General Eye Conditions and Tests
What does eye pain mean?
The type of pain matters. Gritty, scratchy surface pain suggests dryness, a foreign body or a corneal abrasion. Deep aching pain suggests inflammation inside the eye, raised pressure or scleritis. Pain on moving the eye suggests optic nerve inflammation or infection behind the eye. Severe pain with reduced vision is an emergency.
Surface pain
A sharp, gritty or scratchy sensation, worse on blinking, usually comes from the front surface. Common causes are dry eye, a scratch on the cornea, an ingrowing lash, a foreign body under the upper lid, or a corneal ulcer. A corneal abrasion or ulcer is often intensely painful with watering and light sensitivity, and needs examination the same day.
Deep pain
A dull ache in or behind the eye, often with light sensitivity and blurring, suggests uveitis. Severe pain with a red eye, haloes and vomiting suggests acute angle closure glaucoma, an emergency. A boring pain that disturbs sleep and is tender to touch suggests scleritis, which can be linked to inflammatory conditions elsewhere in the body.
Pain on eye movement
Ache on looking around, with reduced vision and faded colours, suggests optic neuritis. Pain on movement with a swollen, red, protruding eye and fever suggests infection of the tissues around the eye, which is an emergency requiring urgent treatment.
Pain around rather than in the eye
Brow ache after close work often relates to an uncorrected prescription or dry eye. Migraine and sinus problems produce pain felt around the eye without the eye being affected. These are diagnosed after examination has excluded the eye itself.
When to seek urgent assessment
- Severe eye pain, with or without redness, which needs same day assessment
- Pain with reduced vision, haloes around lights or vomiting
- A painful protruding eye with fever, or pain with a swollen red eyelid
- Pain after injury or a chemical splash, which needs immediate irrigation and emergency care
- Pain in a contact lens wearer
Frequently asked questions
- Can I use anaesthetic drops to relieve pain?
- No. Repeated anaesthetic drops prevent healing and can cause serious corneal damage. Pain relief should be taken by mouth while the cause is treated.
- Should I patch a painful eye?
- Not without advice. Patching can trap infection and is no longer routinely recommended for abrasions. Have the eye examined.
Concerned about these symptoms?
Arrange an eye examination with our consultant ophthalmologist in Garki, Abuja.
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