Eye

Cure for eye pain: Eye Pain: Causes, Treatments, and Prevention

Eye Pain: Causes, Treatments, and Prevention

Surface pain is usually caused by irritation, infection, or trauma. Often, it is easily treated with eye drops or rest. Eye pain deeper in the eye may require more in-depth treatment. Any pain accompanied by vision loss is an emergency.

Eye pain is common, but it’s rarely a symptom of a serious condition. Most often, the pain resolves without medicine or treatment. Eye pain is also known as ophthalmalgia.

Depending on where you experience the discomfort, eye pain can fall into one of two categories: Ocular pain occurs on the eye’s surface, and orbital pain occurs within the eye.

Eye pain that occurs on the surface may be a scratching, burning, or itching sensation. Eye pain that occurs deeper within the eye may feel aching, gritty, stabbing, or throbbing.

Eye pain accompanied by vision loss may be a symptom of an emergency medical issue. Call your ophthalmologist immediately if you begin to lose your vision while experiencing eye pain.

The following may cause eye pain that originates on the surface of the eye:

Foreign object

The most common cause of eye pain is simply having something in your eye. Whether it’s an eyelash, a piece of dirt, or makeup, having a foreign object in the eye can cause irritation, redness, watery eyes, and pain.

Conjunctivitis

The conjunctiva is the tissue that lines the front of the eye and the underside of the eyelid. It can become infected and inflamed. Often, this is caused by an allergy or infection.

Though the pain is usually mild, the inflammation causes itchiness, redness, and discharge in the eye. Conjunctivitis is also called pink eye.

Contact lens irritation

People who wear contact lenses overnight or don’t disinfect their lenses properly are more susceptible to eye pain caused by irritation or infection.

Corneal abrasion

The cornea, the clear surface that covers the eye, is susceptible to injuries. When you have a corneal abrasion, you will feel as if you have something in your eye.

However, treatments that typically remove irritants from an eye, such as flushing with water, won’t ease the pain and discomfort if you have a corneal abrasion.

Injury

Chemical burns and flash burns to the eye can cause significant pain. These burns are often the result of exposure to irritants such as bleach or to intense light sources, such as the sun, tanning booths, or the materials used in arc welding.

Blepharitis

Blepharitis occurs when oil glands on the eyelid’s edge become infected or inflamed. This can cause pain.

Sty

A blepharitis infection can create a nodule or raised bump on the eyelid. This is called a sty or a chalazion. A sty can be very painful, and the area around the sty is usually very tender and sensitive to touch. A chalazion isn’t usually painful.

Eye pain felt within the eye itself may be caused by the following conditions:

Glaucoma

This condition occurs as intraocular pressure, or pressure inside the eye, rises. Additional symptoms caused by glaucoma include nausea, headache, and loss of vision.

A sudden rise in pressure, called acute angle closure glaucoma, is an emergency, and immediate treatment is needed to prevent permanent vision loss.

Optic neuritis

You may experience eye pain accompanied by a loss of vision if the nerve that connects the back of the eyeball to the brain, known as the optic nerve, becomes inflamed. An autoimmune disease or a bacterial or viral infection may cause the inflammation.

Sinusitis

An infection of the sinuses can cause pressure behind the eyes to build. As it does, it can create pain in one or both eyes.

Migraines

Eye pain is a common side effect of migraine attacks.

Injury

Penetrating injuries to the eye, which can occur when a person is hit with an object or is involved in an accident, can cause significant eye pain.

Iritis

While uncommon, inflammation in the iris can cause pain deep inside the eye.

If you begin experiencing vision loss in addition to eye pain, this may be a sign of an emergency situation. Other symptoms that need immediate medical attention include:

  • severe eye pain
  • eye pain caused by trauma or exposure to a chemical or light
  • abdominal pain and vomiting that accompanies eye pain
  • pain so severe it’s impossible to touch the eye
  • sudden and dramatic vision changes

The treatment for eye pain depends on the cause of the pain. The most common treatments include:

Home care

The best way to treat many of the conditions that cause eye pain is to allow your eyes to rest. Staring at a computer screen or television can cause eyestrain, so your doctor may require you to rest with your eyes covered for a day or more.

