What Causes Eye Pain? Common Reasons and When to See a Doctor

Nearly everyone has experienced eye pain at some point in their lives. An eyelash in your eye, or a case of pinkeye, can cause noticeable discomfort. Injuries and infections are among the most common reasons people experience eye pain. Pressure in the sinuses or an increase in pressure within the eye itself can also cause eye pain.

Understanding the different eye pain causes and when to see a healthcare provider can help you keep your eyes healthy and preserve your eyesight.

Understanding Eye Pain

When you think of the nerves in the eyes, you probably think of the optic nerve. That major bundle of nerve fibers is how the eyes transmit images to the brain. However, the optic nerve isn’t the only nerve in the eyes. The eyes are filled with nerves, but they don’t all work the same way.

The anterior portion of the eyes, which is the part you can see, has countless nerves that detect pressure or pain when something comes in contact with the surface of the eye.

The nerves on the inner structures of the eye don’t transmit pain sensations. Those nerves lack nociceptors, the kind of nerve endings that detect pain signals. As a result, eye disease or injuries that only affect the interior of the eye can be painless.

In addition, there are nerves all around the eyeballs, including in the eye sockets, eyelids, and sinuses. All of those areas can become painful if they’re affected by an injury or infection.

Types of Eye Pain

Eye pain can manifest in different ways, depending on the cause. Common types of eye pain include:

• Foreign body sensation: The persistent eye pain in one eye, or a feeling that something is in your eye, making it feel gritty or sore. This often occurs if there is an injury or irritation in the cornea, the outermost portion of the eye.
• Dull, throbbing pain: You may feel like there is pressure causing pain behind the eye. This can be caused by pressure in the eye socket or sinuses.
• Soreness and swelling: While the eye itself can become swollen due to injury or illness, swelling of the eyelids is more common. Injury or infection of the eyelids or surrounding skin can cause swelling, pain, and bruising.
• Stabbing or shooting pain: Sharp pain in the eye may be accompanied by tearing, light sensitivity, and excessive blinking. If the pain is deeper in the scleral tissue (the white part of the eye), it may worsen when you first wake up or when you move your eyes.
• Burning: Burning pain can feel like the eye has come into contact with an irritating substance.

Common Causes and Conditions Linked to Eye Pain

There are several reasons you might experience eye pain. Mild dryness and irritation can be treated at home, but more serious eye pain may require medical attention.

Eye Strain and Dry Eye Syndrome

Your eyes continually produce tears that form a protective film over the surface of the eyes. Dry eyes occur when your eyes aren’t adequately lubricated, which can lead to discomfort. Eye strain causes fatigue and sensitivity in the eyes.

Causes of dry eye or eye strain include:

• Allergies: Exposure to allergens like pollen or pet dander can cause dry, itchy, or sore eyes.
• Digital eye strain: Spending too much uninterrupted time looking at a computer or mobile device can make your eyes feel tired, sore, or overworked. Screen time can cause dry eye symptoms because you may blink less when looking at a screen or reading.
• Dry eye syndrome: Dry eye syndrome is a clinical condition where your eyes don’t make enough tears, or the tears evaporate too quickly. It may be a chronic condition or a flare-up due to allergies, low humidity, or dehydration.

Infections

Like any other part of the body, the eye and the skin around the eye can become infected. Bacteria or viruses can enter the tissue and cause swelling, pain, and discharge in the eye area.

• Conjunctivitis, also called pinkeye, is an infection of the membrane covering the white part of the eye. It can cause redness, swelling, soreness, and discharge that is yellow or green.
• Keratitis is an inflammation of the cornea, the dome on the front of the eye. It can be caused by infection, injury, or irritation from prolonged contact lens wear. You may notice redness, pain, sensitivity to light, or difficulty opening your eyes fully.
• Styes are painful bumps on the rim of the eyelid. They are often caused when a follicle or oil gland on the eyelids gets infected. They may be very swollen and tender.

Injuries and Irritation

Injuries to the surface of the eye are common. Debris can get into the eye and cause injuries or irritation.

• Foreign body: A foreign body in your eye, such as a bit of dirt or debris, or even an eyelash, can cause pain and tearing. You may experience uncontrollable blinking or struggle to open your eyelids.
• Corneal abrasion: A scratch on the surface of the eye is called a corneal abrasion. It can cause pain, swelling, redness, tearing, and light sensitivity.
• Contact lenses: Wearing contacts for too long or not properly cleaning them before insertion can also lead to eye irritation.

Pressure-Related Causes

Pressure around the eyes can cause achiness or a dull pain. Painful pressure in the eyes themselves may be a sign of acute glaucoma, a serious issue that requires immediate medical attention.

• Sinusitis affects the sinus cavities, which are passages along your nose, cheeks, and forehead. When the tissue inside the sinuses gets irritated, they can become inflamed or congested. This can cause pressure in the upper part of the face, potentially leading to eye pain.
• Migraines are best known for causing headache pain, but they can also lead to eye pain, light sensitivity, and nerve pain in or around the eyes.
• Glaucoma is characterized by an increase in intraocular pressure, which can damage the optic nerve and lead to vision loss. Open-angle glaucoma is painless and can be detected during a routine eye exam. Acute angle closure glaucoma results in a sudden blockage in the eye, leading to a sharp increase in pressure. It can cause severe eye pain, vision changes, and redness. It is an emergency, and you should get immediate treatment to preserve your eyesight.

Symptoms To Watch For

Mild eye discomfort, like dryness or eye irritation from allergies, is usually nothing to worry about, and you can use “do-it-yourself” remedies at home.

However, you should see a healthcare provider or eye doctor if you have additional symptoms such as:

• Redness
• Burred vision
• Discharge
• Sensitivity to light

These can be signs of infection or injury that require prompt treatment. If you cannot visit your regular provider or an urgent care facility, you should visit the ER instead.

How To Treat and Manage Your Eye Pain

You can manage mild eye pain or irritation at home. You can prevent certain types of eye pain by avoiding allergens, using air filters to purify the air, and staying hydrated to support healthy tear production.

You can also use over-the-counter remedies, such as:

• Artificial tears
• Rest
• Warm compresses
• Medications to reduce allergy symptoms, such as antihistamines or allergy eye drops
• Anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen can ease pain in the eyes, surrounding skin, and sinuses

Check the expiration date on any eye drops before using them. Do not use expired products in your eyes, as this can increase your risk of infection.

If you have a more serious infection or injury, you may need prescription medications such as antibiotic eye drops.

When To Seek Professional Care for Eye Pain

You should see a healthcare provider for any injury to the eye. Injuries can lead to complications, such as infections, which can have a permanent impact on your eyesight.

A healthcare provider can prescribe antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection. They can also give you an eye shield to protect your eye from further irritation while it heals.

You should also seek medical help for eye pain accompanied by any of the following symptoms, as they can be a sign of a serious infection:

• Seeing halos or floaters
• Feeling eye pressure
• Blurred vision
• Bulging eyeballs
• Being unable to move your eyes normally
• Fever or chills
• Vomiting

If you are experiencing eye pain, you can receive same-day care at Next Level Urgent Care. Our experienced healthcare providers can examine your eyes and prescribe treatment.  They may instruct you to follow up with an eye doctor and recommend an ophthalmologist if you don’t currently have one.

With more than 45 facilities, you can find a convenient location near you and walk in any time between 9 AM and 9 PM, 7 days a week. Or you can check in online using our mobile app.