Eye pain is a common complaint with a wide range of potential causes, from minor irritations to serious medical conditions. If you’re experiencing eye pain and wondering “Why Does My Eye Hurt?”, it’s important to consider the possible reasons and when it’s necessary to seek professional medical advice. Understanding the symptoms and potential underlying issues can help you determine the best course of action for your eye health.
Common Causes of Eye Pain
Several conditions can lead to eye pain, each with its own set of characteristics and symptoms. Here are some of the most frequent culprits:
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, often due to a buildup of fluid that increases pressure inside the eye. While most forms of glaucoma develop slowly without early symptoms, acute angle-closure glaucoma can cause a sudden and severe increase in eye pressure. This type is a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment to prevent blindness. Symptoms of acute angle-closure glaucoma include intense eye pain, nausea, vomiting, headache, and blurred vision.
Iritis or Uveitis
Iritis and uveitis are inflammations of the uvea, the middle layer of the eye. These conditions can be triggered by trauma, infections, or autoimmune disorders. The primary symptoms include eye pain, redness, and often a decrease in vision. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial to manage inflammation and prevent complications.
Optic Neuritis
Optic neuritis is an inflammation of the optic nerve, which transmits visual information from the eye to the brain. Often associated with multiple sclerosis, other infections, or conditions can also cause it. Symptoms commonly involve vision loss and pain that worsens with eye movement, particularly when looking from side to side.
Sinusitis
Sinusitis is an infection or inflammation of the sinuses, the air-filled cavities around your nasal passages. When these sinuses become blocked and filled with fluid, pressure can build up behind the eyes, leading to pain in one or both eyes. Eye pain from sinusitis is often accompanied by other sinus symptoms like nasal congestion, facial tenderness, and headache.
Stye
A stye is a painful, small bump that develops on the eyelid. It’s usually caused by a bacterial infection of an oil gland or hair follicle at the base of the eyelashes. Styes can cause localized eye pain, redness, swelling, and tenderness around the affected eyelid. Doctors may also refer to a stye as a chalazion or hordeolum.
Other Symptoms to Watch For
Eye pain can occur alone or alongside other symptoms. Pay attention to any accompanying symptoms, as they can provide clues to the underlying cause:
- Reduced vision: Any decrease in your ability to see clearly.
- Eye discharge: This can range from clear and watery to thick and colored.
- Foreign body sensation: The feeling that something is stuck in your eye, even if nothing is actually there.
- Headache: Pain in the head, which can sometimes be related to eye conditions.
- Light sensitivity: Discomfort or pain when exposed to light.
- Nausea or vomiting: Especially when associated with sudden, severe eye pain.
- Red eye or pinkeye: Redness in the white part of the eye, potentially indicating infection or inflammation.
- Excessive tearing: Increased production of tears.
- Crusted eyes upon waking: Eyelids stuck together due to discharge that has dried overnight.
The combination of eye pain with other symptoms is crucial information for diagnosis.
Tests to Diagnose Eye Pain
If you are experiencing persistent or severe eye pain, especially with vision changes, headache, or nausea and vomiting, it’s essential to consult an eye doctor. They have several diagnostic tools to determine the cause of your discomfort:
- Slit-lamp exam: This exam uses a high-intensity light to allow the doctor to examine the detailed structures of your eye, including the cornea, iris, lens, and retina.
- Dilating drops: These drops widen your pupils, enabling the doctor to get a better view of the inner parts of your eye, particularly the retina and optic nerve.
- Tonometer: This instrument measures the pressure inside your eye. It is a key tool in diagnosing glaucoma.
Identifying the cause of your eye pain is the first step toward effective treatment and preserving your eye health. Don’t hesitate to seek professional medical advice if you are concerned about why your eye hurts.
