There are many reasons why your eyes might hurt. Some of these include a scratch in your eye, a cold, a pinched nerve in the back of the head, dryness, glaucoma, injury, sinus pressure, infection, and allergies. There are also a number of other reasons for eye pain that you should be aware of.

If you have been wearing contact lenses for a long time, your eyes might hurt if you are taking them out or putting them in. You may start to feel this eye pain as you go to bed.

This is because your eyes have become accustomed to the contact lenses and they feel uncomfortable without them. The discomfort usually goes away within a few moments of putting the contacts in or taking them out.

Like a scratch in the eye, an eyelash that gets stuck inside the eyeball can cause a lot of discomfort and eye pain, especially if it is not removed right away.

You will want to make sure that you go see your doctor to have it removed as soon as possible so that you do not cause any permanent damage to your eye. This article will list the reasons for eye pain and what precautions you can take.

What Are the Causes of Eye Pain?

Blepharitis

Blepharitis is very common and it is an eye condition that causes your eye lids to be inflamed. The inflammation can lead to redness, itching, burning, stinging, and pain in the eyes. Symptoms range from mild to severe depending on the type of blepharitis one has. Blepharitis can be caused by many factors including poor hygiene or wearing contact lenses for too long. A person with blepharitis may experience blurred vision, excessive tearing, corneal ulceration, and crusting of the eyelashes.

Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)

Pink Eye is a common eye condition that usually produces no symptoms other than the pink appearance of the front surface of the eye and occasional irritation. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi and is usually treated with antibiotic ointments.

Cluster Headaches

Cluster headaches are a type of headache that is caused by pain in the head, neck, or face. They are often characterized by pain to one side of the head, which can be severe enough to wake someone from sleep. Other symptoms include redness of the eye on the affected side, runny nose, and/or tearing. Cluster headaches are rarer than other types of headaches, but they can happen more frequently in people who suffer from them. The intensity and duration of a cluster headache vary from person to person.

Corneal Ulcer

Corneal ulcers are a very common eye problem that most often affects people who have had a previous eye injury. They can also be caused by a bacterial infection and sometimes by an allergic reaction.

Symptoms of a corneal ulcer are redness in the eye and pain. The pain may be constant or intermittent and it is usually worse during the day and at night. The person with a corneal ulcer usually has blurry vision as well as increased sensitivity to light. A doctor will usually diagnose a corneal ulcer by examining the eye with instruments such as an ophthalmoscope or slit-lamp microscope.

Iritis

Iritis is a form of uveitis that causes eye pain. Iritis is a condition in which the iris in the eye becomes inflamed. This inflammation can be caused by a number of factors, such as an infection, injury to the eye, or a number of other conditions. The symptoms of iritis include redness in the eye, pain when looking at objects or light, and eye sensitivity. iritis is usually treated with antibiotics and pain medication. iritis can severely affect vision and may lead to blindness if left untreated.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma causes eye pain because of the pressure on your optic nerve. It is a group of eye diseases that damage aqueous humor fluid and can lead to blindness. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness. Glaucoma occurs when fluid cannot drain from the eye, which increases pressure inside the eye. This pressure can cause pain, vision loss, and blind spots in your visual field.

Optic Neuritis

Optic neuritis is considered inflammation of the optic nerve. The job of the optic nerve is to send your brain information about what you see. It can cause pain in your eye, redness in the white of your eye, blurry vision, or double vision. It could also make you feel dizzy or nauseous.

Allergic Conjunctivitis

Allergic Conjunctivitis is a condition where a person has watery, itchy, and red eyes. This is caused by an allergic reaction to something that has irritated the skin around the eye. Allergic conjunctivitis can be caused by pollen, animal dander, dust mites, or other allergens.

Dry Eye Conditions

Dry eye condition is the condition where the cornea does not produce enough tears to keep the eyes lubricated. This will result in an inflammation that can cause severe pain. It can lead to serious eye damage that might need surgery. There are several causes of dry eye conditions, such as heredity, medications, aging, and lack of airflow to the eyes.

Ways to Treat Eye Pain

Home Remedies

The number of home remedies for eye pain is countless. Most people turn to their kitchen cabinets or spice racks to find a solution for their discomfort. Here are some common home remedies:

• Diluting Aloe Vera with cold water and applying it to the painful eye. Try doing this with a cotton swab.
• Cold compress to the painful eye can provide relief from itching and burning.
• Eye drops available over the counter can help treat eye pain.

Medical Remedies

Pain in the eye is a common ailment and can be caused by a number of factors. The most common causes of eye pain are eye strain, dry eyes, and allergies. It can also be caused by conjunctivitis, bleeding from the eye, sinusitis, or a foreign object in the eye. In some cases, it may be caused by a more serious condition such as cataracts or glaucoma.

Many people experience pain in their eyes from time to time. Pain in one or both eyes is rather common and usually lasts only a few minutes before going away on its own. However, if your pain persists or is severe enough to cause you to see flashes of light or black spots before your eyes, you will want to see an eye doctor as soon as possible.

When Should You See a Doctor For Eye Pain?

Eye pain is a common symptom, but it can also be a sign of serious conditions like glaucoma, retinal detachment, and eye cancer. If you experience eye pain that doesn’t go away or worsens over the course of several hours, see your doctor.

Final Thoughts

Some people may not realize the significance of eye pain, but it can be a sign of something serious. Eye pain can be a symptom of anything from dry eye syndrome, to pink eye, to even cancer. It is important to see an eye doctor if you experience any form of pain in the eyes.