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Eye pain can feel sharp, burning, aching, or like there is sand in your eye. Sometimes it is mild and gets better with rest or lubricating eye drops. However, eye pain can also be a sign of a more serious problem that needs prompt medical attention.
Here’s what you’ll find in this guide:
- Quick eye pain treatments you can try safely at home
- The most common causes of eye pain
- When eye pain is an emergency
- How eye doctors treat different types of eye pain
- Daily habits to protect your eyes
This guide can help you better understand eye pain, but it does not replace a complete eye exam. If you are concerned about your eyes or vision, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor.
What Is Eye Pain?
Eye pain, also called ophthalmalgia, is any uncomfortable feeling in, on, or around your eye. The pain can come from different parts of the eye or from nearby areas, including:
- The surface of the eye (cornea, conjunctiva, eyelids)
- Deeper structures (inside the eye, optic nerve, orbit)
- Nearby areas such as the sinuses or head
Eye pain may come with:
- Redness
- Tearing
- Blurred vision
- Light sensitivity
- Headache
Even mild or ongoing eye pain should be checked by an eye doctor, especially if you notice any changes in your vision.
Eye Pain Treatment: Quick Relief at Home
If you have mild eye discomfort without vision loss or a recent injury, you can try these steps at home to help relieve your symptoms:
1. Lubricating Eye Drops (Artificial Tears)
- Use preservative-free artificial tears to help soothe dryness, burning, or the sensation of having sand in your eye.
- Do not use ‘redness relief’ eye drops regularly. Overusing these drops can irritate your eyes and worsen your symptoms.
2. Rest and Screen Breaks
- Take regular breaks by closing your eyes for a few minutes or looking away from screens. These steps can help reduce eye strain and discomfort.
- Follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This habit can help prevent eye fatigue and keep your eyes comfortable.
3. Cold Compress
- For burning, irritation, or allergies:
- Place a clean, cool, damp cloth over your closed eyelids for five to ten minutes. This can help relieve discomfort and reduce irritation.
- Do not put ice directly on the eye.
4. Warm Compress
- For styes or eyelid inflammation (blepharitis):
- Apply a warm, damp cloth (not hot) over your closed eyelids for 5 to 10 minutes. You can repeat this several times a day if needed.
- If recommended by your eye doctor, gently clean the edge of your eyelids using diluted baby shampoo or a commercially available eyelid wipe.
5. Remove Contact Lenses
- Take lenses out immediately if you have:
- Pain
- Redness
- Discharge
- Light sensitivity
- Wear your eyeglasses instead of contact lenses until you can have an eye exam.
6. Rinse Out Irritants
- If something mild (like dust or hairspray) gets in your eye:
- Rinse your eye with sterile saline or clean, lukewarm water for several minutes. This helps remove the irritant and reduce discomfort.
- For chemicals: see the emergency section below.
If your eye pain gets worse, if you notice changes in your vision, or if your symptoms last more than a day or two, make an appointment with your eye doctor.
When Eye Pain Is an Emergency
Get urgent medical help if you notice any of the following:
- Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes
- Severe eye pain that is more than a minor scratch or irritation
- Halos or rainbow rings around lights, especially with nausea or vomiting.
- Chemical exposure (cleaners, bleach, industrial chemicals) in the eye
- Eye trauma: blow to the eye, metal shard, glass, or anything penetrating the eye
- Pain when moving your eye, especially if you also have reduced vision
- Intense redness, thick discharge, and blurred vision
- A foreign object stuck in your eye that you cannot flush out
Do not try to remove any object that is stuck in your eye by yourself. If you have a chemical injury, do not cover or patch your eye.
Rinse your eye with clean water or saline for at least fifteen minutes. After rinsing, seek emergency medical care immediately.
Common Causes of Eye Pain
Eye pain can start in different parts of the eye or from nearby areas. Here are some of the most common causes to help you identify possible sources of discomfort.
