What can i take for eye pain. 7 Effective Solutions for Eye Pain Relief: Expert Tips and Home Remedies
What causes eye pain and how can it be alleviated. Which home remedies are most effective for eye discomfort. When should you seek medical attention for eye pain. How can you prevent eye strain and related discomfort.
Understanding the Root Causes of Eye Pain
Eye pain can stem from various sources, ranging from minor irritations to more serious conditions. Common causes include:
- Foreign objects in the eye
- Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
- Contact lens irritation
- Dry eye syndrome
- Eye strain from digital devices
- Incorrect eyewear prescription
- Infections or inflammations
Identifying the underlying cause is crucial for effective treatment. While many cases of eye pain can be managed at home, persistent or severe pain, especially when accompanied by vision changes, warrants immediate medical attention.
The Role of Lighting in Eye Comfort
Proper lighting plays a significant role in eye comfort and can help alleviate pain. How does lighting affect eye strain? The amount and quality of light can impact how hard your eyes work to focus, potentially leading to discomfort if not optimized.
For screen-based activities, reducing ambient light can help minimize glare and reduce eye strain. Conversely, when reading or performing detailed tasks, increasing task-specific lighting can improve visibility and reduce eye fatigue. Experiment with different lighting configurations to find what works best for your eyes and the task at hand.
Tips for Optimal Lighting:
- Use adjustable desk lamps for focused task lighting
- Opt for indirect lighting to reduce glare on screens
- Consider using blue light filters on digital devices
- Ensure even lighting distribution in your workspace
The Importance of Regular Breaks for Eye Health
Taking regular breaks is crucial for maintaining eye health, especially when engaging in prolonged visual tasks. Why are breaks so important for your eyes? They allow your eye muscles to relax and reduce the risk of eye strain and associated pain.
Implement the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This simple practice can significantly reduce eye fatigue and discomfort. Additionally, incorporating short walks or stretches during these breaks can improve overall circulation, benefiting your eyes and entire body.
Effective Break Strategies:
- Set reminders to take regular breaks
- Practice eye exercises during breaks
- Adjust your focus to different distances
- Blink consciously to keep eyes lubricated
Mitigating the Impact of Screen Time on Eye Health
In our digital age, excessive screen time has become a leading cause of eye discomfort. How does prolonged screen use affect your eyes? It can lead to digital eye strain, characterized by dry eyes, blurred vision, and headaches.
To reduce the negative impact of screen time, consider implementing the following strategies:
- Adjust screen brightness and contrast for comfortable viewing
- Position screens at arm’s length and slightly below eye level
- Use anti-glare screens or glasses designed for computer use
- Increase text size to reduce eye strain
- Take regular breaks using the 20-20-20 rule
Additionally, be mindful of your blinking habits while using digital devices. We tend to blink less frequently when focused on screens, which can lead to dry eyes. Make a conscious effort to blink regularly to keep your eyes lubricated and comfortable.
Harnessing the Power of Artificial Tears for Eye Relief
Artificial tears can be a game-changer for those experiencing eye discomfort. How do artificial tears work to alleviate eye pain? These over-the-counter eye drops supplement your natural tear production, helping to lubricate the eye surface and wash away irritants.
When choosing artificial tears, consider the following factors:
- Preservative-free options for frequent use
- Gel or ointment formulations for overnight relief
- Specific formulations for conditions like dry eye syndrome
- Compatibility with contact lenses, if applicable
While artificial tears are generally safe, it’s advisable to consult with an eye care professional if you find yourself using them frequently. They can help determine if there’s an underlying condition causing your eye discomfort and recommend the most appropriate treatment.
Proper Application of Artificial Tears:
- Wash your hands thoroughly
- Tilt your head back slightly
- Gently pull down your lower eyelid
- Apply the recommended number of drops
- Close your eyes for a few moments to distribute the drops
The Crucial Role of Appropriate Eyewear in Preventing Eye Pain
Wearing the correct eyewear is essential for maintaining eye comfort and preventing pain. How can improper eyewear lead to eye discomfort? Incorrect prescriptions or ill-fitting frames can cause eye strain, headaches, and even balance issues.
