Sharp or sudden pain in the eye is usually due to debris in or around the eye. It’s typically referred to as an aching, stabbing, or burning feeling within the eye itself. Sharp pain can likewise be caused by more major conditions such as uveitis or glaucoma. Read on to learn more about possible causes, treatments, and when to get help.
Causes of Sharp Pain In The Eye
Pain in the eye can be triggered by any number of conditions or irritants. If you’re suffering from sharp eye pain that doesn’t go away after washing your eye with a saline eyewash option, you need to get an examination from your eye doctor.
Debris in Eye
Among the most common reasons for sharp pain in the eye is particles. This happens when something — like dust, dirt, or other foreign substances– gets into the eye, causing irritation and pain.
If you believe you have something in your eye, you need to try to flush it out with saline service or water.
If you’re still feeling extreme pain, you must contact your eye doctor, an eye doctor, or an ophthalmologist. You might have a scratch on your eye (a corneal abrasion), which will require medical assessment.
If there’s a sharp things that’s still sticking out of your eye, don’t remove it. Get medical assistance immediately.
Cluster Headaches
A cluster headache can impact the performance of your eye. It normally affects one side of the head and can last 15 minutes to 3 hours. Signs can include:
- red eye
- droopy eye or eyelid
- tearing in the eye
- swelling or sharp pain
Treatment usually includes medicine to treat or avoid the headache. Avoiding cluster headaches generally involves keeping a headache diary to diagnose your triggers and patterns.
Contact Lens Problems
If you’re wearing contact lens, your eye pain may be because of a problem with your contacts. If your vision is blurry along with the pain, your contact lens may have moved or become folded in your eye.
If you can see your contact lens in the mirror, you ought to clean your hands and attempt to remove it.
If you can’t see it, you must flush your eye with saline option and continue to roll your eye around until the contact lens shifts to an accessible place on the surface area of your eye.
Uveitis
Uveitis is a group of inflammatory diseases that impact the part of the eye called the uvea. The uvea is the middle layer of the eye, that includes the iris, ciliary body, and choroid (most of the capillary). Uveitis is usually brought on by:
- autoimmune malfunction
- eye trauma
- toxins introduced to the eye
- tumors or infections
Uveitis is detected by an eye exam and followed by treatment, which is typically prescribed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist. Your physician may prescribe medication such as:
eye drops with an anti-inflammatory medication
corticosteroid pill or injection
antibiotics or antiviral medication
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an illness that affects the optic nerve of the eye. The American Academy of Ophthalmology states that there are about 60.5 million individuals who experience glaucoma globally.
Acute angle-closure glaucoma is categorized as a medical emergency– it can result in blindness within a few days. If you’re experiencing the following symptoms, you require to contact a physician right away.
- severe eye pain
- visual disturbance
- blurry vision
- vomiting
A glaucoma check must belong to your yearly eye doctor check out too, specifically if you’re over the age of 35. Early detection is key to safeguarding your vision from glaucoma-related damage.
Outlook
Your eye pain is usually really treatable!
If your head harms along with your eye injury, you might be experiencing a migraine or cluster headache.
If your eye pain doesn’t disappear after you’ve rinsed your eye, you may be experiencing a more serious condition.
If the symptoms don’t subside after a couple of hours, think about seeking medical attention.