Every person can experience pain in the eyes, especially in modern life. Currently, there is an excessive load on the visual organs, fatigue, and constant connection with digital technology. However, the causes of this illness may be a special sensitivity to light or some serious disease of the internal organs. Pain in the eyes is not a full-fledged pathology, it is rather a symptom. This sign clearly indicates the presence of damage to the visual analyzer. Depending on the cause, the nature of the symptom and its effect on the human body differs. If such an unpleasant sensation occurs, it is best to consult a doctor who will sort out the situation. In this article we will look at the causes, signs, symptoms and treatment of pain in the eyes.
Terms of use
Any eye painkillers can only be used as prescribed by a doctor. Drops have a symptomatic effect, eliminating pain. They are prescribed in combination with other medications that have an antibacterial, antiviral or healing effect.
Indications for the use of anesthetic drops:
- inflammatory eye diseases accompanied by pain;
- eye drops are widely used after eye injury;
- herpetic infection affecting the organ of vision;
- Drops are used to numb the eye before medical procedures or surgery.
When the cause of eye pain is unknown, it is recommended that you first be examined by a doctor who will select the most effective pain medication.
Drops are instilled into the eyes in compliance with certain rules:
- Wash your hands thoroughly before the procedure;
- the medicine should be at room temperature;
- gently pull back the lower eyelid with your finger, drip 1-2 drops, trying to get into the recess between the eyeball and the mucous membrane;
- then you need to close your eye, make several rotational movements so that the medicine is distributed;
- During instillation, do not touch the nose of the bottle to the surface of the eye or conjunctiva.
The medicine is used in the dosage and frequency prescribed by the doctor.
Video: How to properly instill eye drops
Causes
The causes of pain in the eyes often lie in the spread of an inflammatory disease that has affected one of the parts of the eye. A similar process can be caused by various factors, both viral, bacteriological, and allergic or physical in nature.
A similar symptom quite often accompanies various ophthalmological diseases from uveitis and cyclitis to. The unpleasant sensation itself is provoked by microorganisms and pathogenic microbes, the first place among which can be given to pathogenic cocci, chlamydia or intestinal microorganisms.
Sometimes pain in the eyes can be accompanied by accompanying symptoms such as, or.
If you look deeper, the root cause of inflammatory processes, and therefore discomfort in the eye area, is a decrease in the functioning of the immune system. Due to nervous overstrain, stressful situations or general weakening of the body, the protective function weakens and it is enough for bacteria to simply break through the barrier.
Sometimes a cutting pain can accompany dry eye syndrome, which most often occurs in people who work at a computer for a long time. We also cannot discount non-compliance with personal hygiene rules and inattention to disinfection of contact lenses, on which pathogenic microbes can accumulate.
If, after a complete examination, the ophthalmologist cannot determine the causes of the unpleasant sensation, then you can consult a neurologist; perhaps such a pathology indicates a disease associated with dysfunction of the facial nerve.
List of drugs and their descriptions
There are many types of eye pain drops. In addition to the main effect, medications may have anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effects.
Albucid
The most common remedy on the list of pain-relieving eye drops, primarily due to its low cost - approximately 100 rubles. The analgesic effect of Albucid is insignificant; its main purpose is as an antiseptic.
Used for inflammatory eye diseases, to prevent infection after injuries. Instill 1-2 doses into each conjunctival sac. The duration of treatment is 5-7 days.
Application may be accompanied by a burning sensation. Drops are contraindicated in the presence of individual intolerance.
Indocollier
The main active ingredient is indomethacin 0.1%. The volume of the bottle is 5 ml, the cost is 250 rubles. Indomethacin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that has a moderate analgesic effect.
Instill 1 dose every six hours. The duration of treatment is determined individually, 7-28 days. Side effects may include burning of the organ of vision and short-term blurred vision.
Indocollir is contraindicated for people with stomach diseases, bronchial asthma, and allergies to NSAIDs.
Naklof
The main substance is diclofenac 1%. It also belongs to the group of NSAIDs and has a moderate analgesic effect. The cost of the medicine is approximately 150 rubles. Widely used to treat injuries and post-operative conditions.
Instill one dose of Naklof in each eye. Sometimes there is a short-term burning sensation and discomfort. Since the drug contains diclofenac, the instructions warn against its use by people who are allergic to NSAIDs or have bronchial asthma.
