What causes pain around the eye socket. How can eye socket pain be treated effectively. What preventive measures can be taken to avoid eye discomfort. When should you consult a doctor for eye pain.

Understanding Eye Socket Pain: Common Causes and Symptoms

Eye socket pain can be a distressing experience, often interfering with daily activities and quality of life. This discomfort, medically known as orbital pain, can stem from various underlying conditions affecting the eye, surrounding tissues, or even neurological issues. Understanding the root causes is crucial for effective management and treatment.

Dry Eyes: A Leading Cause of Morning Eye Discomfort

One of the most common reasons for waking up with eye pain is dry eyes. This condition occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough tears or when the tears evaporate too quickly. Dry eyes can lead to a gritty, burning sensation and may be particularly noticeable upon waking.

• Age-related factors (more common in people over 50)
• Hormonal changes (pregnancy, menopause, use of birth control)
• Poor tear quality
• Nocturnal lagophthalmos (inability to close eyes completely while sleeping)

Do dry eyes affect women more than men? Studies suggest that women are indeed more susceptible to dry eyes, especially during hormonal fluctuations such as pregnancy and menopause. Additionally, the use of birth control medications can exacerbate this condition.

Conjunctivitis: The Pink Eye Problem

Conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye, is an inflammation of the conjunctiva – the thin, clear tissue that lies over the white part of the eye. This condition can cause significant discomfort, including pain around the eye socket.

There are several types of conjunctivitis, each with its own cause:

1. Viral conjunctivitis
2. Bacterial conjunctivitis (non-gonococcal)
3. Gonococcal conjunctivitis
4. Allergic conjunctivitis
5. Chlamydial conjunctivitis

How can you differentiate between the types of conjunctivitis? While a definitive diagnosis often requires professional evaluation, viral conjunctivitis typically starts in one eye and may spread to the other, while bacterial conjunctivitis often affects both eyes simultaneously and produces a thicker discharge.

Foreign Objects and Eye Injuries: Hidden Culprits of Ocular Pain

Sometimes, eye socket pain can be attributed to physical factors such as foreign objects or injuries. Even small particles like dust or a stray eyelash can cause significant discomfort, especially if they enter the eye while you’re sleeping.

Dealing with Foreign Objects in the Eye

If you suspect a foreign object in your eye, it’s crucial to avoid rubbing, as this can cause further damage. Instead, try these steps:

1. Blink several times to see if your tears can flush out the object
2. Gently pull your upper eyelid over your lower lid
3. Use artificial tears or saline solution to rinse your eye
4. If the object persists, seek medical attention

Can all foreign objects in the eye cause long-term damage? While many small particles can be safely removed without lasting effects, some objects, particularly those that are sharp or enter the eye at high velocity, can cause serious injury and require immediate medical attention.

Inflammatory Conditions: Blepharitis and Its Impact

Blepharitis, an inflammation of the eyelids, is another common cause of eye socket pain. This condition is often associated with bacterial or yeast infections and can lead to persistent discomfort.

Symptoms and Characteristics of Blepharitis

• Sensation of a foreign body in the eye
• Irritation and redness of the eyes
• Swelling of the eyelids
• Crusting of the eyelashes, especially upon waking

Is blepharitis a serious condition? While blepharitis is typically not sight-threatening, it can be chronic and significantly impact quality of life if left untreated. Regular eyelid hygiene and, in some cases, medical intervention can help manage symptoms effectively.

Recurrent Epithelial Erosion: A Painful Wake-Up Call

Recurrent epithelial erosion is a condition where the outermost layer of the cornea fails to adhere properly to the underlying tissue. This can lead to painful episodes, particularly upon waking, as the act of opening the eyes can cause the loosely attached epithelium to tear.

Understanding the Mechanism of Recurrent Epithelial Erosion

This condition often occurs as a result of previous corneal injuries, even those that happened years ago. The initial injury may have healed, but the new epithelial cells may not have formed proper attachments, leading to recurring episodes of pain and discomfort.

How long can recurrent epithelial erosion persist? Unfortunately, this condition can recur for months or even years after the initial injury. However, various treatments, including lubricating eye drops, ointments, and in some cases, surgical interventions, can help manage and reduce the frequency of episodes.