1. Surface Causes (Front of the Eye)
- Dry eye : burning, gritty feeling, worse with screens or wind
- Conjunctivitis (pink eye) : redness, discharge, mild ache or irritation
- Corneal abrasion : sharp pain, tearing, light sensitivity, feeling like glass in the eye
- Foreign object : strong feeling that something is in your eye, tearing, redness
- Contact lens irritation : pain or burning after lens wear, redness, blurred vision
2. Eyelid & Lash Problems
- Stye (hordeolum) : painful red bump at the lid margin
- Chalazion : a firm, often painless lump in the lid that can become tender
- Blepharitis : crusting on lashes, burning, and lid margin irritation
3. Deep Eye Causes
- Acute angle-closure glaucoma : severe pain, haloes, nausea, headache, blurred vision (true emergency)
- Uveitis/iritis : deep ache, light sensitivity, blurry vision
- Scleritis : severe burning pain, red patch on the eye, often worse at night
4. Nerve & Brain-Related Causes
- Optic neuritis : pain when moving the eye + reduced or washed-out vision
- Migraine : eye pain with headache, light sensitivity, visual aura
5. Nearby Structures
- Sinusitis : pressure behind or around the eyes, facial pain, congestion
- Cluster headache : severe pain around one eye, tearing, red eye
Noticing the pattern of your eye pain and any other symptoms can help your eye doctor find the cause.
Eye Pain Treatment by Cause
Treatment for eye pain depends on the underlying cause. The following table provides a general overview, but a full eye exam is needed to identify the exact cause of your symptoms.
| Cause | Typical Symptoms | Common Treatments (doctor-guided) |
|---|---|---|
| Dry eye | Burning, gritty feeling, fluctuating vision | Artificial tears, gels, lifestyle changes, lid hygiene |
| Conjunctivitis (viral) | Red eye, watery discharge, mild ache | Lubricating drops, cold compress, hygiene |
| Conjunctivitis (bacterial) | Red eye, sticky discharge, eyelids glued in morning | Prescription antibiotic drops/ointment |
| Allergic conjunctivitis | Itching, tearing, swelling, stringy mucus | Cold compress, anti-allergy drops, avoid allergens |
| Corneal abrasion | Sharp pain, tearing, light sensitivity | Lubricants, antibiotic drops/ointment, protective lens |
| Foreign body (surface) | Strong foreign body sensation, tearing | Removal by doctor, antibiotic drops |
| Stye | Painful red lid bump | Warm compress, lid hygiene, sometimes antibiotic |
| Blepharitis | Crusting, burning, lid margin irritation | Lid cleaning, warm compress, sometimes medications |
| Acute glaucoma | Severe pain, haloes, headache, nausea | Emergency pressure-lowering drops, meds, possible laser |
| Uveitis / iritis | Deep ache, photophobia, blurred vision | Steroid drops, dilating drops, treat underlying cause |
| Optic neuritis | Pain on eye movement, reduced vision | Systemic steroids, investigation for systemic disease |
| Sinusitis | Pressure behind eyes, facial pain | Treatment of sinus infection/inflammation |
Steroid eye drops should only be used if they are prescribed by your eye doctor. Incorrect use of these medications can worsen infections or lead to other complications.
Medical Treatments for Eye Pain
Depending on the diagnosis, your eye doctor may use one or more of the following:
1. Prescription Eye Drops or Ointments
- Antibiotic drops/ointment : for bacterial infections (e.g., bacterial conjunctivitis, corneal infection)
- Antiviral medications: for viral infections like herpes keratitis
- Anti-allergy drops: antihistamine or mast-cell stabiliser drops for allergic eye disease
- Steroid drops: to reduce inflammation in conditions like uveitis (only under close supervision)
- Pressure-lowering drops: for glaucoma or acute pressure spikes
2. Oral Medications
- Pain relievers in certain situations
- Antibiotics for some infections
- Steroids or other systemic medications for inflammatory or autoimmune eye diseases
3. Procedures & Surgery
- Foreign body removal from the cornea or under the eyelid
- Lid procedures for styes/chalazia that don’t resolve
- Laser or surgical treatment for glaucoma
- Corneal procedures for severe abrasions or infections
Your eye doctor will recommend the safest and most effective treatment based on what is causing your eye pain.