Video: Naklof - indications for use
Inocaine
Drops with an analgesic effect contain the anesthetic oxybuprocaine 0.4%. The cost of a 5 ml bottle is 150 rubles. The effect is short-term, therefore it is used mainly before medical procedures and to eliminate pain after laser operations.
Place one drop on each conjunctival sac. If longer anesthesia is needed, the dose is tripled. Side effects include a short-term burning sensation.
Inocaine is contraindicated if you are allergic to lidocaine or similar anesthetics. The medicine is not recommended for long-term treatment of eye diseases, as it may cause clouding of the cornea.
Alcaine
A painkiller similar to Inocaine. Contains proxymetacaine 0.5%. Used as drops for severe eye pain during short-term operations or examinations. Cost 200 rubles.
“Alcaine” is instilled in one dose immediately before the procedure. There may be a burning sensation and redness of the mucous membrane. Contraindicated in the presence of intolerance to lidocaine and other local anesthetics.
Nevanak
A drug with anti-inflammatory and moderate analgesic effect. The main substance is nepafenac 1%. It is most widely used after treatment of cataracts, in patients with diabetic angiopathy. Cost 700 rubles.
Prescribe one dose every 8 hours. Side effects include foreign body sensation. Contraindicated in case of bronchial asthma, intolerance to NSAIDs. Patients receiving Nevanac are advised to avoid exposure to direct sunlight.
Video: Nevanak
Broxinac
Contains bromfenac, a substance from the NSAID group. The cost of a bottle is about 500 rubles. Has anti-inflammatory, analgesic effect. Used in patients after cataract surgery.
Prescribe one dose every 8 hours. Cannot be combined with the use of contact lenses. Possible short-term burning sensation and blurred vision.
Visine
Contains tetrizoline, a vasoconstrictor. Eliminates swelling and vasospasm, thereby relieving pain. The action comes quickly, but does not last long.
Visine is used every 4 hours. Treatment is continued for no more than 3 days. It has no contraindications, except for children.
Prevention
When pain in the eyes progresses, urgent measures need to be taken. However, it is much easier to prevent a symptom than to deal with it later. To minimize the risk of problems of this kind, you need to follow the rules of prevention:
- Normalize the rest and work regime; you must not overstrain the body.
- Spend as little time as possible at the computer; at the very least, take a break every hour and rest your eyes.
- Consume at least two liters of water per day.
- If you use lenses, take proper care of them.
- Avoid smoky places.
Personal hygiene must be maintained to avoid infectious and bacterial viruses. As for the entry of a foreign body, only special glasses will help protect against it.
Pain in the eyes is a symptom that causes many problems for the patient. If you have such a sign, this indicates damage to the visual analyzer. To receive effective treatment, you need to contact a qualified ophthalmologist. It is not recommended to prescribe therapy on your own or buy drops for dryness and pain in the eyes. After all, some drugs can only worsen the patient’s condition, which will lead to complications.
When painkillers are contraindicated
Any drug has contraindications. Eye drops are no exception. For each product, the instructions indicate the diseases and conditions for which it cannot be used.
General contraindications are:
- individual intolerance;
- acute attack of glaucoma.
Do not use painkillers for a long time - clouding of the cornea may occur.
Eye drops with an analgesic effect are actively used by ophthalmologists. They not only help eliminate pain in diseases, but are also a means of anesthesia before manipulations or surgical interventions.
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If you do not pay attention to some symptoms, you can permanently lose your vision.
Causes
Discomfort is caused by many factors. Very often, cutting pain is the first sign of mechanical damage or developing disease.
Ophthalmological problems
These are infectious diseases: bacteria that have penetrated the area of the eyeball provoke redness of the sclera, irritating the cornea.
Dryness is most often caused by radiation from electronics, such as a computer.
Physical stimuli
- Violations during operation are one of the leading factors in the appearance of discomfort. With them, the eye hurts and hurts.
- Unpleasant sensations are provoked by a reaction to decorative cosmetics and eyelash extension products. When irritating particles come into contact with the eyes, the eyes become watery and there is a feeling of a foreign body on the cornea under the upper eyelid.
- pollen, animal hair, smoke, dust causes pain in the eyes, a profuse runny nose and even suffocation; a similar problem often occurs in a child.