Regular eye exams are crucial to ensure your prescription remains up-to-date. Additionally, consider these factors when selecting eyewear:
- Proper fit to avoid pressure points
- Anti-reflective coatings to reduce glare
- UV protection for outdoor use
- Blue light filtering for digital device users
- Task-specific eyewear (e.g., computer glasses, sports goggles)
If you wear contact lenses, proper care and hygiene are paramount. Follow your eye care professional’s recommendations for wear time, cleaning, and replacement to minimize the risk of irritation and infection.
Leveraging Hot and Cold Compresses for Eye Pain Relief
Hot and cold compresses can be effective home remedies for various types of eye pain. When should you use a warm compress versus a cold one? The choice depends on the underlying cause of your eye discomfort.
Warm Compresses:
Warm compresses are beneficial for:
- Relieving pain from styes or chalazia
- Improving oil gland function in cases of dry eye
- Reducing discomfort from blepharitis
- Alleviating pain from eye strain
To use a warm compress, soak a clean cloth in warm (not hot) water, wring out excess water, and apply gently to closed eyelids for 10-15 minutes. Repeat 3-4 times daily as needed.
Cold Compresses:
Cold compresses are useful for:
- Reducing inflammation from allergies or conjunctivitis
- Alleviating pain from minor eye injuries
- Soothing discomfort from eyestrain headaches
- Minimizing swelling around the eyes
To use a cold compress, wrap ice or a cold pack in a clean cloth and apply gently to the affected area for 10-15 minutes at a time. Never apply ice directly to the skin or eyes.
When to Seek Professional Medical Attention for Eye Pain
While many cases of eye pain can be managed at home, certain situations require prompt medical attention. When should you consult an eye care professional? Consider seeking immediate care if you experience:
- Sudden or severe eye pain
- Eye pain accompanied by vision changes
- Pain that persists despite home remedies
- Signs of infection (redness, discharge, fever)
- Eye pain following trauma or chemical exposure
- Severe light sensitivity
- Pain with eye movement
These symptoms could indicate more serious conditions that require professional diagnosis and treatment. Don’t hesitate to contact your ophthalmologist or seek emergency care if you’re concerned about your eye health.
Preventive Measures to Maintain Optimal Eye Health
Prevention is key when it comes to eye health and avoiding pain. How can you proactively protect your eyes? Incorporate these habits into your daily routine:
- Practice good hygiene, including regular hand washing
- Wear protective eyewear during high-risk activities
- Maintain a balanced diet rich in eye-healthy nutrients
- Stay hydrated to support tear production
- Get regular eye exams, even if you don’t wear corrective lenses
- Protect your eyes from UV radiation with sunglasses
- Quit smoking or avoid secondhand smoke
- Manage chronic conditions that can affect eye health (e.g., diabetes, hypertension)
By prioritizing eye health and addressing discomfort promptly, you can maintain clear vision and comfortable eyes throughout your life. Remember, your eyes are invaluable assets that deserve careful attention and protection.
Understanding the Connection Between Overall Health and Eye Comfort
Your eye health is intricately linked to your overall well-being. How does general health impact eye comfort? Various systemic conditions and lifestyle factors can contribute to or exacerbate eye pain and discomfort.
Health Conditions Affecting Eye Comfort:
- Diabetes: Can lead to diabetic retinopathy and increased risk of dry eyes
- Hypertension: May cause damage to retinal blood vessels
- Autoimmune disorders: Often associated with dry eye syndrome
- Thyroid dysfunction: Can affect tear production and eye muscle function
- Migraines: Often accompanied by eye pain and visual disturbances
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can significantly impact your eye comfort. Consider these factors:
- Balanced nutrition: Consume foods rich in vitamins A, C, E, and omega-3 fatty acids
- Adequate hydration: Supports tear production and overall eye health
- Regular exercise: Improves circulation, benefiting eye health
- Stress management: Chronic stress can contribute to eye strain and tension headaches
- Sufficient sleep: Allows eyes to rest and recover from daily strain
By addressing your overall health, you’re taking proactive steps to protect your eye comfort and vision.
