BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuEye painOphthalmalgia; Pain - eyePain in the eye may be described as a burning, throbbing, aching, or stabbing sensation in or around the eye. It may also feel like you have a foreign object in your eye.This article discusses eye pain that is not caused by injury or surgery. Considerations Pain in the eye can be an important symptom of a health problem. Make sure you tell your health care provider if you have eye pain that does not go away. Tired eyes or some eye discomfort (eyestrain) is most often a minor problem and it will often go away with rest. These problems may be caused by the wrong eyeglass or contact lens prescription. Sometimes they are due to a problem with the eye muscles. Causes Many things can cause pain in or around the eye. If the pain is severe, does not go away, or causes vision loss, seek medical attention immediately.Some things that can cause eye pain are:Infections Inflammation Contact lens problems Dry eye Acute glaucoma Acute glaucomaGlaucoma is a group of eye conditions that can damage the optic nerve. This nerve sends the images you see to your brain. Most often, optic nerve da...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Sinus problems Neuropathy NeuropathyNeuropathy is injury to one or more peripheral nerves. These are nerves that are not in the brain or spinal cord. Neuropathy secondary to drugs cau...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Eyestrain Headache Flu Home Care Resting your eyes should relieve discomfort due to eye strain.If you wear contacts, try using glasses for a few days to see if the pain goes away. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if:The pain is severe (call immediately), or it continues for more than 2 days You have decreased vision along with the eye pain You have chronic conditions like arthritis or autoimmune problems You have pain along with redness, swelling, discharge, or pressure in the eyes What to Expect at Your Office Visit Your provider will check your vision, eye movements, and the back of your eye. If there is a major concern, you should see an ophthalmologist. This is a doctor who specializes in eye problems.To help find the source of the problem, your provider may ask:Do you have pain in both eyes? Is the pain in the eye or around the eye? Does it feel like something is in your eye now? Does your eye burn or throb? Did the pain begin suddenly? Is the pain worse when you move your eyes? Are you light sensitive? What other symptoms do you have? The following eye tests may be done:Slit-lamp examination Slit-lamp examinationThe slit-lamp examination looks at structures that are at the front of the eye.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Fluorescein examination Fluorescein examinationFluorescein angiography is an eye test that uses a special dye and camera to look at blood flow in the retina and choroid. These are the two layers ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Eye pressure check if glaucoma is suspected GlaucomaGlaucoma is a group of eye conditions that can damage the optic nerve. This nerve sends the images you see to your brain. Most often, optic nerve da...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Pupillary response to lightIf the pain seems to come from the surface of the eye, such as with a foreign body, the provider may put anesthetic drops in your eyes. If the pain goes away, that will often confirm the surface as the source of the pain.Open ReferencesReferencesCioffi GA, Liebmann JM. Diseases of the visual system. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 391.Demirayak B, Yilmaz Tugan B, Toprak M, Çinik R. Digital eye strain and its associated factors in children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2022;70(3):988-992. PMID: 35225557 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35225557/.Dupre AA, Vojta LR. Red and painful eye. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 18.Pane A, Miller NR, Burdon M. Unexplained eye pain, orbital pain or headache. In: Pane A, Miller NR, Burdon M, eds. The Neuro-ophthalmology Survival Guide. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 12.Rusciano D, Bagnoli P, Gallar J, Galor A. Eye pain: editorial etiology and therapeutic approaches. Front Pharmacol. 2022;13:914809. PMID: 35571104 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35571104/.Swartz MH, Hirshaut V. The eye. In: Swartz MH, ed. Textbook of Physical Diagnosis: History and Examination. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 10.AllVideoImagesTogSelf Care Diabetes eye careNeck pain or spasms - self care Tests for Eye pain Standard eye examEye and orbit ultrasoundRelated Information Review Date: 11/8/2023 Reviewed By: Franklin W. Lusby, MD, Ophthalmologist, Lusby Vision Institute, La Jolla, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. 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Eye painOphthalmalgia; Pain - eyePain in the eye may be described as a burning, throbbing, aching, or stabbing sensation in or around the eye. It may also feel like you have a foreign object in your eye.This article discusses eye pain that is not caused by injury or surgery. Considerations Pain in the eye can be an important symptom of a health problem. Make sure you tell your health care provider if you have eye pain that does not go away. Tired eyes or some eye discomfort (eyestrain) is most often a minor problem and it will often go away with rest. These problems may be caused by the wrong eyeglass or contact lens prescription. Sometimes they are due to a problem with the eye muscles. Causes Many things can cause pain in or around the eye. If the pain is severe, does not go away, or causes vision loss, seek medical attention immediately.Some things that can cause eye pain are:Infections Inflammation Contact lens problems Dry eye Acute glaucoma Acute glaucomaGlaucoma is a group of eye conditions that can damage the optic nerve. This nerve sends the images you see to your brain. Most often, optic nerve da...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Sinus problems Neuropathy NeuropathyNeuropathy is injury to one or more peripheral nerves. These are nerves that are not in the brain or spinal cord. Neuropathy secondary to drugs cau...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Eyestrain Headache Flu Home Care Resting your eyes should relieve discomfort due to eye strain.If you wear contacts, try using glasses for a few days to see if the pain goes away. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if:The pain is severe (call immediately), or it continues for more than 2 days You have decreased vision along with the eye pain You have chronic conditions like arthritis or autoimmune problems You have pain along with redness, swelling, discharge, or pressure in the eyes What to Expect at Your Office Visit Your provider will check your vision, eye movements, and the back of your eye. If there is a major concern, you should see an ophthalmologist. This is a doctor who specializes in eye problems.To help find the source of the problem, your provider may ask:Do you have pain in both eyes? Is the pain in the eye or around the eye? Does it feel like something is in your eye now? Does your eye burn or throb? Did the pain begin suddenly? Is the pain worse when you move your eyes? Are you light sensitive? What other symptoms do you have? The following eye tests may be done:Slit-lamp examination Slit-lamp examinationThe slit-lamp examination looks at structures that are at the front of the eye.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Fluorescein examination Fluorescein examinationFluorescein angiography is an eye test that uses a special dye and camera to look at blood flow in the retina and choroid. These are the two layers ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Eye pressure check if glaucoma is suspected GlaucomaGlaucoma is a group of eye conditions that can damage the optic nerve. This nerve sends the images you see to your brain. Most often, optic nerve da...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Pupillary response to lightIf the pain seems to come from the surface of the eye, such as with a foreign body, the provider may put anesthetic drops in your eyes. If the pain goes away, that will often confirm the surface as the source of the pain.Open ReferencesReferencesCioffi GA, Liebmann JM. Diseases of the visual system. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 391.Demirayak B, Yilmaz Tugan B, Toprak M, Çinik R. Digital eye strain and its associated factors in children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2022;70(3):988-992. PMID: 35225557 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35225557/.Dupre AA, Vojta LR. Red and painful eye. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 18.Pane A, Miller NR, Burdon M. Unexplained eye pain, orbital pain or headache. In: Pane A, Miller NR, Burdon M, eds. The Neuro-ophthalmology Survival Guide. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 12.Rusciano D, Bagnoli P, Gallar J, Galor A. Eye pain: editorial etiology and therapeutic approaches. Front Pharmacol. 2022;13:914809. PMID: 35571104 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35571104/.Swartz MH, Hirshaut V. The eye. In: Swartz MH, ed. Textbook of Physical Diagnosis: History and Examination. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 10.