Eye pain also called ocular pain or ophthalmalgia is a common problem. It might feel like throbbing, burning, or scratching. Pain in one eye or both eyes is possible. It could be caused by something as simple as tired eyes or as serious as an infection in the brain. If the eye pain is accompanied by blurred or double vision, loss of vision, a severe headache, vomiting, dizziness, fever, stiff neck, or an injury, you should go to the emergency room to have a CT scan test as soon as possible. You must wonder, how to manage eye pain, so before managing the problem it’s important to find out what it causes. Let’s discuss them.
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Causes Of Pain In Eyes
These are the most common 14 causes of eye pain:
Eyestrain
Eye strain is the most common reason why your eyes hurt or feel sore. Pain in the eye can be caused by staring at a screen for too long, doing too much close work, not drinking enough water, being exposed to bright lights, or being in the sun for too long.
Foreign Body
A foreign body in the eye could be a small thing like an eyelash, dust, or makeup, or it could be a larger piece of metal, etc., that got into the eye. Ophthalmologists are the best people to remove the foreign body. A foreign object in the eye can cause pain, irritation, redness, watery eyes, and blurred vision.
Conjunctivitis
The part of the eye that is on the inside of the eyelid is called the conjunctiva. It can get infected and swollen if it gets an allergy or an infection. Another name for conjunctivitis is pink eye. It can make your eyes itch, turn red, and tear up.
Contact lens irritation
If you wear your contacts overnight or don’t clean them, they can get irritated or get an infection, which can make your eyes hurt.
Physical Trauma
Chemicals (chemical burns), and heat (thermal burns) can all cause injuries during welding. Injuries can cause a lot of pain, bruising, itching, watery eyes, swelling, and sometimes even make it hard to see.
Blepharitis
Blepharitis happens when the oil glands along the edge of the eyelid, which are near the eyelashes, get infected or swollen.
A blepharitis infection can cause a sty, which is a raised lump on the eyelid.
Glaucoma
This disease happens when the pressure in the eye gets too high. Patients get headaches, feel sick, and can’t see as well. This is a serious problem that needs help right away.
Optic neuritis means that the optic nerve is inflamed. The optic nerve is the nerve that connects the back of the eyeball to the brain.
Sinusitis
A sinus infection can cause pain and pressure behind the eyes.
Migraines
Migraines can cause eye pain, watery eyes, headaches, and make you throw up. One study reveals that there may be a link between dry eyes & migraines, which shows if you treat them accordingly it could help with both problems.
Iritis
Iritis means that the iris is inflamed. It is an inflammation of the glands that make tears.
Refractive Errors
Eye strain, headaches, and eye pain can be caused by refractive errors like myopia (near-sightedness) and hypermetropia (far-sightedness),s or changes in eye power.
After knowing all the possible causes we are presenting you with a few home remedies that can help you to manage the pain in eyes.
Home Remedies To Manage Eye Pain
Here are some things you can do at home to ease or prevent eye pain and eyestrain:
Warm Compress
According to the top reviewed Ophthalmologist in Lahore, Dr. Muhammad Saad Aziz “A warm compress can help relieve pain and discomfort, especially pain caused by eye infections like conjunctivitis, blepharitis, or a sty.” The eyes can be covered with a clean, warm, wet towel. This can also help get rid of dirt, pus, and crusts that have dried up.
Over-The-Counter (OTC) Drugs
Antihistamines and acetaminophen are two examples of OTC drugs that can be used to treat allergies and/or eye pain.
Using Artificial Tears
One study reveals that people who work outside, work in air conditioners, are housewives, have diabetes, smoke, are exposed to too much sun, wind, or temperature, or have meibomian gland dysfunction are more likely to get dry eyes. Over-the-counter artificial tears can help prevent and treat dry eyes, which can hurt and flush out any organisms on the surface of the eye. Lubricating drops that don’t have chemical additives can be used as often as needed. If the drops have something to keep them from going bad, you shouldn’t use them more than four times a day. Eye drops that make the eyes less red shouldn’t be used because they could make the symptoms worse and cause other serious problems that would be hard to spot.
Using A Humidifier
A humidifier adds moisture to the air, which keeps the eyes moist and reduces dryness, pain, and discomfort.
Pollutants To Avoid
You should stay away from cigarette smoke, smoke from fires, and industrial gases. If you’re exposed at work, you might want to wear protective eyewear and use lubricating eye drops without chemical additives to keep your eyes moist and stop or lessen eye pain. It’s best to stay away from makeup until the eye is better.
Changing Your Glasses Or Contacts
If you work at a computer and wear glasses or contacts, you might want to switch to ones that are made for computer work. Changes in eye power can also cause eye pain, so it’s important to get your eyes checked and wear the right glasses or contacts.
Protect Your Eyes From The Sun
Direct sun or other bright lights can dry out and hurt your eyes and make any pain worse. So, it’s best to wear sunglasses and try to stay out of the sun from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., when it’s the hottest.
Adjust The Lighting
To avoid eye strain, it’s best to watch TV in a room with soft lighting. A light source can be used as a flashlight on the page while reading.
Taking Breaks
When doing close work, like reading or fine arts and crafts, taking breaks and letting the eyes rest can help reduce and prevent eye pain.
Limiting screen time: Spending too much time in front of a screen can cause eye pain and strain. So, it’s best to give your eyes a break from the screen every so often.
Things You Should Consider
The eye is a complex and sensitive organ. There are many home remedies for pain in eyes that might help ease the symptoms, but if you think you have an eye infection, you should find your doctor.
If you think your child has an eye infection, it’s very important to see a doctor.