Exploring Advanced Treatment Options for Chronic Eye Pain
For persistent or severe eye pain that doesn’t respond to home remedies, advanced treatment options may be necessary. What professional treatments are available for chronic eye pain? Depending on the underlying cause, your eye care professional might recommend:
- Prescription eye drops or ointments
- Oral medications for specific conditions
- In-office procedures (e.g., punctal plugs for dry eye)
- Advanced imaging techniques for diagnosis
- Specialized contact lenses for certain corneal conditions
- Surgical interventions for structural issues
It’s crucial to work closely with your eye care professional to determine the most appropriate treatment plan for your specific situation. They may also collaborate with other specialists to address any underlying systemic conditions contributing to your eye discomfort.
Emerging Therapies in Eye Care:
The field of ophthalmology is constantly evolving, with new treatments emerging for various eye conditions. Some promising areas include:
- Gene therapy for inherited retinal diseases
- Stem cell treatments for corneal regeneration
- Advanced drug delivery systems for sustained release of medications
- Artificial intelligence in diagnosing and monitoring eye conditions
- Neurostimulation techniques for certain types of eye pain
While many of these treatments are still in research phases, they offer hope for improved management of chronic eye conditions and associated pain in the future.
The Impact of Environmental Factors on Eye Health
Your environment plays a significant role in eye comfort and health. How do external factors contribute to eye pain? Various environmental elements can irritate or damage your eyes, leading to discomfort or more serious issues.
Key Environmental Considerations:
- Air quality: Pollutants and allergens can irritate eyes
- Humidity levels: Low humidity can exacerbate dry eye symptoms
- UV radiation: Excessive sun exposure can damage eye tissues
- Wind and dust: Can cause irritation and introduce foreign particles
- Indoor lighting: Improper lighting can lead to eye strain
To protect your eyes from environmental stressors, consider these strategies:
- Use air purifiers in indoor spaces to reduce airborne irritants
- Employ humidifiers in dry environments to support eye moisture
- Wear wraparound sunglasses to shield eyes from UV rays and wind
- Use protective eyewear in dusty or hazardous environments
- Optimize indoor lighting to reduce glare and eye strain
By being mindful of your environment and taking appropriate precautions, you can significantly reduce the risk of eye discomfort and maintain better overall eye health.
7 Things To Try If You’re Experiencing Eye Pain
Posted by: Eye Health Northwest in General Eye Health on June 30, 2020
Do your eyes hurt more often than not? Are you trying to figure out how to treat them?
No one likes experiencing pain, especially eye pain. Your eyes can be sensitive, so it can be difficult to know how to treat pain when it occurs.
Eye pain is a pretty common feeling to experience. There are many different causes and treatments.
Treatments can range from lifestyle changes to medical treatments. Here are 7 things to try if you’re experiencing eye pain.
1. Change the Light
Depending on the activity, sometimes increasing or reducing the amount of light will help. For example, if you are watching TV, decreasing the amount of light might help you feel better.
If you are reading or doing a detail-oriented task, adjusting or increasing the light can help. If you focus the light on the page, you should be able to see clearly and not feel pain or strain.
2. Take Breaks
If you notice that your eyes hurt while reading or looking at a screen for long periods of time, try taking a break. This way you can periodically rest your eyes. Sometimes eye pain can merely be due to eye strain.
3. Reduce Screen Time
Sometimes our eyes can hurt from looking at screens. The pain can be from dry eyes and not blinking enough. If you don’t blink, your eyes will start to dry out.
This can lead to annoying symptoms of dry eye syndrome. When you are using digital devices, practice the 20/20/20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look away for 20 seconds at something 20 feet away. Make sure what you’re looking at is not a screen, as that will defeat the purpose!
4. Try Artificial Tears
If your eyes hurt, you may want to try using artificial tears or eye drops. Over the counter artificial tears are a great option. Ask your doctor which brand or type they recommend.
Depending on what the cause of your eye pain is, your eye doctor may have recommendations for a brand that treats pain.