Glasses

If you frequently wear contact lenses, give your corneas time to heal by wearing your glasses.

Warm compress

Doctors may instruct people with blepharitis or a sty to apply warm, moist towels to their eyes. This will help to clear the clogged oil gland or hair follicle.

Flushing

If a foreign body or chemical gets into your eye, flush your eye with water or a saline solution to wash the irritant out.

Antibiotics

Antibacterial drops and oral antibiotics may be used to treat infections of the eye that are causing pain, including conjunctivitis and corneal abrasions.

Antihistamines

Eye drops and oral medicines can help ease the pain associated with allergies in the eyes.

Eye drops

People with glaucoma may use medicated eye drops to reduce the pressure building in their eyes.

Corticosteroids

For more serious infections, such as optic neuritis and anterior uveitis (iritis), your doctor may give you corticosteroids.

Pain medications

If the pain is severe and causes an interruption to your day-to-day life, your doctor may prescribe a pain medicine to help ease the pain until the underlying condition is treated.

Surgery

Surgery is sometimes needed to repair damage done by a foreign body or burn. However, this is rare. Individuals with glaucoma may need to have a laser treatment to improve drainage in the eye.

Most eye pain will fade with no or mild treatment. Eye pain and the underlying conditions that cause it rarely lead to permanent damage to the eye.

However, that’s not always the case. Some conditions that cause eye pain may also cause problems that are more serious if they aren’t treated.

For example, the pain and symptoms caused by glaucoma are a sign of an impending problem. If not diagnosed and treated, glaucoma can cause vision problems and eventually total blindness.

Your vision is nothing to gamble on. If you begin to experience eye pain that isn’t caused by something like an eyelash in the eye, make an appointment to see your eye doctor as soon as possible.

Eye pain prevention starts with eye protection. The following are ways you can prevent eye pain:

Wear protective eyewear

Prevent many causes of eye pain, such as scratches and burns, by wearing goggles or safety glasses when playing sports, exercising, mowing the lawn, or working with hand tools.

Construction workers, welders, and people who work around flying objects, chemicals, or welding gear should always wear protective eye gear.

Handle chemicals with caution

Direct chemicals and potent agents such as household cleaners, detergents, and pest control. Spray away from your body when using them.

Exercise caution with children’s toys

Avoid giving your child a toy that can injure their eyes. Toys with spring-loaded components, toys that shoot, and toy swords, guns, and bouncing balls can all injure a child’s eye.

Contact lens hygiene

Clean your contacts thoroughly and routinely. Wear your glasses on occasion to allow your eyes time to rest. Don’t wear contacts longer than they are intended to be worn or used.

Eye Pain: Causes, Treatments, and Prevention

Surface pain is usually caused by irritation, infection, or trauma. Often, it is easily treated with eye drops or rest. Eye pain deeper in the eye may require more in-depth treatment. Any pain accompanied by vision loss is an emergency.

Eye pain is common, but it’s rarely a symptom of a serious condition. Most often, the pain resolves without medicine or treatment. Eye pain is also known as ophthalmalgia.

Depending on where you experience the discomfort, eye pain can fall into one of two categories: Ocular pain occurs on the eye’s surface, and orbital pain occurs within the eye.

Eye pain that occurs on the surface may be a scratching, burning, or itching sensation. Eye pain that occurs deeper within the eye may feel aching, gritty, stabbing, or throbbing.

Eye pain accompanied by vision loss may be a symptom of an emergency medical issue. Call your ophthalmologist immediately if you begin to lose your vision while experiencing eye pain.

The following may cause eye pain that originates on the surface of the eye:

Foreign object

The most common cause of eye pain is simply having something in your eye. Whether it’s an eyelash, a piece of dirt, or makeup, having a foreign object in the eye can cause irritation, redness, watery eyes, and pain.

