Sharp eye pain is commonly caused by debris that falls in the eye. When this occurs, you will typically feel a sudden ache in the eye together with a stabbing and burning sensation. But did you know that several medical conditions could also cause pain in the eyes? As a matter of fact, an untreated dental abscess could affect your eye health respectively. Click here to know more about the link between severe eye pain and dental abscess.
Causes Of Sharp Eye Pain
Pain in the eyes could be due to several medical conditions or irritants in the environment. If your eye pain does not go away despite rinsing and cleaning, it might be time to visit a doctor and have your eye health examined by a specialist.
Foreign Objects
One of the most common reasons why we feel sharp eye pain is due to debris that comes in contact with our eyes. Dust, dirt, and substances could get in the eye accidentally and cause irritation. If this is the case, try to wash your eyes with clean water or saline solution. The pain should diminish after you do this.
But if the eye pain remains sharp and throbbing after doing so, contact your eye doctor immediately. Your eye health is an important matter that should not be taken lightly. Additionally, if you see that a sharp object is sticking in your eyes, do not remove it on your own and seek professional assistance right away.
Cluster Headaches
Cluster headaches are severe and throbbing headaches that come in clusters. It can significantly affect your eye functions and cause eye pain as well. Cluster headaches are also accompanied by the following symptoms:
- eye redness
- droopy eyelid
- teary eyes
- swelling or eye pain
The best way to ease eye pain that is caused by cluster headaches is by treating the headache condition first hand. The treatment includes medicine to prevent headaches from occurring. Your doctor might also suggest keeping a headache diary to keep track of its pattern. You might need to visit a couple of different doctors to identify any other possible cause of these headaches, like a tooth and gum infection left untreated.
Uveitis
Another common cause of sharp pain in the eye is the inflammation of the uvea. Apart from eye pain, the inflammation also affects the optic nerve, lens, and retina of the eyes. It is important to note that the inflammation could occur in one eye only or in both eyes. The causes of this inflammation are as follows:
- autoimmune diseases
- trauma in the eyes
- contact with toxins
- infections or tumors
Furthermore, the eye pain caused by Uveitis also comes with the following symptoms:
- dark spots in the vision
- blurry vision
- light sensitivity
- eye pain and swelling
Uveitis does not only cause eye pain but also affects the vision subsequently. In most cases, it results in reduced vision, or worse, vision loss. To treat Uveitis, doctors might use corticosteroid injections, anti-inflammatory medication through drops or oral intake, and oral immunosuppressive treatments.
Contact Lens Problems
A contact lens is supposed to be clean and free of damages before wearing. Proper wearing of the lens is also an important matter to attend to. If your eyes become blurry or if pain occurs after you wear your contact lens, it’s probably because the lens is folded or it contains particles due to mishandling.
To prevent eye pain, make sure that your hands are clean prior to wearing the lens. Do not forget to clean the lens with a solution to remove dirt and dust. If the pain occurs after you wear them, it would be better to remove the lens and clean them first before wearing them again.
Scleritis
The outermost membrane of the eye could also get inflamed. Scleritis often takes place because of an infection or if the person has an autoimmune disease. For some people, medication also causes inflammation as a side effect.
The eye pain caused by scleritis typically starts with a mild sensation that gets worse during the evening. Other symptoms of scleritis also include:
- light sensitivity
- affected vision
- eye tearing
Depending on the result of your doctor’s diagnosis, one of the following treatments might get recommended to you:
- corticosteroid tablets or eye drops
- immunosuppressive medications
- nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs
Migraine
Migraine comes with many other symptoms including eye pain. This condition occurs with a severe and throbbing headache that takes place on one side of the head. Below is a list of all the symptoms that you might experience with migraine:
- extreme sensitivity to sounds and light
- temporary loss of vision
- feeling dizzy
- weakness
- fatigue and exhaustion
- weak coordination
- vomiting and nausea
- trouble concentrating
- confusion
According to studies, a migraine could last from 4 hours up to 3 days. Moreover, it also affects an individual’s emotional health and appetite.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye condition that greatly affects the eyes, specifically the optic nerve. If the condition is neglected, it could lead to loss of vision or total blindness. If you are experiencing the following symptoms, go to your doctor immediately for preventative procedures:
- sharp eye pain
- complications in vision
- vomiting
- headache
- red eyes
- tender surroundings of the eyes
Doctors suggest that an eye check-up should be done once a year for early detection of glaucoma-related issues and to prevent further damage.
When To Visit The Doctor
Our eyes are very important parts of our body. They allow us to function properly and fulfill our day-to-day tasks and responsibilities. That is why it’s essential to keep them healthy and well-cared for. If you are exhibiting the following symptoms, it’s time to give your doctor a call:
- Eye pain that lasts for too long.
- The pain is getting worse within the day.
- Your visions start to get distorted and blurry.
- Eye swelling.
- Persistent nausea and vomiting.
