What You Need To Know About Eye Pain

Eye pain can be caused by a number of things, from allergies and infections to injuries. In some cases, eye pain can even be a sign of something more serious, like glaucoma or diabetes. If you are experiencing pain in your eyes, it’s important to let your health care provider know as soon as possible. With help of a professional, you will get clarity about what is causing it and advice if you need treatment. In this post, we will discuss the different causes of eye pain and when to be concerned.

What Causes Eye Pain?

Infections

The most common cause of eye pain is some type of an infection. Infections can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi and can affect any part of the eye. Symptoms of an infection include redness, swelling, pain, discharge, and a feeling that something is stuck in your eye. The good news is, infections can usually be treated easily and quickly with antibiotics and other medications.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is another common cause of eye pain, especially among the elderly. Glaucoma is a disease that affects the optic nerve and can lead to vision loss if left untreated. Symptoms of glaucoma include blurry vision, halos around lights, sensitivity to light, and eye pain. Don’t ignore any of the symptoms of glaucoma because it can quickly get serious. Treatments include medications and surgery. 

Diabetes

Eye pain can also be a sign of diabetes. Diabetes is a disease that affects the body’s ability to process sugar properly. Symptoms of diabetes include increased thirst, increased urination, weight loss, fatigue, and blurred vision. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to see a doctor right away. The condition can be managed and some people have even reversed type II diabetes severe symptoms by changing their diet and lifestyle.

Uveitis

Uveitis is a condition that causes inflammation of the uvea, which is the middle layer of the eye. Symptoms of uveitis include pain, redness, swelling, and blurred vision. In some cases, it is caused by an infection but it can also be caused by injury to the eye too. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to see a doctor right away. Luckily, there are chronic uveitis treatments available for people that have long-term problems. This is often goes undiagnosed and symptoms get attributed to normal redness and itching from allergies. It’s important that to get on going symptoms checked out. If it is not treated properly, it could lead to vision loss.

Allergies

 Allergic reactions can cause the eyes to become red, itchy, and swollen, attributing to inflammation and painful episodes. In some cases, allergic reactions can lead to a rash around the eyes. Having an allergy test will help you determine the exact cause of eye irritation. Avoiding the source of the allergy like certain foods, pollen or animals should help alleviate discomfort. Antihistamines and other allergy treatments are popular in chronic cases.

Eye Strain

Eye strain is a condition that occurs when the eyes are tired from overuse, often when looking at a computer or phone screen. Symptoms of eye strain include blurred vision, dry eyes, headache, and fatigue. To prevent eye strain, make sure to take breaks every 20 minutes or so and give your eyes a rest from working. You can also try using eye drops to relieve the pain.

If you find that this is a constant problem when looking at a screen or trying to read, it’s possible that you need glasses or a different prescription. Visit an optician for an annual eye test to take care of any issues early.

When Should You Be Concerned About Eye Pain?

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, it’s important to see a doctor right away:

• Eye pain that is severe or gets worse over time
• Blurry vision
• Extreme sensitivity to light that isn’t usual
• Halos around lights
• Unusual headache
• Rash around the eyes
• Discharge from the eye

Be aware of anything that suddenly changes or isn’t within a normal experience for you. For example, I get frequent migraines that come with light sensitivity. Because I know that is normal for me, I don’t get concerned about it. Additionally, if symptoms persist for more than a few days or they worsen, get in touch with your doctor.

**** This post is strictly informational and is not meant to replace the advice of your healthcare provider. Women’s lifelink, its owners, administrators, contributors, affiliates, vendors, authors, and editors do not claim that this information will diagnose, treat, or improve any condition or disease.