Eye Pain: When You Should Not Wait
Call your eye doctor for a same-day appointment or go to an emergency clinic if you notice any of these:
- Eye pain + blurred or double vision
- Eye pain + new floaters or flashes of light
- Eye pain after contact lens wear, especially with light sensitivity
- Eye pain that does not improve after 24 hours of using lubricating drops and rest
- Eye pain after surgery or injection inside the eye
The sooner your eye pain is checked, the easier it is to treat and the lower your risk of permanent vision problems.
How to Prevent Eye Pain
Not every eye problem can be prevented, but you can lower your risk by following these simple habits:
- Protect your eyes
- Wear safety glasses for DIY work, chemicals, or sports.
- Use contact lenses safely.
- Follow all cleaning instructions, do not sleep in your lenses unless your doctor says it is safe, and replace them as recommended.
- Limit digital eye strain.
- Use the 20-20-20 rule, adjust your screen brightness, and sit at a comfortable distance from your screen to help reduce digital eye strain.
- Blink often and stay hydrated.
- Blinking spreads tears across the surface of your eyes. Dehydration can worsen dryness and discomfort.
- Wear sunglasses outdoors
- Choose sunglasses that provide 100% UVA and UVB protection.
- Manage health conditions
- Work with your doctor to manage diabetes, blood pressure, and other health conditions.
- Get regular eye exams.
- Even if your vision seems normal, regular eye exams can find problems before you notice any symptoms.
Summary: Protecting Your Vision and Managing Eye Pain
Eye pain can range from a minor irritation to a serious problem that threatens your vision and requires emergency care.
Key points to remember:
Key points to remember:
- Mild eye discomfort often gets better with artificial tears, rest, and simple steps you can take at home.
- Severe pain, sudden changes in vision, injury, or chemical exposure need immediate medical attention.
- Most causes of eye pain are treatable, especially when caught early.
- Healthy habits and regular eye exams are the best ways to protect your vision.
If you are not sure why your eyes hurt or if something does not feel right, have your eyes checked by an eye doctor. Protecting your vision should always be a priority.
FAQ: Eye Pain Treatment
1. What is the best immediate treatment for eye pain?
For mild eye irritation, start with lubricating eye drops, take regular breaks from screens, and use a cool or warm compress as needed. If your pain is severe, does not improve, or is accompanied by blurred vision, see an eye doctor instead of relying on home remedies.
2. Can I use over-the-counter painkillers for eye pain?
Over-the-counter pain relievers may help with discomfort, but they do not treat the cause of eye pain. Do not use them to cover up serious symptoms like vision loss, redness, or injury. If you feel you need painkillers for eye pain, have your eyes checked by a doctor.
3. Do I always need antibiotics for eye pain?
No, antibiotics are not needed for many causes of eye pain, such as dry eye, viral infections, allergies, migraine, or sinusitis. Antibiotics only work for bacterial infections. Using them when they are not needed can delay proper treatment and lead to antibiotic resistance.
4. Is eye pain normal after long screen time?
Tiredness, burning, or dry eyes are common after prolonged screen time. These symptoms usually get better with regular breaks, frequent blinking, and lubricating eye drops. If your pain is sharp, comes with blurred vision, or does not improve, have your eyes checked to rule out other problems.
5. When should I go straight to the emergency for eye pain?
Seek emergency care if you experience any of the following:
- Sudden vision loss
- Severe pain
- Chemical burn
- A penetrating injury
- Halos around lights with headache and nausea
These symptoms may indicate serious problems that threaten your vision and require immediate medical attention.