Allergies and Eye Pain: The Seasonal Struggle

Allergies can significantly contribute to eye discomfort, including pain around the eye socket. Whether seasonal or perennial, allergies can cause a range of ocular symptoms that may be particularly noticeable upon waking.

Common Allergens Affecting Eye Health

• Pollen (seasonal allergies)
• Pet dander
• Dust mites
• Mold spores

Can indoor allergies cause eye pain year-round? Yes, allergens like dust mites, pet dander, and mold spores can be present in indoor environments throughout the year, potentially causing persistent eye discomfort for sensitive individuals.

Glaucoma: When Eye Pain Signals a Serious Condition

While many causes of eye socket pain are benign, some can indicate more serious conditions, such as angle-closure glaucoma. This form of glaucoma occurs when the iris bulges forward, blocking the drainage angle of the eye and causing a rapid increase in intraocular pressure.

Recognizing the Signs of Angle-Closure Glaucoma

• Sudden, severe eye pain
• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Blurred vision
• Halos around lights

Is angle-closure glaucoma a medical emergency? Absolutely. Acute angle-closure glaucoma is considered an ophthalmic emergency and requires immediate medical attention to prevent permanent vision loss.

Digital Eye Strain: The Modern Epidemic

In our increasingly digital world, eye strain has become a prevalent issue. Prolonged use of digital devices can lead to a condition known as digital eye strain or computer vision syndrome, which may manifest as pain around the eyes, particularly in the morning.

Factors Contributing to Digital Eye Strain

• Extended screen time
• Poor ergonomics
• Inadequate lighting
• Uncorrected vision problems

How long does it take for digital eye strain to develop? Symptoms of digital eye strain can begin to appear after as little as two hours of continuous screen use. However, the severity and onset of symptoms can vary depending on individual factors and working conditions.

Treatment Strategies for Eye Socket Pain

The appropriate treatment for eye socket pain depends largely on the underlying cause. Here are some general and specific treatment approaches:

General Treatment Approaches

• Artificial tears for lubrication
• Warm compresses for soothing relief
• Over-the-counter pain relievers
• Proper hydration and nutrition

Condition-Specific Treatments

For allergies:

• Antihistamine eye drops
• Oral antihistamines
• Allergen avoidance strategies

For bacterial infections:

• Antibiotic eye drops (e.g., sulfacetamide, gentamicin)
• Oral antibiotics in severe cases

For viral conjunctivitis:

• Supportive care (cool compresses, artificial tears)
• Antiviral medications in specific cases

For blepharitis:

• Eyelid hygiene routines
• Warm compresses and gentle massage
• Topical antibiotics in some cases

How often should warm compresses be applied for blepharitis? For best results, apply warm compresses to the affected eyes for 5-10 minutes, 3-4 times daily. Consistency is key in managing blepharitis symptoms.

Advanced Treatments for Severe Conditions

For angle-closure glaucoma:

• Immediate medical intervention
• Laser iridotomy
• Medications to reduce intraocular pressure

For recurrent epithelial erosion:

• Lubricating ointments
• Bandage contact lenses
• Anterior stromal puncture or phototherapeutic keratectomy in persistent cases

Preventive Measures and Lifestyle Adjustments

While not all causes of eye socket pain are preventable, many can be mitigated through lifestyle adjustments and preventive measures:

Digital Eye Strain Prevention

• Follow the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds
• Adjust screen positioning (slightly below eye level)
• Use proper lighting to reduce glare
• Consider blue light filtering glasses

General Eye Health Practices

• Maintain good hygiene, especially when handling contact lenses
• Wear sunglasses to protect against UV rays and airborne particles
• Stay hydrated to support tear production
• Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke
• Eat a balanced diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins A, C, and E

Can dietary changes really impact eye health? Absolutely. A diet rich in antioxidants and essential fatty acids can support overall eye health, potentially reducing the risk of certain eye conditions and supporting tear production.