5. Make Sure You Have the Right Eyewear
You may experience eye pain if you aren’t wearing the right eyewear. You need to make sure you have the right prescription for your contacts and eyeglasses. Having the wrong prescription can cause eye pain.
6. Apply a Warm Compress
For certain causes of eye pain, a warm compress can help. For example, if you have a stye, a warm compress a few times a day can reduce any pain and help the stye drain. Do not try to pop it yourself, as that can make the infection worse.
7. Apply a Cold Compress
If you have eye pain from conjunctivitis, try applying a cold compress. It should help you feel less pain or discomfort.
If these home remedies do not work, you need to talk with your doctor about other options. Some other options could be prescription eye drops, medication, or surgery.
For some of the causes of eye pain, surgery is an option for treating it. Figuring out the best course of treatment with your doctor is important for maintaining good eye health.
Do you need help treating your eye pain? Schedule an appointment at EyeHealth Northwest in Happy Valley, OR now!
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.
Eyes hurt: why, what to do? Pain in the eyes and head, causes. How to treat?
Eyes hurt, what is the reason and what to do?
To understand why the eyes hurt, you need to understand that the eyes hurt in diseases associated with pathological changes in both the eyes themselves and in general diseases of the body.
To differentiate the cause of soreness of the eyes, it is necessary to pay attention to the accompanying symptoms. So, for example, the eyes and the head often hurt at the same time, the eyes hurt against the background of high blood pressure, and often the pain in the eyes can be combined with redness of the eyes.
These and other accompanying symptoms of sore eyes will help to make the correct diagnosis, choose the direction of treatment and answer the question: what to do?
Let’s try to figure out why your eyes hurt and what to do?
Pain in the eyes is a characteristic symptom of many eye diseases.
A. Causes of eye pain when the eyes themselves are diseased:
1. Keratitis – inflammation of the cornea
2. Uveitis – inflammation of the choroid
3. Glaucoma
4. Conjunctivitis
5. Eye injury
6. Foreign body of conjunctiva or cornea
7. Wrong glasses
8. Incorrectly fitted contact lenses
9. Uncorrected vision in presbyopia
10. Eyes hurt after welding
B. Causes of eye pain due to general diseases of the body:
1. Viral infection
2. Violation of blood pressure
3. Migraine
4. Increased intracranial pressure (ICP)
A. Causes of pain in the eyes in diseases of the eyes themselves:
1. Keratitis , or inflammation of the cornea, is always accompanied by pain in the eyes. In addition to pain in the eyes, keratitis is absolutely always accompanied by additional symptoms. The so-called “corneal syndrome” is characterized by the presence of lacrimation, redness of the pericorneal zone (around the cornea), blepharospasm (eyelid spasm) and, of course, pain in the eyes. Eyes hurt with keratitis very much.
Treatment: treatment is carried out only in the conditions of a specialized ophthalmological institution. It is impossible to cure keratitis on your own at home without consequences for vision. Local and general anti-inflammatory treatment is necessary in the form of parabulbar injections of antibiotics and, if necessary, corticosteroid drugs, application of anti-inflammatory ointment and drugs that improve corneal regeneration over the eyelids. If there are signs of keratitis, you should immediately consult a doctor.
2. Uveitis , or inflammation of the inner choroid of the eye. The choroid of the eye has three sections, each of which can become inflamed separately or there may be a combined inflammation, which is called panuveitis. Inflammation of the iris, or iritis, inflammation of the middle part of the choroid, or iridocyclitis. always accompanied by very severe pain in the eyes. The pain is so severe that it is impossible to touch the eye.
Concomitant symptoms include pericorneal injection, iris color change and pattern clarity. Interestingly, inflammation of the third part of the iris – the choroid – is never accompanied by the presence of pain in the eyes, and choreoiditis at the initial stage is often asymptomatic. This is due to the lack of sensitive fibers of the nervous tissue in the choroid.
Treatment: Uveitis should only be treated in a specialized ophthalmological department and, as a rule, this disease requires treatment in an eye hospital. At home, it is impossible to cure uveitis without damage to vision.
