Eye Pain
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Try one of these related symptoms.
My eye hurts
Pain behind my eyes
Pain in the inner corner of the eye (next to the nose)
Pain inside my eyeball
Pain on the surface of the eye
Pain in the eyes when i don't get enough sleep
Pain around the middle of my eyes
Outer eye hurts
Eyeball hurts where it meets the nose
Eye pain and swelling
Deepest part of my eyes hurt
Center of my eye hurts
About the Symptom
Eye pain can be sharp, aching or throbbing pain that can affect one or both eyes. This can be due to an underlying condition and most commonly can be due to dry eyes. However, this may also be due more severe eye conditions and should be evaluated by an eye doctor. Pain with eye movement can be due to systemic causes.
When to See a Doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
- Headache
- Fever
- Swelling of the affected area
- Visual field defect
- Recent weight loss
- Numbness / sensory disorder
- Photophobia
Possible Causes
Generally, Eye pain can be related to:
- Intraocular Foreign Body
Intraocular foreign bodies are unintentional projectiles that are retained in the eye and require urgent diagnosis. If left unattended, they may lead to vision loss and blindness.
- Corneal Injury
Corneal damage is an injury to the cornea, which is the transparent tissue covering the front of the eye.
- Tolosa Hunt Syndrome
Tolosa-Hunt Syndrome is a rare condition characterized by severe headaches behind the eyes, decreased and painful eye movements typically in just one eye. The exact cause is unknown, but it may be related to inflammation in certain areas behind the eye.
- Relapsing Polychondritis
- Cluster Headache
- Giant Cell Arteritis (Temporal Arteritis)
Related Serious Diseases
Sometimes, Eye pain may be related to these serious diseases:
- Endophthalmitis
Inflammation inside the eyeball, typically from infection. Quick medical treatment is necessary to avoid permanent blindness.
- Acute Glaucoma Attack
- Orbital Blowout Fracture
- Optic Neuritis (Optic Neuromyelitis, Ischemic Optic Neuropathy)
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Do you have any eye pain or discomfort?
- Which of the following best describes how your eye pain or discomfort appeared?
- On a scale of 1 to 10, how severe was your eye pain or discomfort at its worst?
- How is your eye pain or discomfort now?
- Does lack of sleep cause your eye pain?
Reviewed By:
Ami Shah Vira, MD (Ophthalmology)
Dr. Shah Vira grew up in Arizona. She moved to Chicago to complete a combined engineering and medical program at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and Chicago Medical School. She completed a highly competitive two year dual fellowship in Neuro-ophthalmology and Oculoplastic at the highly regarded Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Shah Vira specializes in surgical correction of the eyelids and eyebrows, eyelid malposition and tumors, excessive tearing, and conditions involving the orbit.
Masashi Mimura, MD (Ophthalmology)
Dr. Mimura Graduated from the Osaka Medical College and obtained his ophthalmologist certification in 2007. He opened an outpatient clinic for oculoplastic and reconstructive surgery at Osaka Kaijo Hospital. Subsequently, he was appointed as the assistant professor at the Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical College, in 2014. He then served an international fellowship at the Department of Ophthalmology/Oculoplastic and Reconstructive Surgery, California State University, San Diego. Since then, he has been appointed as Lecturer in the Departments of Ophthalmology at Osaka Medical College and Toho University Medical Center Sakura Hospital. Dr. Mimura is currently the Director of Oculofacial Clinic Osaka, where he specializes in Oculofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Content updated on Feb 6, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
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- Pain at the back of my eyes
- Surface of my eye hurts
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- Eye surface pain
- Have eye pain and swelling
- My eyes hurt after not sleeping
- Retro-orbital pain
- Eye feels like burning
- Eye pain when lacking of sleep
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User Testimonials for Eye pain
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FAQs
Q.
Is Your Eye Stye Painful? Why Your Eyelid Is Swollen & Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
Eye styes are often painful and cause a swollen eyelid because a blocked oil gland gets infected and inflamed; most improve within 3 to 10 days. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand more. Start warm compresses 10 to 15 minutes, 3 to 4 times daily, keep lids clean, avoid makeup and contacts, and use over the counter pain relief if needed. Seek care urgently for severe or worsening pain, spreading redness or swelling, fever, vision changes, or no improvement in 1 to 2 weeks; complete details on causes, treatment, prevention, and when it could be something more serious are below.