Conjunctivitis

The conjunctiva is the tissue that lines the front of the eye and the underside of the eyelid. It can become infected and inflamed. Often, this is caused by an allergy or infection.

Though the pain is usually mild, the inflammation causes itchiness, redness, and discharge in the eye. Conjunctivitis is also called pink eye.

Contact lens irritation

People who wear contact lenses overnight or don’t disinfect their lenses properly are more susceptible to eye pain caused by irritation or infection.

Corneal abrasion

The cornea, the clear surface that covers the eye, is susceptible to injuries. When you have a corneal abrasion, you will feel as if you have something in your eye.

However, treatments that typically remove irritants from an eye, such as flushing with water, won’t ease the pain and discomfort if you have a corneal abrasion.

Injury

Chemical burns and flash burns to the eye can cause significant pain. These burns are often the result of exposure to irritants such as bleach or to intense light sources, such as the sun, tanning booths, or the materials used in arc welding.

Blepharitis

Blepharitis occurs when oil glands on the eyelid’s edge become infected or inflamed. This can cause pain.

Sty

A blepharitis infection can create a nodule or raised bump on the eyelid. This is called a sty or a chalazion. A sty can be very painful, and the area around the sty is usually very tender and sensitive to touch. A chalazion isn’t usually painful.

Eye pain felt within the eye itself may be caused by the following conditions:

Glaucoma

This condition occurs as intraocular pressure, or pressure inside the eye, rises. Additional symptoms caused by glaucoma include nausea, headache, and loss of vision.

A sudden rise in pressure, called acute angle closure glaucoma, is an emergency, and immediate treatment is needed to prevent permanent vision loss.

Optic neuritis

You may experience eye pain accompanied by a loss of vision if the nerve that connects the back of the eyeball to the brain, known as the optic nerve, becomes inflamed. An autoimmune disease or a bacterial or viral infection may cause the inflammation.

Sinusitis

An infection of the sinuses can cause pressure behind the eyes to build. As it does, it can create pain in one or both eyes.

Migraines

Eye pain is a common side effect of migraine attacks.

Injury

Penetrating injuries to the eye, which can occur when a person is hit with an object or is involved in an accident, can cause significant eye pain.

Iritis

While uncommon, inflammation in the iris can cause pain deep inside the eye.

If you begin experiencing vision loss in addition to eye pain, this may be a sign of an emergency situation. Other symptoms that need immediate medical attention include:

  • severe eye pain
  • eye pain caused by trauma or exposure to a chemical or light
  • abdominal pain and vomiting that accompanies eye pain
  • pain so severe it’s impossible to touch the eye
  • sudden and dramatic vision changes

The treatment for eye pain depends on the cause of the pain. The most common treatments include:

Home care

The best way to treat many of the conditions that cause eye pain is to allow your eyes to rest. Staring at a computer screen or television can cause eyestrain, so your doctor may require you to rest with your eyes covered for a day or more.

Glasses

If you frequently wear contact lenses, give your corneas time to heal by wearing your glasses.

Warm compress

Doctors may instruct people with blepharitis or a sty to apply warm, moist towels to their eyes. This will help to clear the clogged oil gland or hair follicle.

Flushing

If a foreign body or chemical gets into your eye, flush your eye with water or a saline solution to wash the irritant out.

Antibiotics

Antibacterial drops and oral antibiotics may be used to treat infections of the eye that are causing pain, including conjunctivitis and corneal abrasions.

Antihistamines

Eye drops and oral medicines can help ease the pain associated with allergies in the eyes.

Eye drops

People with glaucoma may use medicated eye drops to reduce the pressure building in their eyes.

Corticosteroids

For more serious infections, such as optic neuritis and anterior uveitis (iritis), your doctor may give you corticosteroids.

Pain medications

If the pain is severe and causes an interruption to your day-to-day life, your doctor may prescribe a pain medicine to help ease the pain until the underlying condition is treated.

