Eye pain

Types of eye pain

Many people will have eye pain at one point or another. Frequently, it’s nothing to worry about but some eye pain can be an indication of something more serious. It’s therefore important to figure out what kind of pain it is so you can narrow down a potential cause.

Stabbing pain in the eye

Stabbing pain feels sudden and sharp, often coming on suddenly and going away just as fast. It is often repetitive and reoccurs multiple times.

Sudden sharp pain in the eye

Sharp pain is a sudden and intense bout of pain. It can be caused by foreign objects in your eye such as dirt or dust.

Throbbing eye pain

Throbbing eye pain feels like recurring achy pain. It can also feel like it pulses or pounds and can indicate swelling of inflammation. Although it can feel less severe than sharp or stabbing pains, it’s important to check with your optometrist if you have throbbing pain.

Pain in the eye and temple

Closeup irritated red eye.

Some types of headaches can also cause eye pain. Things like cluster headaches can cause pain, swelling, light sensitivity, constricted pupils and eye redness.

If you have eye pain that doesn’t clear up quickly, make an appointment with your optometrist to have it looked at, as there are many conditions that can cause lingering pain in your eye.

Causes

There are a variety of reasons behind different types of eye pain. But no matter what you suspect the cause to be, if it doesn’t resolve quickly with self treatment, it’s important to have an examination with an optometrist to identify the cause. At Leightons Opticians & The Hearing Care Partnership, we offer an Emergency Eye Examination service to ensure your eye pain has nothing to do with sight issues or more serious underlying conditions.

Foreign object

One of the most common types of eye pain is caused simply by having something in your eye. Whether it’s an eyelash, dust, pollen, or makeup, foreign objects can cause irritation, wedness, watery eyes, and pain.

Dry eyes

Dry eye syndrome is another very common cause of eye pain. It’s caused by your eyes not producing tears of enough quantity or quality and can feel like your eyes are gritty, rough, or overly watery.

Man with blepharitis on upper eye.

Blepharitis

A condition that causes your eyelids to become itchy and swollen. It is another very common condition that can cause painful eyes but is easily treated by gently cleaning your eyelids every day.

Injury

An injury to your eye will definitely cause pain and should be treated as an urgent issue to ensure you keep the function and vision of your eye intact as much as possible. Emergency eye care should be performed by a professional as soon as possible.

Corneal abrasion

A scratch or scrape on the cornea. They can be painful but often clear up on their own. But you might be prescribed an antibiotic ointment or drops to help reduce the risk of infection while the injury heals.

Closeup of a woman with a contact lens on her finger.

Contact lens irritation

Contact lenses that are dirty or don’t fit well can cause pain in your eyes. Wearing contact lenses longer than prescribed or not replacing them when needed can also lead to eye problems. Always make sure you’re using contact lenses prescribed to you and be sure to clean and wear them properly.

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva – the clear layer over your eye. It can be caused by allergies or infections (both viral or bacterial) and can be very itchy or painful and cause your eyes to water or be gunky.

Scleritis

An inflammation of the sclera – the white of your eye – which can be uncomfortable or painful and is a sign of other underlying conditions.

Iritis

Irritation and inflammation of the coloured ring around your eye's pupil (iris).

Acute angle-closure glaucoma

A serious eye condition that occurs when the fluid pressure inside your eye rises quickly. This is typically caused by the iris sitting too far forward and blocking the fluid outflow channel of the eye. Usual symptoms include sudden, severe eye pain, a red eye and reduced or blurred vision.

Microbial keratitis (corneal infection)

This is an infection that affects the cornea – the transparent layer at the front of your eye. It can be painful and red and is most often associated with incorrect contact lens wear.

Optic neuritis

This is an inflammation of the optic nerve – the nerve that carries visual information from your eye to your brain. Common symptoms include pain with eye movement and temporary vision loss in one eye.

Diagnosis

If you have eye pain that isn’t solved with eye drops or eye washes, make sure to see your optometrist, especially if you are experiencing vision loss or distortion, headaches, or nausea and vomiting.

Doctor examining patients eye in hospital.

Your optometrist will use a variety of tools to help diagnose what might be causing your eye pain. All of which are used as part of the Leightons Emergency Eye Exam, although the exact tests will depend on your symptoms.

For a comprehensive diagnosis, book an Emergency Eye Examination at your nearest Leightons branch.

Treatment

Although it can feel intense, eye pain is often temporary. It can be linked to headaches or sinus pressure but also can be signs of more serious underlying health conditions such as infections, inflammation, or tissue damage. Treatment of your eye pain will depend on the cause.

