Pain in the eye

Pain in the eye is experienced as an irritating discomfort either on the surface or deep within the eye. It can be a stabbing, aching, itching or burning sensation in any part of the eyes and can be caused by several factors. It ranges from mild and irritating to severe pain that threatens your ability to see.

Your healthcare provider will recommend the most appropriate treatment after determining the cause, severity and other health problems you may have.

Most people with pain in the eye will recover without disability, except when the pain is caused by tumour growth or direct injury.

• If something enters your eye, like dirt, cosmetics or even an eyelash.
• If a chemical spills into your eye or you react to a medication.
• If you have underlying diseases like glaucoma or migraine.
• If you have pink eye or “apollo” from irritation or infection of the lining of your eye.
• A mechanical injury like the accidental piercing of your eyes.

You may experience this pain as;

• An irritating discomfort.
• Stabbing or pulsing pain.
• Aching.
• A burning sensation.
• Limited eyesight.
• Light sensitivity.

Eye pain does not last so long and stops on its own but you should see your healthcare provider immediately if:

• Your vision becomes blurry.
• You start having headaches.
• You  find it difficult closing your eyes or keeping them open.
• Your eyes start to bulge out of their sockets.

You can prevent your eyes from paining you by:

• Wearing glasses with the right prescription.
• Having regular eye checks with your healthcare provider.
• Wearing eye shields when dealing with chemicals or dealing with sharp objects.
• Keeping a good contact lense hygiene.

Self-care tips:

• Rinsing your eyes with lukewarm water.
• Applying cold or warm clothes to soothe the pain.
• Resting your eyes from strain.
• Limit your screen time and do not look directly at bright lights.
• Wearing glasses with ultraviolet protection lenses.
• Using over-the-counter pain relievers like paracetamol and ibuprofen.

Medical treatment:

• Antihistamine eye drops for allergies.
• Antibiotic eye drops or ointments to treat infections.
• Pain medications to treat severe pain.
• Steroid medications to treat more severe infections.
• Surgery in some cases to repair damage within the eye.

Your eyes are delicate and easily injured, so you should take special care not to allow foreign bodies into them. Wear protective covering for your eyes (like goggles), if you work in a place where your risk for eye injury is high. Similarly, keep your underlying condition controlled if they are likely to affect your eyes.

Eye pain will usually go on its own, so you do not have to worry. Try to rest your eyes and not put any objects or chemicals into them.