Surgery

Surgery is sometimes needed to repair damage done by a foreign body or burn. However, this is rare. Individuals with glaucoma may need to have a laser treatment to improve drainage in the eye.

Most eye pain will fade with no or mild treatment. Eye pain and the underlying conditions that cause it rarely lead to permanent damage to the eye.

However, that’s not always the case. Some conditions that cause eye pain may also cause problems that are more serious if they aren’t treated.

For example, the pain and symptoms caused by glaucoma are a sign of an impending problem. If not diagnosed and treated, glaucoma can cause vision problems and eventually total blindness.

Your vision is nothing to gamble on. If you begin to experience eye pain that isn’t caused by something like an eyelash in the eye, make an appointment to see your eye doctor as soon as possible.

Eye pain prevention starts with eye protection. The following are ways you can prevent eye pain:

Wear protective eyewear

Prevent many causes of eye pain, such as scratches and burns, by wearing goggles or safety glasses when playing sports, exercising, mowing the lawn, or working with hand tools.

Construction workers, welders, and people who work around flying objects, chemicals, or welding gear should always wear protective eye gear.

Handle chemicals with caution

Direct chemicals and potent agents such as household cleaners, detergents, and pest control. Spray away from your body when using them.

Exercise caution with children’s toys

Avoid giving your child a toy that can injure their eyes. Toys with spring-loaded components, toys that shoot, and toy swords, guns, and bouncing balls can all injure a child’s eye.

Contact lens hygiene

Clean your contacts thoroughly and routinely. Wear your glasses on occasion to allow your eyes time to rest. Don’t wear contacts longer than they are intended to be worn or used.

Painkiller drops – medicine for the eyes. Portal vseozrenii – all about eye drops and tablets.

Article updated on 12/28/2019

Anesthetic eye drops should be used strictly under medical supervision

Contents worth dripping anesthetic drops

  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drops
  • When not to use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory eye drops
  • 1/5

    Types of pain drops

    Eye pain drops should be used strictly under medical supervision

    Eye pain drops act locally to block pain in the nerve endings of the eye.

    According to the mechanism of action, they are divided into two main groups:

    • Anesthetic drops
    • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drops

    2/5

    Anesthetic eye drops

    Anesthetic pain drops for the eyes block nerve conduction for a certain time. The drugs in this group include: Lidocaine, Inocaine, Alkain, etc. The analgesic effect occurs 1-2 minutes after application and lasts from 15-20 minutes.

    These pain drops are used in the following cases:

    • Before removal of foreign bodies from the surface of the eye
    • During diagnostic procedures (gonioscopy, contact tonometry, Schirmer test)
    • As first aid for eye injuries
    • In eye surgery for superficial anesthesia

    Pain drops for the eyes should be used strictly under medical supervision.

    3/5

    When not to administer anesthetic drops

    Do not administer topical anesthetic drops alone when the cause of eye pain is unknown

    Do not administer local anesthetic drops in this group when the cause of ocular pain is unknown. With prolonged use, local anesthetics cause severe and irreversible damage to the cornea.

    Some patients with eye pain of neuralgic origin instill these pain drops without a doctor’s prescription. Unfortunately, this often leads to clouding of the cornea and loss of vision.

    4/5

    Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drops

    Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drops have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. The most common drugs in this group are Diclofenac, Broxinac, Indocollir.

    The mechanism of action is fundamentally different from local anesthetics. It consists in reducing the synthesis of substances that cause pain and inflammation. Therefore, the analgesic effect of these drops is not observed immediately, but some time after the start of their use.

    These anesthetic eye drops are prescribed in the following cases:

    • After eye surgery
    • To relieve pain after laser surgery
    • In inflammatory eye diseases (iridocyclitis, scleritis, etc. )

    9000 2 5/5

    When do not drip non-steroidal anti-inflammatory eye drops

    Slight blurring and loss of vision may occur when using eye painkiller drops for the eyes

    Do not instill anesthetic eye drops in this group if you are allergic to acetylsalicylic acid. Use with caution in inflammation of the cornea.