3. Glaucoma . A common symptom of glaucoma is pain in the eye. The left eye hurts or the right eye hurts, the one on which there is increased intraocular pressure. Often, in addition to pain in the eyes, there is a feeling of pressure. “Crushes in the eyes” – this is how patients characterize their feelings with glaucoma. Another characteristic sign of glaucoma that can help to suspect the disease is pain in half of the head, in the half in which intraocular pressure is increased in the eye. A characteristic symptom of glaucoma is that not the whole head hurts, but exactly half of the head on the side of the diseased eye.
Treatment: Glaucoma can be treated with medication, laser or surgery.
Drops that reduce intraocular pressure, such as Travatan, Timolol, Betoptik, Xalatan, Azopt, Arutimol, Trusopt, are prescribed by a doctor depending on the degree of glaucoma, its stage and the strength of the increase in intraocular pressure. Along with drug treatment, laser treatment is a very promising method for reducing pressure. In the absence of the desired effect of drug and laser treatment, surgical treatment of glaucoma is prescribed. Pain in the eye disappears with a decrease in intraocular pressure to normal numbers. Normally, intraocular pressure should be no more than 26 mm Hg. when measured with a Maklakov tonometer at any age of a person.
4. Conjunctivitis rare, but may also be accompanied by pain in the eyes, more specifically burning sensation and foreign body sensation. A more accurate definition of pain in conjunctivitis: discomfort in the eyes and pain in the eyes. The causes of these sensations are swelling and violation of the integrity of the epithelial layer of the eyelids and the eyeball – the conjunctiva.
Along with pain, there is reddening of the eyes, which is discharged in the conjunctival cavity, with bacterial conjunctivitis, eyelashes stick together in the morning.
Treatment: treatment is carried out depending on the type of pathogen – antiviral or antibacterial. Tobrex, Tobradex, Maxitrol, Vitabact, as a rule, allow you to cope with conjunctivitis and eliminate eye pain. Oftalmoferon will be useful for pain from viral conjunctivitis.
5. Trauma eye , even a microtrauma, causes pain in the eyes.
In case of injury, the epithelium of the cornea or conjunctiva is most often damaged, which leads to irritation of sensitive nerve fibers and, as a result, the eyes hurt. More serious injuries with rupture of the membranes always cause severe pain in the eyes.
Treatment: Drugs that improve tissue regeneration, such as Solcoseryl, Actovegin, Citral. To prevent a secondary infection, it is recommended to use Tobrex, Maxitrol, Albucid 20%, chloramphenicol 0. 25%.
6. Foreign body in the conjunctiva or cornea is the most common cause of eye pain. The cornea is the most sensitive part of the body. Getting hair and even dust particles into the eye causes discomfort and pain in the eye. A foreign body that has entered the conjunctival cavity violates the integrity of the epithelium and has the same consequences as an eye injury. The intensity of pain depends on the volume of the foreign body and its location. So, getting an eyelash into the conjunctival cavity causes moderate pain and a feeling of a foreign body. A foreign body that has entered the cornea causes very severe pain.
Treatment: if the foreign body is visible and easily accessible, you can try to remove it yourself with a cotton swab or rinse the eye with warm water. Then it is necessary to apply the treatment, the same as for an eye injury. If the foreign body cannot be removed on its own, then it is necessary to contact the Eye Trauma Center so that specialized assistance is provided.
The emergency room is open 24/7, so you can contact us anytime, anytime. And the sooner help is provided, the better the prospects for treatment. The address of the eye trauma center in Krasnoyarsk: the city of Krasnoyarsk, st. Nikitina, 1″B”.
7. Incorrectly fitted glasses are also a common cause of eye pain, as if pressure. The main errors in the selection of glasses are incorrectly measured interpupillary distance or diopters of glasses more than they are necessary for the state of refraction. Such errors lead to excessive refractive or oculomotor tension, resulting in headaches or painful sensations in the eyes. Pain when the eyes “as if they are pressing” excludes the inflammatory process of the eye or injury. Such pain is characteristic of improperly selected glasses or general health problems.
Treatment: check the purchased glasses with a competent ophthalmologist. Perform laser vision correction and get rid of the need to use glasses.