- Mechanical damage to the cornea. These injuries are characterized by stabbing pain and tearing that occurs when a small object is present, as well as a physical burn, such as from welding.
- Damage to the cornea due to a chemical burn.
- Side effects after ophthalmic surgery.
- Excessive exposure to wind, sunlight, temperature changes.
When suffering from acute respiratory infections, patients complain of an increase in temperature, which causes their eyes to hurt, weakness and nausea to appear.
When you need to see a doctor urgently
Go to an appointment with an ophthalmologist as soon as possible or, depending on how you feel, call an ambulance if Eye pain:
- Acute pain occurred immediately after you sawed wood, sanded metal, or performed any other activity that could force a sharp foreign body into your eye.
- Severe pain was a consequence of the injury. For example, you bumped into a hard object or received a blow to the eye socket.
- The pain is accompanied by blurred vision and/or increased sensitivity to light, as well as visual distortions, such as seeing rainbow-colored circles around light sources. These may be symptoms of glaucoma, an irreversible disease that causes atrophy of the optic nerve.
- In addition to pain, you experience bouts of nausea and vomiting.
- Shortly before the pain began, you had eye surgery.
- The affected eye not only hurts, but is also red, swollen, and something comes out of it.
- The pain is severe, it arose suddenly, and at the same time, during previous medical examinations, the ophthalmologist already assumed that you were at risk of developing glaucoma.
- You have difficulty moving the affected eye or cannot keep it open.
One, or even more so several, symptoms are enough to immediately contact a doctor: there is a risk of quickly losing your vision.
Fortunately, situations requiring emergency medical attention do not occur very often. In most cases, eye pain has less dangerous causes. Which, however, should not be tolerated either.
ethnoscience
Pain in the eyes can also be treated using folk remedies. However, it is difficult to talk about their effectiveness. Most doctors don't believe that such methods can help at all. However, the use of various compresses and lotions can eliminate some symptoms.
Here are the most effective folk recipes for visual impairments:
- A spoonful of chamomile, mint or plantain leaves should be brewed in a glass of hot water. Let this decoction sit for ten minutes, moisten a cotton pad in it and apply it to the damaged eye. After twenty minutes, remove the compress.
- Grate raw potatoes, wrap in gauze, and apply to eyes. This compress should be kept for about half an hour.
- You should squeeze the juice out of the dill, moisten a cotton cloth with it and apply it to your eyes for fifteen minutes.
All these methods are aimed at temporarily alleviating the patient's condition. The patient does not need to count on a complete recovery using only traditional methods. It is best to listen to your doctor and follow his recommendations.
Why do your eyes hurt and what to do about it?
Muscle tension
This is one of the most common causes of Eyestrain. Perhaps you stare at your laptop or smartphone screen for too long and actively, work too closely with papers, or are forced to keep your eyes on some object in the distance. In this case, the muscles responsible for the functioning of the eye are constantly in the same tense position. Lactic acid accumulates in them, and this results in pain.
What to do
First of all, remember that your eyes also need rest. When working with documents or getting caught up in gadgets, don’t forget to take a 5-10 minute break at least once every hour and a half. Gymnastics for the eyes will help to effectively relieve muscle tension: it is enough to do the exercises at least once a day.
Giving up glasses
Many people's eyesight deteriorates with age, but not everyone is able to recognize this moment in time. Myopia or farsightedness, not corrected by glasses or lenses, again causes the eye muscles to overstrain. Moreover, you don’t even have to work with documents or at a computer to do this. It's enough just to look at the world around you.
What to do
Check your vision regularly (at least once a year). If necessary, work with your ophthalmologist to select glasses or contact lenses.
Dry cornea
The cornea is the outer transparent layer of the eye. This is an amazing tissue: it has no blood vessels, and tears deliver nutrients and oxygen to it. Not crocodiles, of course, but the small amount of liquid that is secreted from the lacrimal glands in a normal state.
As long as the cornea is washed with a sufficient amount of tear fluid, everything is fine. But if there is not enough moisture, the shell becomes uncomfortable. She does not receive enough oxygen and nutrition and suffers, and we feel pain, burning, and pain in the eyes.
Doctors call this condition dry eye syndrome. It can be caused by various reasons. Maybe:
- The air around is too dry. As a result, the tear fluid evaporates without having time to release what is needed.
