Eye Pain

Eye pain can range from mild irritation to intense discomfort, affecting one or both eyes. While most cases resolve on their own or with simple treatments, some types of eye pain can signal serious underlying conditions that require immediate medical attention.

Table of contents

• What is Eye Pain?
• Parts of the Eye That Can Experience Pain
• Types and Characteristics of Eye Pain
• Common Causes of Eye Pain
• Conditions That Cause Eye Inflammation
• How Healthcare Providers Diagnose Eye Pain
• Treatment Options
• When to Seek Medical Help

What is Eye Pain?

Eye pain is an uncomfortable sensation that can occur in or around your eyes. People describe it in different ways, including sharp, aching, throbbing, burning, or stinging sensations^[1]. The pain can affect one eye or both eyes at the same time^[4]. You might also describe your discomfort based on its location, such as pain behind your eye or on the surface of your eye^[1].

Eye pain is more serious than simple irritation from dirt or an eyelash in your eye. It’s also different from eyestrain (discomfort from prolonged use of your eyes) that you might feel after staring at a computer screen all day^[1]. In those cases, your eye typically feels better once the irritant is removed or when you rest your eyes.

The more serious type of eye pain is intense, lasts longer, and can occur alongside other symptoms. Sometimes eye pain can be a sign of an underlying health problem or injury^[1]. Eye pain is common and very rarely poses a serious problem^[3]. However, pain is a signal to the body that something is wrong, and everyone’s experience of it is personal^[4].

• Eyelid
• Conjunctiva (membrane that protects the eye)
• Sclera (white of the eye)
• Cornea (clear dome on the eye that helps with focus)
• Eye socket (orbit – cavity that holds the eye in the skull)
• Iris (colored part of the eye)
• Extraocular muscles (rotate the eye)
• Nerves (carry visual information to the brain)

Parts of the Eye That Can Experience Pain

Eye pain can affect almost any part of your eyes and the surrounding structures^[1][5]. Understanding where your eye hurts can help your healthcare provider determine the cause.

The main parts that can experience pain include your eyelid, your conjunctiva (a thin membrane that protects your eye), your sclera (the white part of your eye), and your cornea (the clear dome on your eye that helps with focus)^[1]. Pain can also occur in your eye socket, called the orbit, which is the bony cavity that holds your eye in your skull^[1][5].

Types and Characteristics of Eye Pain

Eye pain can present in two main categories depending on where you experience the discomfort. Ocular pain occurs on the surface of the eye, while orbital pain occurs deeper within the eye^[8].

Eye pain on the surface is usually described as a scratching, burning, or itching sensation^[5][8]. It might also feel like a foreign body sensation, as if something is stuck in your eye^[3]. Pain that occurs deeper within the eye may feel aching, gritty, stabbing, or throbbing^[5][8].

Depending on the cause, eye pain can range from mildly irritating to excruciating^[4]. It can feel sharp, throbbing, or aching, and might affect one eye or both eyes at the same time^[4]. Some people experience eye pain accompanied by other symptoms such as redness, swelling, tearing, or sensitivity to light^[3].

Common Causes of Eye Pain

Many conditions and factors can cause eye pain. Understanding these causes can help you identify what might be happening with your eyes.

Foreign Objects and Injuries

The most common cause of eye pain is simply having something in your eye^[5]. Whether it’s an eyelash, a piece of dirt, sand, dust, or makeup, having a foreign object in the eye can cause irritation, redness, watery eyes, and pain^[3][5]. Trying to rinse it out with artificial tears or clean water may help^[5].

Accidents can happen. If something strikes or scratches your eye, or if dirt, debris, or chemicals get onto your eye, it can lead to pain^[4]. Corneal abrasions are scratches on the clear covering of your eye that can cause sharp pain and sensitivity to light^[4][5]. If you suspect you have an injury, do not rub your eye; seeking medical attention is vital^[4].

Infections

You can transfer viruses, bacteria, or fungi from your hands to your eyes when you rub them or put your hands near your eyes^[1]. Infections can also spread from areas on your body like the nose or sinuses to your eyes^[1].

