Eye pain often causes discomfort for each sufferer. Various things can be the cause of eye pain, ranging from infections to allergies. By knowing the cause of the eye pain you are experiencing, the right treatment can be easier to do.
Almost everyone has experienced eye pain. This condition is generally characterized by various symptoms, such as red eyes, itchy and sore, and lots of tears.
Various Causes of Eye Pain
Eye pain can be caused by various things, ranging from irritation, allergies, viral and bacterial infections, to eye injuries. Some causes of eye pain are generally harmless and will subside on their own.
However, eye pain can sometimes also be caused by certain medical conditions that need to be watched out for, because there is a risk of causing permanent eye damage and disorders.
The following are some of the causes of eye pain that are important for you to know:
1. Irritation
Eye irritation can occur due to several factors, such as exposure to certain chemicals or dust, cigarette smoke, allergies, to infections.
In certain cases, prolonged exposure to the sun on the eyes can also cause irritation. Some examples of eye diseases caused by irritation are dry eyes and conjunctivitis.
2. Allergies
Eye allergies are caused by an overreaction of the immune system to substances or substances that trigger allergies (allergens) that enter the eye. Factors that trigger allergies can vary, such as smoke, dust, food, to use make up in the eye area.
This condition is generally characterized by itchy, swollen, red, and watery eyes.
3. Infection
Eye infections are eye diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, and fungi. The cause of this eye pain can attack one eye or both and tends to be easily contagious.
When you experience eye pain caused by an infection, you may feel symptoms of pain or discomfort in your eyes, blurred vision, until your eyes feel itchy, red, and watery.
Some examples of eye diseases caused by infection, namely viral and bacterial conjunctivitis, stye, keratitis, trachoma, and endophthalmitis.
4. Injury
Injuries to the eye can result from exposure to chemicals, such as soap or shampoo, entry of foreign objects, and injuries from falls, being hit by a blunt object, or stab wounds to the eye. Injuries to the eye can be minor, but there are also serious and risky causes of blindness.
Minor eye injuries generally only cause pain, redness, and watering. This condition usually subsides on its own.
Another case if the eye injury that occurs is quite severe. This condition can cause hyphema or bleeding in the cornea of the eye, tear the eye lens, and damage the eye nerve. This condition needs to be treated immediately by a doctor because it can cause blindness.
5. Inflammation
One of the causes of eye pain that is also quite common is inflammation of the eye. The cause of eye pain can cause inflammation in various parts of the eye, such as the sclera or the white part of the eye, the conjunctiva or the inside of the eyelid, to the cornea of the eye.
Some examples of eye diseases caused by inflammation are uveitis, conjunctivitis, scleritis, episcleritis, and keratitis. Inflammation of the eye can cause eye pain or itching, swelling, watering, redness, and blurry vision.
6. Increased eye pressure
Increased eye pressure can occur when the flow of fluid inside the eye is blocked. The high pressure on the eyeball over time will cause damage to the optic nerve and retina. This condition can cause a disease called glaucoma.
People with glaucoma may experience symptoms of intense eye pain, red eyes, headaches, and cloudy vision. This type of eye pain can be experienced by all ages, but is more common in the elderly.
7. Aging
Aging can make various functions of the body's organs decline, including the eyes. The causes of eye pain due to age often cause visual disturbances, such as cataracts, presbyopia, and macular degeneration.
Presbyopia is a condition when the eye has lost focus on certain objects. People with presbyopia usually need to wear glasses to see clearly.
Meanwhile, macular degeneration is a disease that occurs when the function of the retina in the eye is reduced, making it difficult for the sufferer to see clearly.
Some Steps to Treat Eye Pain
There are eye pain that can heal by itself, but there are also those that need to be treated by a doctor. You need to see an eye doctor if you experience severe eye pain, eye pain that does not go away, or causes vision problems.
To treat eye pain complaints that you are experiencing, the doctor will provide treatment according to the cause of the eye pain.
For example, if your eye pain is caused by a bacterial infection, your doctor may prescribe eye drops or ointment that contain antibiotics. If your eye pain is caused by glaucoma, your doctor may prescribe medication or suggest you undergo eye surgery.
In addition to medical treatment from a doctor, you can also relieve eye pain in the following ways:
- Rest your eyes for a while after a long activity in front of the computer or while watching television.
- Use glasses to protect your eyes from dust or dirt that gets into your eyes.
- Give a cold compress to relieve the symptoms of red and itchy eyes due to irritation or allergies, while to relieve swollen eyes due to a stye, you can use a warm compress.
- Use eye drops to relieve irritation or dry eyes. One of the eye drops that can be used is artificial tears.
In addition, also make it a habit not to touch or rub your eyes too often because it can make your eyes hurt even more.
Because the causes of eye pain can vary, the treatment is not the same. Therefore, when you experience eye pain, you should see a doctor so that the cause of your eye pain can be ascertained and appropriate treatment is given.