- You are too focused and forget to blink. This often happens when working with gadgets.
- You take medications that change the composition of the tear film, causing it to dry out faster. These medications include some antidepressants and oral contraceptives.
- You wear contact lenses every day.
- You have a chronic disease (condition) that affects the composition of your tears. These are, for example, diabetes, menopause, blepharitis (chronic inflammation of the eyelids).
What to do
First, install a humidifier in the room where you spend most of the day. Learn to regularly take a break from your gadgets so you can blink properly.
If pain and burning in the eyes still make themselves felt, be sure to visit an ophthalmologist. The doctor will analyze your health, lifestyle, medications and other factors and make recommendations to reduce corneal dryness. For example, he will prescribe drops with artificial tears.
Sinusitis
Nagging pain behind and above the eyes against the background of sinusitis, sinusitis or other types of sinusitis (inflammation of the paranasal sinuses) is a natural phenomenon. Eye Pain: What is Causes. The infection causes swelling of the mucous membranes, they put pressure on the eyeballs from the inside, causing pain.
What to do
Treat sinusitis. Naturally, under the supervision of a therapist.
Corneal burn (photokeratitis)
Stinging, burning, and a feeling of sand in the eyes may appear after a day spent on a sunny beach or a snowy slope. Well, or after you finally took the risk of looking at welding.
What to do
The unpleasant sensations go away on their own quite quickly. For the future: be sure to wear dark glasses when going out in the sun, and do not neglect the safety rules when welding.
Abrasions, scratches, foreign bodies on the cornea
A gust of wind easily brings dust, dirt, and tiny foreign particles into your eyes. They can leave abrasions, scratches on the cornea, or stick to it for a while, causing Eye Pain, which becomes more obvious when blinking.
What to do
Most abrasions and scratches heal on their own within a day or two, and foreign particles are just as quickly washed away by the tear fluid. To speed up this process, try rinsing your eyes with clean water or artificial tear drops.
But if the pain lasts longer than a couple of days, you need to consult an ophthalmologist: there is a risk that an infection is developing in the eye.
Eye infections
Depending on what exactly is inflamed, eye infections are divided into:
- blepharitis - inflammation of the eyelid;
- keratitis - inflammation of the cornea;
- conjunctivitis - inflammation of the conjunctiva (protein);
- iritis - inflammation of the iris;
- endophthalmitis is inflammation of the inside of the eye.
These conditions are caused by viruses, bacteria, and fungi that enter the visual organ either from the outside (through tiny scratches) or through the bloodstream from the inside.
What to do
The infection is accompanied not only by pain, but also by itching, lacrimation, redness and swelling of the affected eye (or both), and purulent discharge. If you suspect inflammation, consult a doctor as soon as possible. Self-medication is dangerous!
Optic neuritis
This is the name for inflammation of the nerve that transmits information from the eyeball directly to the brain. Neuritis of the optic nerve is one of the most common causes of sudden deterioration of vision in young and middle age. It often accompanies the development of multiple sclerosis.
This type of pain intensifies when moving the eyes from side to side. In addition, it is necessarily accompanied by decreased vision and impaired color perception.
What to do
Contact an ophthalmologist as soon as possible. With timely treatment, neuritis can be defeated and vision can be restored almost completely.
Drops for eye pain are often prescribed.
However, pain is primarily a symptom, and not an independent pathology.
Therefore, before use, you must visit an ophthalmologist and undergo an examination.
Feeling of “sand” in the eyes
Ophthalmological specialists note that patients complain of a feeling as if there was sand in their eyes. The causative factor in the occurrence of such symptoms is most often conjunctivitis. No matter how much the eyes are washed with water, it is extremely difficult to achieve the desired effect. In addition to the listed symptoms, increased body temperature and redness in the eyelid area may occur. It is urgent to determine the nature of the pain in the eyes, which can be fungal, viral and bacterial. Traditionally, the feeling of pain in the eyes is provoked by conjunctivitis, pathologies of the anterior parts of the eye, taking certain groups of medications, and diseases of the thyroid gland. When there is a burning sensation in the eye, the causes and treatment should be determined strictly by a specialist.
What drops are suitable for eye pain
Eye drops with an anesthetic effect must be used according to a doctor's prescription. This is dictated by the specific effects of these drops on vision. Uncontrolled use will lead to visual impairment and chronic pathologies.