Allergy Management

• Use air purifiers to reduce indoor allergens
• Keep windows closed during high pollen days
• Wash bedding regularly in hot water
• Consider allergy shots for severe, persistent allergies

When to Seek Medical Attention

While many causes of eye socket pain can be managed at home, certain symptoms warrant immediate medical attention:

• Sudden, severe eye pain
• Significant changes in vision
• Eye pain accompanied by fever or severe headache
• Persistent pain that doesn’t improve with home remedies
• Eye pain following trauma or chemical exposure

How quickly should you seek medical care for sudden, severe eye pain? In cases of sudden, severe eye pain, especially if accompanied by vision changes or nausea, seek emergency medical care immediately. These symptoms could indicate acute angle-closure glaucoma or other serious conditions that require prompt treatment to prevent vision loss.

What to Expect During an Eye Exam

When consulting an eye care professional for eye socket pain, you can expect:

1. A comprehensive medical history
2. Visual acuity tests
3. Examination of the eye’s external structures
4. Slit-lamp examination to assess the eye’s internal structures
5. Intraocular pressure measurement
6. Additional tests as needed (e.g., corneal staining, imaging studies)

Eye socket pain can range from a minor annoyance to a sign of a serious condition. By understanding the potential causes, implementing preventive measures, and knowing when to seek professional help, you can protect your eye health and overall well-being. Remember, your eyes are precious – don’t hesitate to consult an eye care professional if you have concerns about persistent or severe eye pain.

Why Do My Eyes Hurt When I Wake Up? Causes and Treatment

Your eyes might be itchy and watery when you wake up. It can be an inconvenience if you need to get up for an early meeting or leave for work early in the morning. Getting up with pain in your eyes means your body has sent you a warning through the trigeminal nerve, which is a nerve connecting the brain to the face.

Causes

If your eyes itch every day when you wake up, the likely culprit is that they dried up during the night. Another reason is that you may have gotten a foreign object in your eye while you slept. Here are the chief reasons why your eyes hurt when you wake up from sleeping.

Dry Eyes

People over the age of 50 are more likely to experience dry eyes. Women are more likely to experience a lack of tears, especially if they are pregnant. Birth control medications and menopause also cause dry eyes. Other causes of dry eyes include:

• Poor tear quality 
• Inability to close eyes completely while sleeping (nocturnal lagophthalmos)
• Inadequate tears

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)

Pink eye is when your eyelids and eyeball membrane develop an infection that causes pain and a reddish appearance. There are many types of pink eye, depending on the causes:

• Chlamydial conjunctivitis
• Allergic conjunctivitis
• Bacterial conjunctivitis (non-gonococcal)
• Gonococcal conjunctivitis
• Viral conjunctivitis

Injury

A foreign item in your eye is always bothersome. At times, it’s painful. 

Any foreign object, like dust or stray eyelash, might cause harm. You may experience discomfort in the morning if something enters your eye while you sleep.

Blepharitis (Eyelids Inflammation)

It is usually a sign of bacterial or yeast infection, accompanied by a feeling that there is a small stone in your eye. There is also irritation of the eyes and swelling of the eyelids. The bacteria staphylococcus may cause blepharitis.

Recurrent Epithelial Erosion

An injury may cause a blister to form, which you tear open when opening your eyes in the morning. It can occur years after the injury, so it is a potentially recurring condition.

Allergies

Allergies can cause redness, swelling and itching, contributing to morning pain around the eyes. It does not matter what kind of allergies you are dealing with to have an issue with your eyes. It can be environmentally seasonal, such as during a time of high pollen count, or it can be a regular allergy to pet dander, dust or mold.

Angle Closure Glaucoma

Angle closure glaucoma causes your iris to bulge, with the severe version causing nausea, severe headache, and blurred vision. Handle acute angle closure glaucoma as an emergency, that warrants immediate treatment.

Eyestrain

Activities that strain your eyes for long periods will hurt your eyes in the morning. Example of them include looking at a smartphone, a TV, a computer monitor or even exposure to direct sunlight without sunglasses.

Treatment

Treatment of eye strain depends on the cause. So cause by cause, here are ways to treat painful eyes:

• Allergies: Get rid of or stay away from the object causing the allergies. In the short term, buying oral drugs that cure allergies at the local drug store may assist. Eye drops are adequate, although they take about two weeks. Antihistamines should help.
• Caused by bacteria: Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics, which are drugs that fight bacterial infection. Sulfacetamide or gentamicin are inexpensive and suitable antibiotics.
• Caused by virus: Maintain good hygiene, like washing your hands with soap and water. You should also stay off work for about two weeks to prevent spreading the virus to others.
• Blepharitis (eyelids inflammation): You can massage the eyelids and clean the eyes using diluted baby shampoo. Dipping a cloth in warm water and massaging the eye also helps.
• Eyestrain: Take breaks to rest your eyes whenever you are staring at a bright screen or place for an extended period.
• Angle closure: its severe form warrants topical steroid initially and laser or incisional surgical therapy.

