Reason Behind Eye Pain and Eye Discomfort

What is eye pain?

Eye pain can feel different – like a sharp, aching, or throbbing sensation. It can happen in one eye or both. Sometimes you might feel it in a specific area, like behind your eye.

This kind of pain is more serious than the irritation you get from having something small in your eye. It’s not the same as the tired feeling you get from staring at a computer for a long time. In those cases, your eye usually feels better after you remove the irritant or take a break.

Serious eye pain is stronger, lasts longer, and may come with other symptoms. It could be a sign of a health problem or injury. If you have new or worsening eye pain, it’s important to see a doctor as soon as possible.

What are the most common causes of eye pain?

Eye pain can happen because of various reasons, like:

• Infections: Germs from your hands can get into your eyes when you touch or rub them. Infections can also come from other parts of your body, like your nose or sinuses.

• Contact lenses If your lenses are dirty or don’t fit well, they can make your eyes hurt. Wearing lenses for too long or not changing them when you should can also cause problems. Always use the lenses your doctor recommends.

• Allergies If you’re allergic to things like pollen, dust, or animals, your eyes might feel itchy, irritated, or painful.

• Toxins Your eyes can get irritated from things like cigarette smoke, air pollution, chlorine in swimming pools, or other harmful chemicals.

• Inflammation This is when your immune system reacts, causing your eye to swell, change color, become sensitive to light, or feel pain.

• Increased Eye Pressure Sometimes, the fluid in your eye doesn’t drain properly, leading to increased pressure, which can be uncomfortable.

Where Does It Hurt?

Sometimes, when your eye or the parts around it have a problem, you might feel discomfort or pain. Here are the different parts:

• Cornea The clear front window of your eye that helps focus light.
• Sclera The whites of your eyes.
• Conjunctiva A super-thin cover over your sclera and the inside of your eyelid.
• Iris The colored part of your eye with the pupil in the middle.
• Orbit A bony space (eye socket) in your skull is where your eye and its muscles are.
• Extraocular muscles These muscles move your eye around.
• Nerves carry visual information from your eyes to your brain.
• Eyelids are the outer covers that protect your eyes and spread moisture over them.

How is eye pain treated?

The first thing to do when your eyes hurt is figure out why, and then treat that reason. You might not need pain medicine. Here are some things that can help:

• Eye drops: These can be for bacteria, fungi, or viruses in your eyes.
• Pills: Non-addictive pills can be taken to lessen pain or allergy symptoms.
• Artificial tears: You can use these over-the-counter drops to make your eyes feel better.

You can also help yourself if your eyes hurt and you are infected by:

• Using a clean towel or tissue: Always use a new one when wiping your face or eyes.
• Washing your hands: Do this a lot, especially after coughing, sneezing, or using the toilet.
• Keeping your hands away from your eyes: Try not to touch them.
• Not using contact lenses: Skip them when your eyes are infected.
• Avoiding makeup: Don’t use it when your eyes are infected.

Home care

To make your eyes feel better when they hurt, the best thing to do is let them rest. If you spend a lot of time looking at a computer or TV, it can strain your eyes. Your doctor might suggest taking a break and covering your eyes for a day or longer to help them recover.

Surgery

In some cases, when something gets stuck in your eye or if there’s a burn, surgery might be necessary to fix it. But this doesn’t happen often. For people with glaucoma, a laser treatment might be needed to help improve the drainage in the eye.