Red eye, pain behind the eye, feeling of sand… Discover the most common causes and the right actions to quickly relieve eye pain.
Pain in the left or right eye is a common symptom, most often benign. It can appear suddenly or develop gradually. It may be in the eye, behind the eye, or around the eye, and may be accompanied by headaches, redness, or a sandy feeling. Visual fatigue linked to screens, migraine, infection, dry eye or glaucoma… There are many causes of eye pain. In the majority of cases, it is a minor irritation, but certain signs should alert you. What are the symptoms to watch out for? When to consult? How to relieve eye pain? Answers with Professor Claude Speeg-Schatz, head of the ophthalmology department at Strasbourg University Hospital.
What are the common causes of eye pain?
“Patients often worry about this symptom, but they should be reassured: the origin is often simple to assess, especially when there is no loss of visual acuity or photophobia.“, immediately reassures Professor Speeg-Schatz.
- A blow or shock to the eye: in this case, the eye hurts, tears, is red or even hypersensitive to light. “Typically, it is the nail on the cornea: this being innervated, the slightest lesion exposes one to intense pain “associated with tearing and sensitivity to light“, specifies the expert.
- Migraines can also cause eye pain, just like sinusitis, flu, or even colds, which are responsible for dry eyes. The pain is then often felt as pressure behind the eye or around the eye.
- The eye may also be painful after surgery, due to infection or inflammation.
- Prolonged use of screens: pain is associated with dry eyes, with a burning, stinging or gritty sensation in the eye.
- Exophoria (tendency to deviate the eyes outwards, often associated with insufficient convergence) is another cause. “This often occurs in people who do not wear their glasses, especially when they use screens for prolonged periods.“, specifies Professor Speeg-Schatz
What are the serious causes of eye pain?
- Too high intraocular pressure.
- A neuropathy that can be seen in multiple sclerosis causes pain when moving the eyes. “It may then be an inflammation of the optic nerve; if it is associated with a decrease in visual acuity, we will look for a neurological cause“.
- Glaucoma:Certain pathologies such as acute angle closure glaucoma will cause eye pain associated with redness, hardness of the eyeball and a dilated pupil.” specifies Professor Speeg-Schatz.
Certain symptoms should alert you: intense and sudden pain, decreased vision, a very red eye, strong sensitivity to light, nausea or vomiting.
What to do?
The first thing is to identify the cause. If the pain appears after a shock or the sensation of a foreign body, do not rub the eye: rinse it with physiological serum and seek medical attention quickly. In case of discomfort related to screens or dryness, take regular breaks, blink voluntarily and use artificial tears available at pharmacies. If you wear glasses, check that your prescription is suitable and worn correctly. To calm the pain, paracetamol can help, but it does not treat the cause. It is recommended to promptly consult a doctor or ophthalmologist if the pain persists, intensifies or is accompanied by vision problems. Depending on the diagnosis, the doctor can prescribe appropriate treatment: eye drops to reduce pressure in the eye, anti-inflammatories, antibiotics in the event of infection or visual rehabilitation if necessary.