    Please be aware that slight blurring and blurring of vision may occur when using these anesthetic eye drops.

    It must be remembered that most nonsteroidal eye drops have serious (often irreversible) side effects. Self-administration of such drugs is unacceptable.

    Was the article helpful?

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    Home kit, eye drops

    Your home kit should contain medicines that anyone might need and medicines prescribed by your doctor individually.

    • First aid kit for eye health
    • First aid kit for summer cottage
    • First aid kit for rest in hot climates
    • First aid kit for children
    • First aid kit for office
    • Prophylaxis

    Please note that any health problems must be addressed together with doctor! It is possible to use medications on your own without finding out the exact cause of the problems only in one case: if time is precious and there is no doctor nearby. In this case, you need to start taking medications and contact a specialist as soon as possible!

    First aid kit for eye health

    Painkillers Analgin ( 901 30 sedalgin , pentalgin and others, taking into account individual tolerance) in tablets.
    When are they accepted? Taken for pain in the eyelid, eyeball, pain behind the eye, in the eye socket.
    Antiallergic Suprastin ) in tablets
    When are they taken? Used for swelling of the eyelids without redness. If you cannot determine the cause of the edema (reaction to medications, foods, cosmetics, etc.), be sure to consult a doctor.
    Antibiotics cin and others, taking into account individual tolerance) in tablets.
    When are they accepted? Take according to the instructions for swelling of the eyelid with redness of the skin, for pain in the eyelid with redness and swelling of the eyelid, for throbbing pain in the upper outer region of the orbit, for pain in the eyeball. They are also taken in the maximum allowable doses with the gradual appearance of a dark spot or sector in the field of vision against the background of deteriorating vision (in this case, you should consult a doctor during the day).
    When are they accepted?

    2) 0.25% solution of chloramphenicol – eye drops.
    It is used for constant pain in the eyeball, which worsens at night, when pressing on the eye, when fixing the gaze at a close distance, when it deviates in a certain direction

    In what cases are they taken?

    3) 1% tetracycline ointment , 1% erythromycin ointment
    The ointment is applied behind the lower eyelid, and then a bandage is applied, with acute pain in the eye when opening the eyes after sleep, which is accompanied by tears swelling or accompanied by sensation of a foreign body in eye. In this case, you need to see a doctor within 1-2 hours.

    Sulfanilamide preparations 20%-30 % solution of sodium sulfacyl – eye drops.
    When are they accepted? Used for discharge from the eye, redness of the eyeball, feeling of “sand” behind the eyelids: first, the eye is washed with a disinfectant, then every 2 hours a solution of sulfacyl sodium is instilled into it.
    Disinfectants 20% sulfacyl sodium ointment
    Made from boric acid powder (baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), potassium permanganate (manganese), furacilin). To obtain a 2% solution of boric acid, 1 tbsp. dilute boric acid powder in 1 liter of warm boiled water. To obtain a 2% solution of baking soda, 1 tbsp. dilute soda in 1 liter of warm boiled water. To obtain a solution of 1:5000 potassium permanganate, dilute a few crystals of the powder in 1 liter of warm boiled water (until a faint pink color appears). To obtain a 1:5000 solution of furacilin, dilute 1 tablet of furacilin in 1 liter of warm boiled water. Prepared immediately before use.
    When are they accepted? Used for discharge from the eye (solution of furacilin or calcium permanganate), redness of the eyeball (solution of furacilin or calcium permanganate), feeling of “sand” behind the eyelids (solution of furacilin). Also used for various eye burns