Anesthetics are rarely used as an independent treatment. This is part of complex therapy, which is designed to use antibacterial, antiviral, healing agents.
Pain is a consequence of a pathological condition and a common symptom, and not an independent problem. The cause may be an inflammatory process or injury.
It hurts my eyes - what to do?
Find out the cause of the discomfort and, if possible, eliminate it or use means to mitigate the impact of the factor irritating the eye.
The pain cannot be ignored: in some cases it is a symptom of serious problems with the body. An ophthalmologist will help you professionally understand the reasons. |
Drops for sore eyes
To restore the normal state of the mucous membrane, the following medications are used:
- Visine. Neutralizes the irritating effects of chlorinated water, cosmetics, etc.;
- Vial. To narrow blood vessels and eliminate burning sensation due to allergies, swelling of the eyelids;
- Taufon. Indicated for glaucoma and various types of cataracts (unlike many other drugs, these drops for pain have no contraindications and are reasonably priced);
- Opt. Prescribed for dry eye syndrome;
- Torbex. An antibacterial drug that helps treat conjunctivitis of various etiologies.
When opening the tube, you need to cut the edge of the pipette very carefully.
Homeopathic treatment
Controversial therapy: it should be remembered that not a single homeopathic medicine can help quickly, so it is difficult to consider such products medicinal. |
And it is better to use them for preventive purposes - if you understand that your eyes are constantly exposed to increased stress. When you encounter an incomprehensible name, find out the purpose of the components included in the product:
- Colocyte is a drug to eliminate pain due to constant dryness of proteins.
- Belladonna Plus is recommended if it hurts the eyes due to allergic conjunctivitis.
- Echinacea drops are suggested for low general immunity.
Eye treatment with folk remedies
- A proven remedy for pain caused by welding bunnies:
Raw potatoes are grated on the finest grater. The mass is lightly squeezed, wrapped in gauze napkins and applied to the eyes. Change as the compresses warm up and until you feel better.
- Homemade tea for dilated blood vessels. Regular tea leaves are used to wash the eyes for any pain.
- Chamomile-linden infusion to combat dry eye syndrome
What drops will aggravate the eye condition?
Drops used uncontrollably, or not suitable for individual indicators. Therefore, before use, you should consult an ophthalmologist.
The doctor will make an appointment immediately after the examination. The underlying causes will be identified and appropriate treatment will be prescribed.
- Medicines taken.
- Accompanying illnesses.
- Age-related changes.
- Gender.
- Hereditary factors.
- Previous illnesses.
Prerequisites for a headache and watery eyes
Pain in the head with pain radiating to the organs of vision occurs for the following reasons:
Prolonged work and eye strain cause eye fatigue, pain and watery eyes.
1. Increased blood pressure (or hypertension), which provokes increased intraocular pressure. The pain comes suddenly, and with sudden movements or sneezing, the eyes hurt and water.
2. Migraines and cluster pains, which can cause blurred vision and photophobia. During attacks there is a sensation of unilateral shooting pain.
3. Colds and infections of the head or nasopharynx (sinusitis, sinusitis, encephalitis, meningitis). In this case, there is constant pain, and a sudden change in head position increases the discomfort.
4. Inappropriate contact lenses or glasses, wearing them throughout the day causes overstrain of the ocular nerves and throbbing eye pain and headaches. Why your eyes hurt from lenses and how to get rid of the discomfort, read the material in the article.
5. Working at the computer, watching TV for a long time, reading e-books. Such excessive strain on the eyes is fraught with the appearance of squeezing sensations in the temples and back of the head, and dryness of the conjunctiva. How to get rid of pain in the eyes when working at a computer, you will find answers to all questions in the article.
6. Nervous stress and fatigue, which leads to spasm of blood vessels.
7. Watery eyes on the street, accompanied by a headache, can also mean the onset of an allergic reaction (for example, seasonal rhinitis).
8. Injuries or bruises to the visual organs or head (intracranial hematoma, concussion).
9. Glaucoma. Accompanied by redness of the eyes, decreased vision and pain in the back of the head.
10. An aneurysm is characterized by throbbing pain that lasts for a week. Once the diagnosis is made, urgent surgery is necessary.
