essential for people of all ages, but it's even more crucial in the younger years. Your child needs 8 to 10 hours of sleep every night; if they're not getting it, they'll often end up with puffy eyelids and pain around the eye area. Try to encourage your teen to get enough sleep every night by instilling a 'curfew' on gadget use. On nights when getting enough sleep just isn't possible, keeping hydrated can alleviate some of the fluid retention associated with tired eyes.

While lack of sleep, crying and makeup mishaps are common causes of sore eyes in teenagers, they're not the only thing that can cause pain. If none of the above problems seem to be at the root of your teen's ocular issues, book them in for an eye exam to check for infections and other eye conditions.