    First aid kit for summer cottage

    901 29 Linex, Hilak

    90 129 Dr. Mom syrup, Dr. Mom lozenges, Ambrohexal tablets

    9014 1

    Painkillers,
    antipyretics 9013 2

    No-shpa, Pentalgin N, Rinza
    Diarrhea, heartburn,
    liver protection products
    Lopedium, Maalox, Essliver, Essentiale H
    Products for restoring intestinal microflora
    Digestion aids Festal, Mezim Forte
    Allergy medicines Tavegil, Claritin, Fenistil gel
    Sore throat medicines Chlorophyllipt tincture, Ingalipt, Cameton, Hexoral
    Cold medicine Tizin xylo spray, Nazivin drops
    Cough medicine
    Medicines for treatment bruises, sprains,
    vein diseases
    Dolobene, Finalgon, Troxevasin, Normaven, Fastum gel
    Burn remedies D-panthenol, Panthenol spray
    Insect repellent DEET spray, REID fumigator
    Wound care products Iodine, hydrogen peroxide, dressings
    Antifungals Thermicon spray, mycoseptin ointment
    Device for blood pressure measurement
    Herpes treatment Fenistil Pencivir, Acyclovir Geksal ointment

    Don’t forget to take the funds you take with you all the time!

    Hot climate kit

    Nurofen Ultra Cap, No-shpa, Arbidol, Oscillococcinum

    9 0141

    901 29 Iodine, hydrogen peroxide, dressings

    Allergy medicines Claritin , Erius, Fenistal gel
    Remedies for diarrhea, heartburn, liver protection Imodium, Gaivscon, Essentiale, Phosphalugel
    Medications to restore intestinal microflora Linex, Hilak
    Digestion aids 9020 9 food Festal, Mezim Forte, Enzistal
    transport Dramina, Kokkulin
    Sore throat remedies Strepsils lozenges, Theraflu Lar spray, Hexoral spray
    Cold medicine Tizin-Vibrocil, Nazol, handkerchiefs
    Cough medicine Lazolvan syrup, tablets, Bronchicum elixir
    Ear and eye drops Otipax, Remo-vax, Vizin
    Agents for the treatment of bruises, sprains,
    diseases of the veins
    Voltaren emulgel, Finalgon, Lyoton, Antistax gel
    Antifungals Lamisin dermgel, Lamisin spray, Batrafen
    Sunburn products Panthenol spray, Bepanthen cream
    Wound care products
    Herpes treatments Fenistil Pencivir, Zovirax
    Cosmetics Sunscreens, moisturizers, shampoos
    Intimate hygiene
    Thermometer

    Don’t forget to take the products you take with you all the time!

    First aid kit for children

    9012 9 Sunburn products
    Painkillers, antipyretics, antivirals Aspirin, Panadol suspension, Nurofen syrup, Ana feron for children
    Allergy medicines Claritin syrup, Zirtek drops, Fenistil gel
    Gastrointestinal drugs Smecta, Bifiform Baby, Kokkulin
    Anti-motion sickness drugs Dramina, Kokkulin
    Sore throat remedies Tantum verde spray, Pharyngosept, Septolete (with 4 years)
    Cold remedies Tizin Xylo spray, Nazivin drops, Rinonorm, handkerchiefs
    Cough remedies Lazolvan syrup 15mg , Alteyka syrup, ACC 100
    Means for the treatment of bruises Aibolit, Rescuer
    Means for treating wounds Iodine, hydrogen peroxide, dressings
    Panthenol spray, Bepanthen cream
    Products from insects Fumigator Reid, mosquito cream Off for children
    Cosmetics Sunscreens, moisturizers, lotions, shampoos
    Thermometer

    Means that the child takes constantly!

    Office First Aid Kit

    Cold and FLU Remedies (Painkillers, Antipyretics) Aspirin, Anal gin, Tera-flu, Anaferon, Arbidol
    Painkillers No-shpa , Pentalgin, Citramon (for headaches)
    Diarrhea, heartburn, liver protection Imodium, Geivscon, Essentiale, Phosphalugel
    Antiseptics (for wounds) Iodine, hydrogen peroxide, dressings
    Sciatica remedy Paracetamol or ibuprofen, painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs: gel (Ketonal, Voltaren, etc.

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