Learn about eye pain, what may be causing it, including corneal abrasion, a stye, pink eye, tear duct infection, or dry eye, and related treatments. Eye pain of any kind is not normal, and it can result from several different sources. By examining the symptoms, your healthcare provider will help determine the cause and get you treatment.This article will look at eye pain symptoms, causes,
Eye pain of any kind is not normal, and it can result from several different sources. By examining the symptoms, your healthcare provider will help determine the cause and get you treatment.
This article will look at eye pain symptoms, causes, treatments, and when you should see a provider to preserve your vision.
Nes / Getty Images
Symptoms of eye pain can vary from a mild annoyance to severe discomfort. These sensations may be felt anywhere in the eye. Symptoms include:
Eye pain can result from several conditions, including:
An infection or inflammation such as pink eye (conjunctivitis) is not only painful, but it can cause your eyelid to swell and the inside to become red. You also see redness of the white part of the eye, known as the conjunctiva.
Other symptoms of pink eye include itchiness, burning, wateriness, mucus discharge, and crustiness along the lashes. You may also have light sensitivity, a sensation of having a foreign body in the eye, and visual blurriness.
A corneal abrasion is a scratch on the clear dome of tissue at the front of the eye known as the cornea. Along with pain, you may experience watery eyes and slightly blurred vision. You may also find yourself with light sensitivity and a foreign body sensation.
Dry eyes can cause pain and symptoms such as light sensitivity, scratchiness, redness, and blurriness.
Whenever you have significant eye pain, contact an eye doctor, such as an ophthalmologist, immediately.
If you have mild irritation (such as a slight pink eye infection or dry eye), you may be able to treat it with over-the-counter (OTC) measures initially. These include the following:
In some cases, however, eye pain is linked to conditions that are more serious, including:
In people who are pregnant and have eye pain, the condition of preeclampsia should be considered. In preeclampsia, blood pressure rises steeply and can lead to a throbbing headache. Preeclampsia usually occurs after 20 weeks of pregnancy and also involves protein in the urine.
Preeclampsia can be accompanied by visual changes such as seeing dark spots or flashing lights, light sensitivity, blurry vision and temporary loss of vision. Other symptoms include swelling of the hands and face, difficulty breathing, feeling light-headed, not urinating much, nausea, and vomiting.
If you have unexplained eye pain, your ophthalmologist will likely take a complete history and look at your other symptoms. They also will evaluate your vision for any signs of loss and will recommend some of the following tests:
Any eye pain that doesn't improve as expected, even from something relatively minor such as a stye (infected sore on the eyelid or lash line), should be promptly examined by an ophthalmologist.
Any kind of eye injury, whether it's blunt trauma or a penetrating wound, needs to be taken seriously. You should contact an ophthalmologist or visit the emergency room for any of the following:
Eye pain can be caused by any number of conditions. While uncomfortable, many times it will go away on its own. But even for what seems to be a minor issue, it's important to have a healthcare provider examine your eye if the pain does not resolve. Serious sources of eye pain can include keratitis, acute angle-closure glaucoma, scleritis, optic neuritis, and uveitis. Any unexplained eye pain should be diagnosed and treated immediately.
Eye pain can be caused by several different conditions, from infection such as pink eye to diseases such as narrow-angle glaucoma or optic neuritis. Even if you think you know the cause, if the pain doesn't improve or if you notice changes in vision, contact an ophthalmologist
Many times glaucoma has no symptoms. However, with narrow-angle glaucoma, in which the drainage in the front of the eye becomes blocked, symptoms such as severe eye pain, rings around lights, and even nausea can occur.
Sometimes. Sore eyes are one of the most common ocular (related to the eye) symptoms of COVID-19. This may at times manifest as conjunctivitis (pink eye) and be uncomfortable.