Conjunctivitis, also called pink eye, is inflammation of the conjunctiva. It can result from allergies or infections, whether viral or bacterial^[5]. When you have conjunctivitis, blood vessels in the conjunctiva swell, making the part of your eye that’s usually white look red. Your eye could also get itchy and produce discharge^[5]. This condition is typically not painful but can cause discomfort^[5].

Keratitis is an inflamed or infected cornea sometimes caused by a bacterial or viral infection^[5]. You may be more likely to get it if you leave your contact lenses in overnight or wear dirty lenses^[5].

Contact Lens Problems

Contact lenses that are dirty or don’t fit well can cause pain in your eyes^[1]. Wearing contact lenses longer than prescribed, such as overnight, or not replacing them appropriately can also lead to eye problems^[1]. A bad use of contact lenses, including not keeping them properly cleaned with the right products or wearing them for longer than prescribed, may result in eye pain^[3].

Allergies

If you’re allergic to pollen, dust, or animals, your eyes can become irritated, itchy, and even painful^[1]. Allergic reactions can cause the eyes to become itchy, red, and watery^[4]. This is common during certain seasons when pollen and dust are prevalent. If you notice that your symptoms flare up during specific times of the year, you might be dealing with seasonal allergies^[4].

Dry Eyes

If you’re not producing enough tears or your tears evaporate too quickly, your eyes can become dry^[4]. One common source of dryness in today’s world is screen time. When you stare at digital screens while watching TV, working, or browsing the internet, you blink less, which can contribute to dry eyes^[4]. Other symptoms can include redness, a gritty feeling in the eye, and blurred vision^[4].

Eye Strain

Lack of sleep can lead to eye pain^[3]. Long periods of focusing intensely on one task without interruption can lead to symptoms of eye strain^[1]. Sometimes eye pain can be due to eye strain from prolonged reading or looking at screens^[10].

Environmental Toxins

Your eyes can become irritated from exposure to cigarette smoke, air pollutants, chlorine in a swimming pool, or other types of hazardous chemicals^[1].

Sinus Problems

If your sinuses become inflamed, you might experience pain behind the eyes, especially when bending over or lying down^[4]. Thick nasal discharge, congestion, and a reduced sense of smell are often accompanying symptoms. Many people use the term “sinus headache” to describe the pain behind the eyes when experiencing sinus issues^[4].

Migraine

One of the symptoms that people with migraines may experience is pain focused in the head and in the eye area^[3]. Some people suffer from what is known as migraine with aura, which can include visual alterations such as blurred vision, visions of zigzag lines, flashing lights, blind spots, and eye pain before the headache appears^[3].

Conditions That Cause Eye Inflammation

Inflammation is an immune system response that can cause swelling or color changes in your eye^[1]. The white part of your eye can turn red, you can become very sensitive to light, and your eye can be painful^[1]. Several conditions cause inflammation in different parts of the eye^[4]:

Blepharitis is inflammation or infection of the eyelid, which typically is not painful^[2][5].

Iritis or uveitis is inflammation inside your eye from trauma, infections, or problems with your immune system^[2][5]. Iritis specifically refers to inflammation of the colored part of the eye (the iris)^[2]. Symptoms include pain, red eye, and often worse vision^[5].

Keratitis is inflammation of the cornea^[2]. This inflammation can come from a few different sources, including autoimmune diseases or infections^[4].

Scleritis is inflammation of the white part of the eye (the sclera)^[2][4].

Optic neuritis is inflammation of the optic nerve that travels from the back of the eyeball into your brain^[2][5]. This disease is usually quite painful, often leading to shooting pain behind the eye, especially when moving the eye^[4]. This condition can result from various factors, including autoimmune diseases and infections. Patients may also notice vision changes like blurriness^[4].

How Healthcare Providers Diagnose Eye Pain

In most cases, a healthcare provider will start by asking you about your medical history and your symptoms^[1]. They’ll probably ask you several questions to understand your condition better:

• When did your eye pain start?
• How does your eye pain feel?
• Where in your eye does it hurt?
• Is there a history of injury or possible foreign objects?
• Do you wear contact lenses?
• What other signs and symptoms do you have, such as vision changes or discharge?^[1]

A provider will also do a complete eye exam. They’ll use microscopes and other equipment to examine the eye^[1]. It’s possible the provider will also use drops to dilate your pupils for a thorough evaluation^[1].

