Eye Pain - Symptom Evaluation.

Eye pain is a worrying symptom often described in different ways depending on the cause . The pain that arises from the surface structures of the eye results in flames, or sharp, stabbing pain. Pain due to conditions affecting deeper structures feels like a throbbing pain or sharp pain .

The cause of eye pain can be diagnosed to some extent on the basis of the description of pain by the patient. For example :

Pain in one eye may be due to trauma. The pain that affects both eyes may be due to infection or systemic disease.

The sudden appearance of sore eyes deeply rooted grave could indicate glaucoma.

Eye pain accompanied by purulent discharge indicates a bacterial infection.

Eye pain that is not accompanied by visual symptoms may indicate that the conjunctiva and eyelids are affected. Visual disturbances are usually caused when the cornea or deeper structures are involved.

Mild pain may accompany conjunctival infection.

A history of contact lens wear may indicate a corneal abrasion or infection.

Eye pain that occurs in patients with conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis may indicate eye imposition by the disease.

In some cases, such as glaucoma or infection of the deeper structures , is necessary to identify the cause and treat early to prevent permanent damage to vision .
causes

Eye pain could be due to a cause in the surface structures of the eye, the deeper structures or structures surrounding the eye .

The causes of eye pain are listed below :

Conditions affecting the eyelids and surrounding structures : conditions affecting the eyelids and surrounding structures leading to eye pain are :

Sty : A stye is an inflammation of a blocked oil gland located at the edge of the eyelids. Makes a noticeable lump that is often red and painful to touch . The pain after the obstruction is relieved disappears.

Blepharitis : Blepharitis is a condition in which the eyelash follicles are inflamed. It causes pain around the eye. The eyelids appear red and irritated, with scales attached . Crusting, swelling and itching may occur.

Sinusitis: Sinusitis is inflammation and sometimes infection of the sinuses of the face. Usually accompanies an infection of the respiratory tract and may cause eye pain .

Migraine: Eye pain may occur during migraine attacks . It is accompanied by other migraine symptoms , such as headache , nausea , vomiting and visual disturbances.

Conditions affecting the conjunctiva : The conjunctiva is the membrane that covers the eye and the inner surface of the eyelids. Conditions affecting the conjunctiva which can cause eye pain are:

Conjunctivitis or eye pain is one of the most common causes of eye pain . Conjunctivitis is caused by a viral or bacterial infection or an allergic reaction of the conjunctiva. Allergic conjunctivitis is associated with more itching than pain .

Viral conjunctivitis Viral conjunctivitis is caused by viruses such as adenovirus , herpes simplex virus , enterovirus , varicella zoster virus and Epstein Barr virus . Viral conjunctivitis is spread through direct contact with contaminated fingers or personal items . Often associated with infection of the upper respiratory tract. The eye discharge is usually watery or mucous . Pain in the eyes of viral conjunctivitis is minimal. However, the pain may be more severe in the case of herpes zoster . In this case , the patient may experience pain in the area of ​​distribution of the affected nerve . The presence of fluid-filled eruptions along the distribution of a nerve to help diagnose the condition.

Bacterial Conjunctivitis Bacterial conjunctivitis is very contagious and is most commonly spread through direct contact with contaminated fingers . Staphylococcus aureus causes acute bacterial conjunctivitis in adults , whereas Streptococcus pneumoniae and H. influenzae are common causes of bacterial conjunctivitis in children. Mild to moderate pain with stinging sensation , red eye with foreign body sensation , purulent discharge with mild to moderate bilateral eyes glued to wake up are some of the symptoms associated with bacterial conjunctivitis.

Conditions affecting the cornea The cornea is the clear surface on the front of the eye through which light enters . Conditions affecting the cornea causing eye pain include:

Corneal abrasions and ulcerations : Corneal abrasions occur scratches the surface of the cornea by objects such as a foreign body in the eye or contact lenses. Abrasions exposed nerves that are stimulated and results in pain every time the patient blinks . Other symptoms of corneal abrasions are red and watery eyes, increased sensitivity to light and a gritty feeling . Abrasions may predispose to ulceration.

Keratitis : Keratitis or corneal inflammation causes severe eye pain. Could be the result of bacterial or viral infection, or abrasion of the cornea. It is accompanied by redness of the eye , reduced vision , abnormal sensitivity to light , mucopurulent discharge and foreign body sensation .

Trauma: Trauma to the cornea and deeper structures of the eye could be the result of direct injury to the eye , contact with a foreign body or a superficial burn caused by a chemical or intense light, as in welding . The patient complains of a painful red eye and reduced vision when the cornea is involved. The trauma to surrounding structures translates into the black eye.

Conditions affecting the sclera : The sclera is the white of the eye . Inflammation of the sclera can lead to eye pain .

Scleritis : Scleritis is a condition where the white of the eye becomes inflamed. Usually occurs due to diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Wegener granulomatosis , reactive arthritis, sarcoidosis , inflammatory bowel disease, syphilis and tuberculosis. The patient complains of severe pain , boring radiates to the area around the eyeball . The pain increases with movement of the eyes and is intense at night and waking . In addition , the patient also complains of eye redness, watery discharge and increased sensitivity to light.

Conditions that affect the deeper structures of the eye : Conditions affecting the deeper ocular structures that could lead to eye pain are :

Glaucoma : Glaucoma is a condition in which the pressure of the eye rises . If left untreated, it could lead to defects in vision and even blindness. The glaucoma eye pain is acute and severe , throbbing home . Other symptoms include blurred vision , halos around lights , nausea and vomiting. In some cases, the glaucoma may be painless .

Iritis : Iritis is inflammation of the iris , or the colored part of the eye. It could be a result of a puncture wound , a corneal ulcer or autoimmune condition . The patient complains of constant pain in the eye that develops over hours and radiates to the forehead or temple . Other symptoms include redness and watering of the eyes , blurred vision and increased sensitivity to light.

Optic neuritis : Optic neuritis is inflammation of the optic nerve, the nerve that is responsible for vision . Optic neuritis may occur due to multiple sclerosis , bacterial or viral infections . In addition to pain , symptoms include pressure behind the eye and vision disturbances .
FAQ
1. Which doctor should I visit in case of suffering from eye pain ?

You should see an eye doctor if you suffer from sore eyes .

Two . When you have eye pain indicates a serious problem?

Any ocular pain accompanied by visual disturbances should be investigated immediately. Moreover, any eye pain should prompt a visit to the ophthalmologist to avoid any permanent eye damage.

Three . Do you have glaucoma always causes eye pain ?

Glaucoma does not always cause pain in the eyes . Open-angle glaucoma , a condition in which the pressure in the eye rises slowly usually painless . Furthermore, angle -closure glaucoma is associated with a sudden increase in pressure resulting in severe eye pain and blindness if not treated immediately .