It’s important to have your optometrist check your eyes to get a proper evaluation and diagnosis and to find the best treatment.

Some common treatment options include:

  • Home treatments like cold compresses, eye washes, and improved eye lid hygiene.
  • Over-the-counter eye drops
  • Over-the-counter painkillers
  • Removal of any foreign body
  • Prescription medication – At leightons, we have specialist optometrists trained in issuing prescriptions for medication, where required.

Takeaway

Eye pain can come on suddenly and can be a cause for concern. It will usually solve itself however, on occasion, it will need treatment or can be caused by an underlying health condition. If you have eye pain that is not going away, make sure you book an appointment with your optometrist to have it investigated.

FAQs

If your eye pain doesn’t go away after an hour or more, or if it’s accompanied by vision loss or distortion, redness, itchiness, headaches, and any other symptoms, see an optometrist.

Pain behind the eye can be due to a number of different causes such as dry eyes, foreign objects, eyestrain, migraine, dental problems, glaucoma, giant cell arteritis, and other more. Treatment will depend on the cause, but as a first line of self-help you may find that applying cool or warm compresses may help. If these do not resolve the issue then book an Emergency Eye Eamination with your opticians.

Sharp pain behind your eye can be caused by multiple different things. Cluster headaches, sinus inflammations, migraines, scleritis, optic neuritis can all be causes.

At Leightons we employ Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy (SLO) and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) technology to assess the health of your eyes in high detail. These scans can be used to spot conditions that cause eye pain.

Sometimes, yes. A high blood pressure can cause inflammation of the eye or optic nerve, which can cause pain with movement of your eyes and potentially interfere with your vision. High blood pressure can also cause some vision loss along with other health conditions. So if you suspect you have high blood pressure, always have it assessed by a professional.

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The sudden onset of pain and blindness can be scary and worrying. A retinal migraine is a rare condition that affects the eyes. They involve repeated bouts of short-lasting diminished vision or blindness. They can be a cause for concern and impact your daily life. So if you have concerns or are just curious, read on to learn more about retinal migraines, what causes them, and how to treat them. What Are Retinal Migraines? Retinal migraines, also known as visual or ocular migraines, are a type of migraine that affect your eyes. They can cause temporary vision loss in one eye and might be accompanied by other eye symptoms such as blurry vision, sparkling lights, and blind spots alongside headaches or nausea. They are thought to occur when the blood vessels in your eye suddenly narrow, restricting the blood flow. 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Visual disturbances or aura such as flashing lights, zigzag patterns or coloured spots or lines. Feeling sick or being sick. Sometimes you can get the eye symptoms without having a headache. Diagnosing Retinal Migraines To diagnose you with retinal migraines, the examining clinician will ask you about your symptoms, family history, and examine your eyes. This is why keeping a note of your migraines and symptoms will be useful. Your clinician will try to rule out other conditions that could cause similar problems, such as: Amaurosis fugax (transient darkening) – temporary blindness due to a lack of blood flow to the eye. It can happen because of a blockage in an artery that leads to the eye. Spasms in the artery that brings blood to the retina Giant cell arteritis – a problem that causes inflammation in blood vessels. It can lead to vision problems and blindness. Other blood vessel problems related to autoimmune diseases Substance use disorder or overusing illicit drugs Conditions that keep your blood from clotting normally, like sickle cell disease and polycythemia Stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) At Leightons, we offer an Optomap Eye Examination (also part of our Ultimate Eye Examinations) to patients of all ages. This enhanced examination allows us to see more than ever before with 2D and 3D imaging (OCT) of the inside of your eye which can help identify and diagnose eye conditions and rule out conditions with similar symptoms as retinal migraines. Treatment Options Treatment for retinal migraines is not usually needed if you do not have them very often but if you do get them frequently, your doctor might suggest some treatments to help. Lifestyle changes If you have noticed that a particular food or activity makes your symptoms worse, you may need to consider reducing your exposure to help ease your migraines. 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Additionally, if you have a headache that comes on suddenly and is extremely painful, you suddenly have problems speaking or remembering things, you have sudden vision loss, blurred vision or double vision, seek medical help immediately. Book an eye test today For your peace of mind, whether you experience retinal migraines or not, regarding your eye health, book an eye test with Leightons. Conclusion Retinal migraines can be frustrating and painful. If you have experienced any of the symptoms associated with these kinds of migraines or are concerned that you have eye migraines, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. A diagnosis from a medical professional can help you manage your symptoms and regain your quality of life. Book an eye test
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