Prevention

Avoid things that may cause a painful eye, such as:

• When working using a computer, take breaks to rest your eyes.
• Lower the computer screen below the eye level.
• Avoid smoking and stay away from smoke.
• Wear sunglasses in bright areas
• Avoid looking directly at a welding session

When to See a Doctor

It’s time to get to your doctor for a second opinion if you notice no improvement in your vision and with your level of pain — or if your eye is more painful. Also seek medical advice if you have blurred vision.

References

1. Menopause and dry eye. A possible relationship. (July 2009). Gynecological Endocrinology.

2. Conjunctivitis. (September 2015). Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice.

3. Diagnosis and management of blepharitis: An optometrist’s perspective. (August 2016). Clinical Optometry.

4. A review of the causes and treatment of bacterial and allergic conjunctivitis. (October 1995). Clinical Therapeutics.

5. Blepharitis treatment. (Retrieved May 2022). Stanford Healthcare.

Note: This page should not serve as a substitute for professional medical advice from a doctor or specialist. Please review our about page for more information.

Why Does Your Eye Hurt When You Blink? (And What to Do)

Why Does My Eye Hurt When I Blink?

Many different issues can cause your eye to hurt when you blink. Sometimes the pain clears on its own and there’s nothing to worry about. But there are times when painful blinking is a sign of something serious.

How do you know what’s causing eye pain when blinking?

Common Causes of Eye Pain

Some common causes of eye pain when you blink include:

• Allergic conjunctivitis
• Astigmatism
• Blepharitis
• Headaches
• Corneal ulcer or scratches
• Dry eyes
• Debris or irritants
• Iritis
• Pink eye
• Problems with contact lenses
• Optic neuritis
• Stye
• Chalazion
• Trauma to the face
• Vision changes
• Watery eyes

More Serious Causes of Eye Pain 

Sometimes more serious issues cause eye pain. For example:

• Glaucoma
• Bacterial infection
• Eye injury
• Burns

If you are concerned about eye pain, even if it doesn’t seem to be serious, it’s best to contact an eye doctor. 

How Can I Relieve Eye Pain At Home?

If eye pain is not serious and it’s your only symptom, it might be possible to resolve the issue at home. Sometimes better eye care is all that is needed — wearing sunglasses, updating a prescription, or getting more sleep. 

Other at-home remedies for eye pain include:

• Warm compresses
• Over-the-counter (OTC) medication
• Artificial tears eye drops
• Running a humidifier to reduce dry eyes
• Avoid exposure to pollutants
• Update your prescription
• Upgrade your sunglasses and make sure you wear them any time you are outside
• Adjust the lighting in your home
• Reduce your screen time
• Wear blue light glasses
• Wash eyelids with no-tears shampoo 

When Should I Worry About Eye Pain When Blinking?

You should contact your doctor if symptoms last 48 hours or if the condition worsens within that time. It’s also important to seek medical attention if you experience blinking pain in addition to other symptoms, including:

• Pain with eye movement
• Pressure
• Inflammation or swelling in the eyelid or along the lash line
• Pain or sensitivity to light
• Facial tenderness, especially around your sinuses
• Fever

Sometimes eye pain is a sign of a medical emergency. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience pain while blinking, along with:

• Impaired or blurry vision
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Halos around lights
• Difficulty closing your eyes
• Severe pain when you touch your eye

Risks & Complications of Eye Pain When Blinking

Eye pain when blinking is usually not serious. However, there is a risk of losing sight or having sight affected depending on the cause of the pain. 

Diagnosing & Treating Eye Pain

Doctors check the surface of the eye first and then look deeper when a patient reports pain when blinking. Sometimes it’s easy to diagnose the cause of the pain. For example, if it’s caused by a foreign object, a doctor sees the object and removes it. But if there is a deeper underlying cause, it can take time to find the cause and determine the most appropriate treatment.

