Eye pain usually leads to discomfort that tends to interfere with normal sight. There are numerous causes of the illness so it’s imperative to acquire more information on the subject. This will make you well equipped to manage the situation for effective recovery. Several over-the-counter medications for alleviating the pain are available but it’s advisable to seek medical consultation first before making a purchase. Take good care of the eye to avoid further irritation.
What Are the Causes of Eye Pain?
In order to better understand the problems experienced as a result of the pain, the anatomy of the eye must be considered. The pain normally stems from one, or more, of these parts:
- Cornea- This is the clear disc located at the outermost part of the eye. It allows light in.
- Conjunctiva- It’s a thin layer that covers the eye.
- Iris- This is the colored section that has the pupil at the center.
- Orbit- It’s also known as the globe and it’s the circular eyeball.
- Extra-ocular Muscles- These are the eye’s muscles that facilitate movements.
- Nerves- Visual info to the mind is carried by the nerves.
- Eyelids- The eyelids protect eyes from foreign particles.
The following are the most common eye pain problems:
- Corneal Abrasions- The cornea is usually susceptible to damage from many things such as tree branches, fingers, balls, etc. When the cornea is scratched, the resulting effect is normally referred to as an abrasion, which is very painful.
- Corneal Infections- When the cornea is infected, the condition is known as keratitis. The virus which causes the infection is actually the same one that is responsible for chickenpox. It’s called Herpes Zoster.
- Conjunctivitis- When the conjunctiva is inflamed, the resulting effect is known as conjunctivitis. The condition is quite painful and is caused by infections or allergies. The condition is characterized by swelling of the blood vessels.
- Blepharitis- This problem is experienced when the eyelid is inflamed or infected. You’ll generally feel like there is sand in the eyes when suffering from Blepharitis.
- Stye– Hair follicles or the oil glands can inflame or infect the eyelids. Stye is also called hordeolum and causes excruciating eye pain.
- Foreign Bodies- These are things like debris and dirt which get blown by the wind into the eye. Although they’re as painful as the other problems, cleaning the eye with water washes them out.
- Glaucoma- This eye condition is hard to detect until it’s too late since it does not exhibit early symptoms. When left untreated, it can lead to blindness.
What Are Eye Pain Symptoms?
Common symptoms include:
- Redness of the eye
- Itchiness
- Sensitivity to light
- Migraines
- Decreased vision
- Tears
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Discharge
There are numerous other causes and symptoms of eye pain. For mild cases, the eye usually gets better after a few days. However, when the condition becomes chronic, seek immediate medical attention to prevent severe eyesight damage.