References:
* Kim HY, Han YK. Hordeolum: A Comprehensive Review of Etiology, Pathophysiology, and Management. Clin Ophthalmol. 2023 Aug 24;17:2507-2516. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S425977. PMID: 37626359; PMCID: PMC10461665.
* Gupta M, Sarwal D, Chacko M, et al. Acute Hordeolum and Chalazion: An Overview of the Etiology, Pathophysiology, and Management Options. Cureus. 2024 Jan 15;16(1):e52331. doi: 10.7759/cureus.52331. PMID: 38318721; PMCID: PMC10865805.
* Varghese A, Das L, Mathai A, et al. Hordeolum (Stye) and Chalazion: Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes. Cureus. 2022 Jul 23;14(7):e27228. doi: 10.7759/cureus.27228. PMID: 36043004; PMCID: PMC9397631.
* Maram J, Zaidman GW. Hordeolum and Chalazion Management. Am J Ophthalmol. 2022 Jan;233:209-216. doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2021.09.006. Epub 2021 Sep 16. PMID: 34537130.
* Su Y, Hou Y, Yu W, et al. Topical Treatment for Acute External Hordeolum: A Systematic Review. Front Med (Lausanne). 2022 Jun 17;9:907379. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2022.907379. PMID: 35790691; PMCID: PMC9246197.
Q.
Painful Eyelid? Why Your Eye Is Swollen & Medically Approved Stye Treatment
A.
A painful, swollen eyelid is most often a stye, a mild bacterial blockage that usually improves with warm compresses several times daily, gentle eyelid cleaning, pausing makeup and contacts, and not popping, with most healing in 7 to 14 days. There are several factors to consider, including red flags like spreading redness, severe pain, fever, vision changes, or no improvement after 1 to 2 weeks that need prompt care and other causes like chalazion or cellulitis that change next steps; see the complete guidance below for when antibiotics or drainage are needed and how to prevent recurrences.
References:
* Lumpkin, J. H. (2023). Hordeolum and Chalazion. In *StatPearls [Internet]*. StatPearls Publishing.
* Gupta, C., & Gupta, M. (2020). Management of external hordeolum. *Indian Journal of Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology*, *2*(4), 384-387.
* Katsimpris, A., Purtskhvanidze, K., & Tsaousis, K. T. (2022). Unilateral Eyelid Swelling as a Diagnostic Dilemma. *Journal of Clinical Medicine*, *11*(13), 3749.
* Rojas-Ronderos, A., Vizueta, J. M., & Mejía-Mejía, L. M. (2021). Hordeolum and Chalazion: Pathogenesis, Clinical Manifestations, and Management. *Current Opinion in Ophthalmology*, *32*(4), 304-309.
* Kassiri, J., & Kassiri, S. (2022). A review of current management strategies for hordeolum and chalazion. *Journal of Contemporary Medical Education*, *2*(1), 22-29.
Q.
Blurry Vision? Why Your Eyes Are Failing & Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
Burning, irritated eyes are common and often due to dryness, allergies, environmental irritants, screen strain, or contact lens issues, but sometimes stem from infections or urgent problems like corneal injury, chemical exposure, or acute glaucoma. Try artificial tears, warm or cool compresses, screen breaks, and good hygiene, but seek prompt care for severe pain, vision changes, light sensitivity with pain, thick discharge, swelling, injury, chemical splash, or symptoms lasting more than a few days. There are several factors to consider, and important details that can affect your next steps are explained below.
References:
* Tsubota K, Satake Y, Shimazaki J. Dry Eye Disease and Its Treatment. N Engl J Med. 2023 Jun 22;388(25):2343-2350. doi: 10.1056/NEJMcp2207261. PMID: 37341775.
* Craig JP, Nichols KK, Akpek EK, Caffery B, Dua HS, Joo CK, Liu Z, Nelson JD, Ng SM, Srinivasan S, Sullivan DA, Tomlinson A, Tong L, de Figueiredo FP, van Setten G, Willcox MDP, Wolffsohn JS, Jones L. TFOS DEWS II Report Executive Summary. Ocul Surf. 2017 Jul;15(3):286-333. doi: 10.1016/j.jts.2017.05.003. Epub 2017 May 17. PMID: 28736339.
