If you have just told the person you live with, «My eye hurts, but there's nothing wrong with it.», Calm down. Let's analyse the causes, solutions and most effective tips for looking after your eye health and finding out exactly what is wrong.
My eye hurts, but there is nothing wrong with it: why might that be?
Feeling an uncomfortable pain in your eye is always cause for alarm. Not surprisingly, we are always using our eyes to read, write, work or drive. The more we use them, the more discomfort we feel and the more we feel that we have a health problem. The causes of eye pain are as follows.
Conjunctivitis
Before the conjunctiva becomes inflamed and you can easily see it, there are symptoms such as stinging, burning, or itching. In most cases, this is caused by a foreign body entering the eye (an eyelash, sand, dust, etc.).
Occasionally, corneal abrasion occurs, which exacerbates the symptoms. One variant is keratoconjunctivitis dryness affecting the cornea and conjunctiva, causing their surface to become dry.
Misuse of contact lenses
Even if you have been using them for years and are accustomed to wearing them, you must be very mindful of how long you wear them. Wearing them for longer than you should will cause redness, itching and a burning sensation. They could even cause an infection that could lead to the development of an ulcer or inflammation of the cornea. keratitis
A migraine
Depending on the severity of each episode, there are times when you will see auras that alter your vision and your headache intensifies in the eye area. The feeling of constant pressure in your eyes is not pleasant.
Lack of sleep
When you sleep, your body regenerates for several hours so that it can be reactivated the next day. If you do not sleep well, it is very likely that your eyes will suffer from insomnia and become a source of pain.
Orbital cellulitis
It consists of an infection that affects the fat and muscles that help you move your eye. Every time you try to look, you notice discomfort, and it is vitally important that you pay attention to the symptoms, as this is an internal infection that is spreading progressively.
The flu
Continued nasal congestion ends up interfering with the normal function of your eyes. In addition, symptoms such as headaches or migraines are added, creating a combination that is conducive to feeling the aforementioned discomfort.
What should you do when this type of discomfort arises?
It all depends on the cause. It is highly advisable to rest your eyes as much as possible and stay in a room without too much light. If the discomfort is caused by wearing contact lenses, take them out for a few days and wear your old glasses. Using moisturising eye drops can help reduce the symptoms.
It is strongly advised against using methods of dubious origin to clean your eyes. Old wives' remedies are not always effective and could cause your problem to worsen and further damage your eye health.
When should you be concerned and consult a specialist?
If you follow the above advice and do not notice any improvement, we will summarise when it would be appropriate for you to come to the Nebro ophthalmology clinic:
- If the pain you are experiencing is becoming more intense and lasts for more than 48 hours.
- If you have noticed that you have started to lose your vision.
- If you suffer from any autoimmune disease or have been diagnosed with arthritis in the past.
- If you have several symptoms at the same time. When pain, discharge, pressure in the eyes, inflammation and redness are combined, it is because there is a problem that needs to be assessed by a professional.
When you leave our clinic, you won't say, «My eyes hurt, but there's nothing wrong with them.» We will analyse your case to determine the cause of your pain before recommending the right treatment. Protect your eye health and avoid unnecessary discomfort.