8. Incorrectly fitted contact lenses often cause eye pain. Contact lenses require individual selection, since the radius of curvature of the cornea is different for all people, and even in two eyes of the same person, the radius of curvature of the cornea can vary greatly. Therefore, when choosing contact lenses, it is necessary to focus on the individual characteristics of each eye, and not just on the diopter of the lenses. It is recommended to select lenses only in specialized clinics. An incorrectly fitted lens acts like a foreign body, injuring the cornea of the eye, causing pain and inflammation of the eye.
Treatment: Avoid contact lenses for at least two weeks to restore corneal integrity and have contact lenses fitted by an experienced contact specialist. To eliminate the pain from contact lenses, laser vision correction is possible.
9. Uncorrected vision in presbyopia causes the eyes to hurt, especially if a person is forced to read for a long time or work close, for example, on a computer. Accommodation allows a person to see at a close distance from the eye, but with age this process is disturbed, presbyopia develops , glasses for near are needed to compensate for disturbed accommodation. If you try to strain your eyes when the possibility of accommodation is lost, then eye fatigue occurs and the eyes begin to hurt.
Treatment: you need to choose glasses for work at close range according to age and existing refraction.
10. Eyes hurt after welding due to radiation burn of the cornea. As they say, “I picked up bunnies from welding”, what should I do? The welding arc used when welding two metals emits infrared radiation and ultraviolet radiation of enormous power. Eyes during welding work must be protected by a special glass that limits the effect of infrared and UV radiation on the eye. In case of violation of safety regulations and open exposure to radiation on the eye, a corneal burn occurs. Retinal damage can also occur. But the pain in the eye after welding occurs precisely because of the burn of the cornea. Therefore, all measures to relieve pain after welding should be directed primarily to the treatment of the cornea.
Treatment: flush eyes with cool water. For regeneration of the cornea, it is necessary to use drugs such as Solcoseryl, Korneregel, Citral, Oftagel, Balarpan, Khilozar-Komod. For the prevention of secondary infection: Tobrex, Maxitrol, Albucid 20%, Levomycetin 0.25%. If the pain is very strong, novocaine or lidocaine can be dripped into the eyes. But, if the condition allows, it is better not to do this, since anesthesia causes swelling of the cornea and increases the healing time. You can take any general action analyst “Ibrufen” or “Analgin”, “Diclofenac” (Voltaren), or “Indomethacin”.
It is better to be in a darkened room and for several hours with your eyes closed.
B. Causes of eye pain in general diseases of the body:
1. Viral infection is very often accompanied by pain in the eyes. If you experience pain behind the eyeballs when moving your eyes, then most likely you have a viral infection in the body in the acute stage.
The coronavirus infection in the body is no exception.
Coronavirus, like any other viral infection, leads to pain behind the eyes, especially in the initial stages of the disease. Pain in the eyes with coronavirus is associated precisely with a viral infection in the body.
Treatment: to eliminate eye pain due to a viral infection, general antiviral treatment from an appropriate specialist is necessary. Local eye treatment in this case is not required.
2. Blood pressure disorder . A change in blood pressure, both upward – hypertension or hypertension, and downward – hypotension, is accompanied by headache and frequent irradiation of pain in the region of the orbit and eye.
Treatment: in case of a sharp and significant change in blood pressure, it is necessary to take a horizontal position – lie down, call a doctor. With high blood pressure, the head should be higher than the body, with hypotension at the level of the body. Compensatory therapy and equalization of blood pressure will lead to the disappearance of pain in the eyes.
3. Migraine leads in most cases to pressing pains behind the eyes. Migraine is accompanied by loss of visual fields and headache. Eye pain is also a symptomatic sign of migraine.
Treatment: the elimination of migraine leads to the disappearance of pain in the eyes.
4. Increased intracranial pressure accompanied by headache and pain in the eyes. Diagnosis is based on fundus ophthalmoscopy and associated symptoms consistent with elevated ICP.
Treatment: Elimination of the causes of increased intracranial pressure leads to the absence of pain in the eyes.