Treatment options for pain when blinking varies based on the cause. Common causes and treatments include:

• Conjunctivitis (medicated drops or ointment)
• Corneal abrasion (eye drops and pain medication)
• Chemical burns (anesthetic eye drops and water flush to rebalance the eye’s pH level)
• Blepharitis (at-home washing of the eye with no-tears shampoo)
• Styes and chalazion (warm compresses and antibiotic ointment)
• Glaucoma (varies based on severity, ranging from glaucoma eye drops to oral medications to surgery)
• Iritis (eye drops, steroids, anti-inflammatory agents)
• Optic neuritis (varies based on the underlying cause)
• Sinusitis (oral antibiotics)
• Headaches (OTC and prescription medications)
• Injuries (varies based on the specific injury)

Common Questions and Answers

Can eye pain be caused by a lack of sleep?

Yes, especially if you have sleep problems over an extended period. Pain is usually accompanied by redness, swelling, and dryness. If you’re thinking “my eyelid hurts when I blink,” try going to bed earlier or implementing other strategies to help you sleep better.

Does stress cause eye pain?

Yes. Stress causes headaches, which leads to eye pain. Some people experience blurriness, dizziness, or pain in their eyes when stressed, but this isn’t common. In most cases, pain in the eyes caused by stress is indirectly linked and due to stress headaches.

Which eye drop is best for eye pain?

The best eye drop for eye pain varies based on the cause of the pain. If you are experiencing eye pain due to dryness or general irritation or if it hurts to blink, an OTC substitute tears drop is sufficient. But if your eye pain is linked to an infection or something more serious, you’ll likely need to visit your doctor for the most appropriate drops. Some conditions also require anti-inflammatory eye drops or anesthetic eye drops.

What causes sudden eye pain?

In many cases, the sudden onset of eye pain is due to sinusitis. Sinusitis is a reaction in the sinuses linked to allergies or a bacterial or viral infection. Migraines and cluster headaches are also a common cause of sudden eye pain.

Why do my eyes hurt in the sun?

If you’ve noticed your eyes hurt when you’re outside in the sun, you aren’t imagining it. When you transition from a dim environment into bright sunlight, your pupils must go from dilated to constricted. You may feel discomfort initially while your eyes adjust to the light. 

If you experience increased sensitivity to sunlight and the discomfort does not go away after allowing your eyes to adjust, there could be an underlying condition. These conditions include dry eye, uveitis, corneal abrasions, and migraines, among others.

How do you know if eye pain is serious?

It’s important to recognize when eye pain could be serious. Knowing when to seek medical attention helps protect your vision and avoid further complications. You should take eye pain seriously if you experience other symptoms in addition to pain. This is especially true when the symptoms include seeing “floaters,” losing vision or experiencing vision changes, or feeling pain in response to an injury or a recent eye surgery.

What does it mean if your eye hurts when you look up?

If the pain in your eye occurs or is more severe when looking up, it’s likely caused by sinusitis or inflammation. In some cases, your doctor will order an MRI to determine if the pain is linked to a problem with your orbit or optic neuritis. Sometimes pain in the eyes when looking up is accompanied by blurred vision or tingling sensations elsewhere in your body.

Is eye pain a sign of stroke?

In most cases, the pain will not precede or accompany an eye stroke. Most people who experience eye stroke notice a loss of vision, a dark area or shadow in their vision, and light sensitivity, typically without pain.

In this article

Kelly Brown is a content writer for Vision Center. Her goal is to share important information so people can make the best decisions about their vision health. From choosing the best eye doctor to managing health issues that affect vision, she hopes to share what she learns through informative content.

Melody Huang is an optometrist and freelance health writer. Through her writing, Dr. Huang enjoys educating patients on how to lead healthier and happier lives. She also has an interest in Eastern medicine practices and learning about integrative medicine. When she’s not working, Dr. Huang loves reviewing new skin care products, trying interesting food recipes, or hanging with her adopted cats.

Pressing pain in the eyes – causes and consequences

Pressing pain in the eyes – sensations that can drive you crazy. It seems as if pood weights were put on the eyelids, and any movement of the eyes responds with pain. These symptoms should not be ignored. They can be harbingers of the development of serious eye diseases.