Treatment Options

Treatment for eye pain depends on the cause and may range from simple home remedies to medical interventions^[1].

Home Care

Resting gives the body a chance to heal, and when it comes to the eyes, resting is a proven way to alleviate mild to moderate eye pain, especially when it is caused by muscle strain following prolonged near work activities^[13]. Taking breaks when reading or looking at a screen for long periods can help rest your eyes periodically^[10].

Depending on the activity, sometimes increasing or reducing the amount of light will help^[10]. For example, if you are watching TV, decreasing the amount of light might help you feel better. If you are reading or doing a detail-oriented task, adjusting or increasing the light can help^[10].

If you don’t blink enough, your eyes will start to dry out, which can lead to annoying symptoms. When using digital devices, practice the 20/20/20 rule: every 20 minutes, look away for 20 seconds at something 20 feet away^[10].

Eye Drops

Nonprescription artificial tears can help prevent and relieve dry eyes^[14]. Use them even when your eyes feel fine to keep them well lubricated and prevent a recurrence of symptoms^[14]. Over-the-counter artificial tears are a great option for treating eye pain^[10].

Eye infections and corneal abrasions can be quite painful. Your eye doctor may prescribe antibiotic eye drops to eliminate the infection or prevent one from occurring^[13]. Antibiotic eye drops are often combined with lubricating eye drops to further reduce the pain^[13].

Antihistamine eye drops and oral medications can help relieve symptoms of eye allergies, including itchiness, dryness, watering, and irritation^[13].

If you have conditions causing inflammation, corticosteroid eye drops may be prescribed to treat the underlying cause^[4].

Compresses

Warm compresses are soothing to the eyes and can help relieve pain caused by dry eyes and other external eye conditions^[13]. A warm compress will also help to loosen any debris along your eyelashes and eyelids and help to open up any clogged glands^[13].

If you have eye pain from conjunctivitis, try applying a cold compress. It should help you feel less pain or discomfort^[10].

Flushing the Eye

Flushing or rinsing the eye with saline solution or clean water is an important first aid treatment if a foreign body or chemical gets into the eye^[13]. Only flush the eye with clean and clear water or saline solution. Flushing the eye will help to eliminate the foreign body as well as reduce irritation^[13].

Corrective Eyewear

You may experience eye pain if you aren’t wearing the right eyewear. You need to make sure you have the right prescription for your contacts and eyeglasses. Having the wrong prescription can cause eye pain^[10][13].

Medical Treatments

If you have serious conditions like glaucoma, a family of conditions that causes fluid to build up in your eye and puts pressure on your optic nerve, special eye drops help to lower the pressure within the eye^[5][13]. A type called acute angle-closure glaucoma causes pressure inside your eye to rise suddenly, with symptoms including severe eye pain, nausea and vomiting, headache, and worsening vision. This is an emergency that needs treatment immediately to prevent blindness^[5].

In some cases, surgery may be required to treat damage caused by a corneal abrasion or burn^[13]. If your eye pain is severe and impacting your daily performance, your doctor can prescribe a pain reliever to provide some relief while the underlying condition is addressed^[13].

When to Seek Medical Help

Pain in the eyes is not usually a symptom of serious illness. However, if the pain does not subside, then a visit to the emergency room is a must^[3]. You should talk to a healthcare provider as soon as you can if you have new eye pain or eye pain that keeps getting worse^[1].

It is advisable to go to the emergency room if the eye pain is accompanied by other symptoms such as^[3]:

• Loss of vision
• Halos around lights
• Inability to move your eye
• Nausea
• High temperature
• Chills
• Muscle aches

Severe eye pain, especially with any vision loss, may signal a serious medical condition and requires immediate medical attention^[8]. If the pain follows a trauma, it’s also recommended to visit the emergency room to rule out any internal or external problem due to the blow^[3].

Eye pain accompanied by vision loss may be a symptom of an emergency medical issue. Call your ophthalmologist immediately if you begin to lose your vision while experiencing eye pain^[1].