You may find it interesting and useful:
1. Red eyes. Why and what to do?
2. Why do my eyes water? Causes and treatment.
3. How to restore vision
08/22/2021
author Natalya Yatsinova
Eye pain
Blepharitis
Conjunctivitis
Allergy
Foreign body
26896
04 July
Pain in the eyes – the causes of occurrence, in which diseases it occurs, diagnosis and methods of treatment.
The human organ of vision has a very complex structure.
Damage to any of the parts can cause pain.
Varieties of pain
When describing eye pain, various conditions are mentioned, ranging from discomfort to unbearable pain.
In some cases, a person feels dryness in the eyes, burning, “feeling of sand”, in others – pain, which can be so severe that it causes nausea, dizziness, vomiting, migraine. Sometimes eye pain is accompanied by itching, watery eyes, or purulent discharge.
Possible causes
The most common causes of eye pain include traumatic damage to the structures of the eye (cornea, sclera, vitreous body, lens, retina) and ancillary apparatus (eyelids, conjunctiva).
First of all, foreign bodies can damage the eye (chips in the production of metal processing, sand, small insects). At the same time, in addition to pain, there is a feeling of pain, lacrimation, photophobia, redness of the conjunctiva.
Almost half of the cases of eye injuries are burns from steam, flame, chemicals (mainly acids and alkalis). These injuries are accompanied by the same symptoms as when a foreign body enters. Sometimes there is a narrowing of the pupil and blurred vision. There are frequent cases of damage (scratches) to the cornea with sharp objects (pencil, animal claws). Such an injury is accompanied by severe pain, reflex compression of the eyelids, narrowing of the palpebral fissure, redness. If an infection occurs, a corneal ulcer may develop.
One of the significant causes of pain in the eyes are infectious diseases. The causative agents are more often viruses (herpes virus, adeno- and picornaviruses), but infection with bacteria (in particular, chlamydia) is possible, which leads to conjunctivitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye) and blepharitis (inflammation of the edges of the eyelids). Viral and allergic conjunctivitis is accompanied by intense itching, redness, swelling of the eyelids, and clear discharge from the eyes. With bacterial conjunctivitis, the discharge becomes purulent. Blepharitis gives a similar picture, but eye discharge accumulates in the area of \u200b\u200bthe eyelashes.
In recent years, the proportion of allergic diseases has increased significantly, the first sign of which is lacrimation, pain and pain in the eyes (allergic conjunctivitis). An autoimmune disease, pemphigoid, or pemphigus, leads to severe complications, which is accompanied by scarring of the conjunctiva, and in severe cases, clouding of the cornea and possible blindness.
Pain in the eyes also occurs when the inflammatory process spreads to the auxiliary apparatus of the organ of vision – the lacrimal sac (dacryocystitis), the lacrimal gland (dacryoadenitis) or the eyelids (blepharitis, chalazion, barley). If the inflammatory process affects the eyeball and its surrounding tissue, scleritis or episcleritis develops. This inflammation can be caused by an autoimmune disease or an infection. With the progression of the inflammatory process, the cornea is affected, which is accompanied by the growth of blood vessels in it and a violation of its transparency (sclerokeratitis).
Inflammation can affect the choroid (uveitis) and the iris (iritis). Iritis can be a manifestation of a systemic disease (Bekhterev’s disease, Reiter’s disease), develop after an injury, an infectious process (tuberculosis, syphilis, toxoplasmosis), or occur due to metabolic disorders (diabetes, hypothyroidism). At an early stage, the disease is asymptomatic. The first manifestation of iritis occurs after hypothermia, stress, with the progression of systemic diseases. Symptoms are increased lacrimation, pain, photophobia, redness of the conjunctiva, hemorrhages in the eye. The pain is aggravated by pressing on the eyeball.
Severe eye pain is caused by optic neuritis, which develops as a result of infectious and inflammatory processes that affect the optic nerve throughout its entire length. Inflammatory diseases of the brain and its membranes (meningitis, encephalitis), paranasal sinuses, dental diseases, acute infections (flu, tonsillitis, erysipelas) and metabolic disorders (diabetes mellitus, gout) can lead to neuritis.
Tumors of the eye and auxiliary apparatus give pain due to tissue compression and impaired blood supply.