Why it presses on the eyes

In most cases, pressing pains on the eyeballs are a reflection of deeper causes, a number of diseases. Pressure on the eyes is only a consequence of pathological processes in the body. That is, we can feel pain in the eyes, but in fact it is localized in a completely different place, for example, in the head.

Causes of pressure pain in the eyes

• Headaches

Pain in the head, migraine is almost the most common cause of pressure on the eyes. Migraine is felt as an interval throbbing pain in the temples, neck. Such sensations are often reflected in the eyes. Other common migraine symptoms are nausea, dizziness, and photophobia.

As a rule, a migraine is not a one-time situation. A person suffering from this type of headache experiences these unpleasant sensations regularly. Moreover, different reasons can cause a migraine: very loud sounds, too bright light, stress, overwork, an unpleasant smell.

• High blood pressure

Some people, especially older people, suffer from high blood pressure. This process often triggers pain in the eyes. This is often accompanied by pain in the head, dizziness.

• Infections in the nose

Infections in the sinuses can cause pressure pain in the eyes. We are talking about the well-known disease of sinusitis, from which a large number of people suffer. To get rid of pressure on the eyeballs, in this case, you need to cure the infection that affected the sinuses.

Eye diseases that can cause pain in the eyes

• Glaucoma

A dangerous disease, which is accompanied by an increase in intraocular pressure, can provoke pressing pains on the eyeballs. Often this symptom is caused by angle-closure glaucoma, the most dangerous form of the disease. Therefore, pain in the eyes should serve as an incentive to immediately consult a doctor to rule out glaucoma.

• Inflammation of the optic nerve

Inflammation of the optic nerve – a condition in which vision deteriorates against the background of the appearance of so-called blind spots in the field of vision. One of the characteristic symptoms of optic neuritis is pressing pain on the eyes. Among other signs of neuritis, nausea, decreased visual acuity, redness of the eyes, and lacrimation are distinguished.

• Dry eye syndrome

Dry eye syndrome is a violation of the production of tear fluid, which moisturizes the surface of the cornea. A person feels constant dryness in the eye, burning, a desire to constantly rub the eyelids. Dry eye syndrome can cause pressure pain in the eyes.

• Scleritis

Inflammatory disease of the sclera (scleritis) is a pathological process that affects the outer shell of the eyeball. One of the most striking symptoms of scleritis is pain in the eyes. Scleritis is caused by autoimmune disorders.

• Eye infections

Eye infections can also cause pain – conjunctivitis, keratitis, blepharitis and other pathologies. The feeling of pressure on the eyeballs in this case may be due to the fact that the infection affects the optic nerve as well as the eye muscles.

When to see an ophthalmologist

See an ophthalmologist at the first sign of pressure on the eyes. It is important to take this type of pain seriously. Pressing pain can be caused by the most dangerous condition – an acute attack of glaucoma. In this case, you can not hesitate – without prompt medical assistance, an acute attack of glaucoma can lead to blindness.

Treatment

Elimination of pressing pain on the eyes is possible only if the cause that caused this pain is identified. It is necessary to consult an ophthalmologist, to make a diagnosis of vision in order to exclude eye pathologies, disturbances in the functioning of the visual system. In the absence of such disorders, the ophthalmologist may refer the patient to other specialists to further search for the cause of the pain.

Diagnostics of vision includes measurement of visual acuity, assessment of the risk of developing glaucoma, examination of the cornea, lens, vitreous body, measurement of intraocular pressure. This is not a complete list of possible diagnostic procedures. The list of necessary examinations is prescribed by an ophthalmologist after an initial consultation with the patient.

Prevention

Prevention of eye pain includes regular examination by an ophthalmologist, giving up bad habits (alcohol, smoking). It is important to avoid triggers that can cause such pain – noise, bright blinding light, strong odors, stress. Try to include in the diet healthy foods, vitamins, elements that are useful for vision. Walk more, try to experience as many positive emotions as possible.

When it presses on the eyes, it is important to understand that this can be a sign not only of eye diseases, but also of other problems in the body. Therefore, in some cases, you have to contact several specialists to make an accurate diagnosis.