* Gomes PJ. Allergic conjunctivitis: a comprehensive review. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2017 Mar;118(3):263-267. doi: 10.1016/j.anai.2016.12.015. Epub 2017 Jan 3. PMID: 28283307.
* Pinheiro J, Marinho J, Marinho P, Vaz C. Blepharitis: A Review. Clin Ophthalmol. 2024 Jan 15;18:137-147. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S446549. PMID: 38230006; PMCID: PMC10800624.
* Belmonte C, Acosta MC, Gallar J. Neural mechanisms of ocular pain. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2022 Mar;87:101009. doi: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2021.101009. Epub 2021 Dec 2. PMID: 34863953.
Q.
What actually works for how to get rid of a stye overnight?
A.
You generally can’t make a stye disappear overnight, but you can quickly reduce pain and swelling with frequent warm compresses (10–15 minutes, 3–5 times/day), gentle lid hygiene, stopping makeup/contacts, and, when appropriate, an antibiotic ointment or prescription azithromycin 1% eye drops—never squeeze it. Most clear in 7–10 days; seek care sooner for worsening redness/swelling, vision changes, or fever. There are several factors and options (including when to use oral antibiotics or drainage) that could change your next steps—see the complete guidance below.
References:
Jia BQ, Huang XZ, & Lu ZQ. (2010). Efficacy and safety of topical azithromycin 1% eye drops in the treatment of acute internal hordeolum. International Journal of Ophthalmology, 20960022.
Su TH & Lin YH. (2012). Liver stiffness measurement for the prediction of clinical outcomes in patients with chronic liver disease. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 22302722.
D'Amico G, Garcia-Tsao G, & Pagliaro L. (2006). Natural history and prognostic indicators of survival in cirrhosis: a systemic review of 118 studies. Journal of Hepatology, 16809125.
Q.
How long does pinkeye last?
A.
Most cases last: viral 7–14 days (sometimes up to 21), bacterial 2–5 days to improve with antibiotics or 7–14 days without, and allergic as long as you’re exposed to the trigger. There are several factors that can change this timeline—including treatment, hygiene, and your overall health—and important red flags for when to seek care; see the complete details below to guide your next steps.
References:
Azari AA, & Barney NP. (2013). Update on diagnosis and management of infectious conjunctivi… Curr Opin Ophthalmol, 23361519.
Tsochatzis EA, Bosch J, & Burroughs AK. (2014). Liver cirrhosis. Lancet, 24388019.
D'Amico G, Garcia-Tsao G, & Pagliaro L. (2006). Hepatic venous pressure gradient and prognosis in cirrhosis… Journal of Hepatology, 16614669.
Q.
What are the causes of my eye pain when blinking?
A.
Eye pain when blinking can be caused by various factors, including surface irritation, infections, and underlying medical conditions. Identifying the specific cause is essential for effective treatment and relief.
References:
Brazis PW, Lee AG, Stewart M, Capobianco D. Clinical review: the differential diagnosis of pain in the quiet eye. Neurologist. 2002 Mar;8(2):82-100. doi: 10.1097/00127893-200203000-00003. PMID: 12803694.
Pflipsen M, Massaquoi M, Wolf S. Evaluation of the Painful Eye. Am Fam Physician. 2016 Jun 15;93(12):991-8. PMID: 27304768.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Kulenkamp J, McClelland CM, Lee MS. Eye pain in the white and quiet eye. Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 2020 Nov;31(6):483-488. doi: 10.1097/ICU.0000000000000702. PMID: 33009080.
https://journals.lww.com/co-ophthalmology/Abstract/2020/11000/Eye_pain_in_the_white_and_quiet_eye.6.aspxAguilera ZP, Chen PL. Eye Pain in Children. Pediatr Rev. 2016 Oct;37(10):418-425. doi: 10.1542/pir.2015-0096. PMID: 27694119.
https://publications.aap.org/pediatricsinreview/article-abstract/37/10/418/34916/Eye-Pain-in-Children?redirectedFrom=fulltextLee AG, Al-Zubidi N, Beaver HA, Brazis PW. An update on eye pain for the neurologist. Neurol Clin. 2014 May;32(2):489-505. doi: 10.1016/j.ncl.2013.11.007. Epub 2014 Feb 28. PMID: 24703541.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0733861913001217?via%3Dihub