A dangerous disease that can cause blindness is angle-closure glaucoma. It is quite rare compared to open-angle, it progresses rapidly and is accompanied by loss of vision.
Against the background of an acute attack, there is a sharp and persistent increase in intraocular pressure, which causes severe pain in the eye area with a return to the temples and the superciliary region. The eyeball becomes hard, there is a sharp decrease in visual function.
Diagnostics and examinations
First of all, the traumatic nature of eye pain should be excluded. As a rule, the diagnosis in these cases is not difficult. Pain in the eye occurs suddenly, its appearance is preceded by either a blow, or a foreign body, or a thermal or chemical lesion.
Wearing contact lenses also sometimes leads to eye injuries.
The appearance of a hemorrhage, a change in the shape and size of the pupil, the presence of blood in the anterior chamber (between the cornea and the iris) should be especially alarming. To diagnose the disease, biomicroscopy of the lens and vitreous body and examination of the fundus (ophthalmic biomicroscopy) are performed. In some cases, studies using CT and MRI are shown.
In the presence of symptoms of dacryocystitis, a West color test is performed (assessment of the patency of the lacrimal ducts), and to clarify the extent of the lesion, probing of the lacrimal canals. The diagnosis of dacryocystitis is also confirmed by a negative result of a passive tear-nasal test.
In inflammatory diseases, the eyes check visual acuity, intraocular pressure, determine the refraction of the eye (the refractive power of the optical system of the eye).
In some cases, computerized perimetry is prescribed to study the structures of the eyeball. Conjunctivitis is detected by slit lamp examination. To confirm the diagnosis, take a scraping from the conjunctiva.
for microscopy
and culture to identify the pathogen. If a viral nature of the disease is suspected, immunofluorescence and enzyme immunoassays are necessary. If other diseases are suspected that can provoke damage to the structures of the eye, blood tests are performed for rheumatoid factor,
sexually transmitted infections,
antinuclear antibodies.
Ultrasound examination reveals morphological changes in the eyes. Diagnosis of optic neuritis and glaucoma requires measurement of intraocular pressure, morphometric examination of the optic nerve head, examination of the fundus. It is also recommended to perform perimetry (examination of the boundaries of vision), since peripheral vision suffers in glaucoma.
Which doctors should I contact?
The appearance of pain in the eyes always requires the consultation of an ophthalmologist.
If the cause of the disease is autoimmune diseases, a therapist, rheumatologist, immunologist can be involved in the treatment.
What should be done if there is pain in the eyes?
Any eye pain requires immediate contact with an optometrist. If the eye injury is caused by a chemical burn, rinse the eye with water and immediately take the patient to a doctor. In case of flame burns, ice should be applied to the closed eye as soon as possible, wrapping it with a dry cloth. If a foreign body enters, do not independently remove small particles that can further damage the cornea. If an immediate visit to the doctor is not possible, it is necessary to drip disinfectant eye drops (0.25% solution of chloramphenicol, 20% solution of sodium sulfacyl) and try to get to the doctor as soon as possible. In this case, the movement of the eyeballs should be limited by applying sterile wipes to both eyes.
If the pain in the eyes radiates to the temple, the occipital region and is accompanied by dizziness and nausea, urgent hospitalization is necessary. These signs may indicate a decompensated form (acute attack) of glaucoma, which requires surgical intervention.
Treatment
In no case should you treat eye diseases yourself.
Only proper diagnosis and specialized care can prevent serious complications.
In inflammatory diseases, in most cases, conservative therapy is carried out using antibacterial drugs or antiviral agents. If necessary, the doctor may prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamins A, C and P. In cases of eye injury, treatment is determined by the depth of the wound channel. For non-penetrating wounds, the use of antiseptic and antibacterial drugs is recommended. With penetrating wounds, treatment is prescribed by an ophthalmologist after a thorough examination of the eye. With corneal erosion, therapy depends on the cause of the disease (dry eye syndrome, allergies, infection). With dacryocystitis and dacryoadenitis, treatment is aimed at stopping the inflammatory process and surgically draining the lacrimal canal.