Pain in the corners of the eyes (external and at the bridge of the nose)

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This condition refers to a symptom that is manifested by unpleasant or painful sensations in the outer corner of the eye or internal. At the same time, the pain can be either permanent or intermittent.

Actually, pain in the corners of the eyes is only one of the manifestations of a whole symptom complex of many diseases of the organ of vision and is often accompanied by:

• Itching and redness of the skin of the eyelids.
• Redness of the eyes.
• Lachrymation.
• Discharge from the eyes.

Causes of pain in the corners of the eyes

Pain in the corners of the eyes can be caused by a number of conditions and diseases, including:

• Canaliculitis. This is an inflammation of the tear ducts located in the inner corner of the eye. Inflammation of the tear duct can occur when infectious agents penetrate, both directly into the eye and into the nasal cavity. During a vacation, pain in the corner of the eye is accompanied by swelling and redness of the upper or lower eyelids, purulent discharge, lacrimation from the eyes. In the treatment of this disease, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs are used in drops.
• Obstruction of the lacrimal ducts. The obstruction may be partial or complete and accompanied, in addition to pain, by active lacrimation and severe discomfort in the area of ​​the inner corner of the eyes. The cause of this condition is usually trauma and tumors of the tear ducts. Treatment for a blocked tear duct is usually surgery to repair the tear duct.
• Dacryocystitis. The disease is an inflammation of the lacrimal sac, and therefore there is pain in the inner corner of the eye. At the same time, swelling occurs in the same area, and abundant purulent discharge begins to flow from the lacrimal openings. The disease, for the most part, is treated with conservative methods, but in difficult cases and when the process becomes chronic, an operation is prescribed.
• Blepharitis. This is an inflammation of the skin of the eyelids, which at the initial stage can cause discomfort in the outer and inner corners of the eyes, accompanied by pain and itching.
• Angular conjunctivitis. It is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye of an infectious nature, caused by the Morax-Axenfeld bacterium. The disease occurs with damage to the skin of the eyelids in the corners of the eyes and is accompanied by a characteristic clinical picture, when the corners of the eyes begin to hurt, turn red, the skin becomes covered with small cracks. Moreover, when blinking, the pain increases significantly.
• Ocular herpes. The onset of herpetic infection of the eyes is very often accompanied by discomfort in the outer corner of the eye, which only intensifies with the development of the disease. With an increase in symptoms, eyelid edema, redness of the eyes, photophobia, and pain develop.
• Ingrown hair (eyelashes). Often, the cause of discomfort in the inner corner of the eye is the wrong growth of ciliary hair. Ingrown hairs can cause redness, itching, and mild pain. With this problem, you will definitely have to contact a specialist, since it is impossible to see an ingrown hair with the naked eye.

• Allergic conjunctivitis. The disease is accompanied not only by pain and itching in the corners of the eyes. Its distinctive feature is: lacrimation, nasal congestion, allergic rhinitis. Treatment is prescribed by a specialist and is carried out using antihistamines of local and systemic action.
• Incorrectly fitted glasses. A fairly rare problem, when pain in the inner corners of the eyes occurs due to incorrectly exposed nose pads in the frame of glasses. It is solved simply – by going to the workshop for ordering glasses.
• Computer vision syndrome. A serious problem caused by prolonged eye strain when working at a computer. In the future, pain in the eyes and uncomfortable visual sensations accompany people not only when working at the monitor, but also on the screen of a tablet or smartphone. The severity of such symptoms, while directly depends on the duration spent behind the screen time. In most cases, the problem of drug treatment does not require and goes away on its own after a night’s sleep.

Treatment

Elimination of pain in the corners of the eyes is possible only after finding out the cause of it. Only a specialist in the process of diagnostic examination of the organ of vision can help with this. To alleviate discomfort, you can independently apply moisturizing drops and cold compresses to the eye area.

However, it must be remembered that it is not worth delaying a visit to the doctor, and pain in the eyes, accompanied by a decrease in visual acuity, redness of the eyes and photophobia, requires immediate treatment.

In the medical center “Moscow Eye Clinic” everyone can be examined using the most modern diagnostic equipment, and, based on the results, get advice from a highly qualified specialist. The clinic consults children from 4 years old. We are open seven days a week and work daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Our specialists will help identify the cause of vision loss and carry out competent treatment of the identified pathologies.