11. Cervical osteochondrosis is manifested by squeezing sensations in the head, which also hurt the eyes. Often this disease affects people who lead an inactive lifestyle.
12. In old age, headaches and eyes may hurt due to the risk of stroke. Associated symptoms of this include mild dizziness and nausea.
In the photo: the main types and characteristics of headaches radiating to the eye area
If you have a headache and watery eyes at the same time, you should consult a specialist and do not neglect your health. After all, only an ophthalmologist can establish an accurate diagnosis.
Associated symptoms
Let's find out what are the manifestations of the most common pathogens of pain in the head, radiating to the eyes.
Hypertension has the following symptoms:
• headache in the area of the frontal lobes; • suffer from squeezing sensations in the temples; • temporary visual impairment; • noise in ears; • nausea and dizziness.
If you do not pay attention to these signs, memory and coordination of movements will deteriorate over time.
Migraine and cluster pain are manifested by the following symptoms: • severe, sudden throbbing pain in the temples (usually only on one side); • shooting pain in only one eye, which causes watery eyes; • nausea and vomiting occur; • doubling of objects and sharp flashes of light before the eyes; • sometimes the fingers go numb.
Sudden movements of the head further intensify the pain. Cluster pain can last up to 7 hours, and then subside on its own. Subsequently, one of the optic nerves suffers.
With cervical osteochondrosis, the following manifestations of the disease are possible: • severe pain in the back of the head; • frequent dizziness, sometimes to the point of loss of consciousness; • numbness of hands; • partial loss of vision and hearing; • constant feeling of nausea. If left untreated, osteochondrosis can cause hypertension, which significantly increases pain.
Fatigue can be noticed by a combination of the following symptoms:
To relieve all signs of fatigue, it is enough to give your eyes a full rest.
• headache in the frontal area; • eyes water, there is a feeling of heaviness in the organs of vision; • concentration and memory decreases.
To relieve all signs of severe fatigue, it is enough to give your eyes and the whole body a full rest (avoid working at the computer, sleep more, put off watching TV for a while).
Many people have a headache in the morning after sleep due to a simple lack of sleep or excessive addiction to coffee. But if the pain and lacrimation do not go away after this, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.
What diseases cause eye pain?
Many people have eye pain due to ophthalmological and systemic diseases. The reason may be in the organs of vision or in other disorders. The choice of specialist and treatment depends on the cause of the pain; in order to identify it, laboratory and instrumental examination methods are prescribed.
There are a number of ophthalmological diseases and conditions that can affect soft tissues, blood vessels, and nerves located in the organs of vision.
They cause acute and chronic pain:
- Increased eye strain. It occurs in people who spend a long time in front of a computer, phone, TV, or tablet. Pain occurs when reading books frequently in poor conditions, for example, in low light.
- Entry of a foreign body. It can penetrate the cornea due to strong winds, sparks from a welding machine, or for other reasons. Acute pain, redness, photophobia, increased sensitivity, and spasm of the eyelids occur.
- Conjunctivitis. It can be of an allergic, bacterial, viral nature. This is a disease in which the conjunctiva of the eye becomes inflamed. Redness, swelling, pain, and photophobia appear. With bacterial conjunctivitis, purulent exudate is released.
- Blepharitis is inflammation of the eyelids. It can develop due to the proliferation of fungi, viruses, bacteria, parasites (eyelash mites). The eyelids swell and an abscess filled with fluid may form under the skin.
- Keratitis is inflammation of the cornea. The inflammatory process begins as a result of mechanical damage, burns, and the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms. If the disease lasts a long time, the cornea becomes cloudy and visual acuity decreases.
- Glaucoma is an increase in intraocular pressure due to impaired outflow of secreted fluid. There are anterior and posterior chambers in the eyeball, and fluid constantly circulates inside them. If it accumulates but does not come out, the pressure increases. This can lead to damage to the optic nerve, retinal detachment, and blindness.
- Retinal diseases. They develop due to burns, mechanical damage, and malnutrition through blood vessels. If the retina detaches, the person goes blind.
- Diseases of the optic nerve. Light streams pass through the eyes, hitting the rods and cones of the retina. From them, information in the form of nerve impulses passes through the nerve, entering the brain. The nerve is damaged due to malnutrition through blood vessels, mechanical damage, and infectious and inflammatory processes.
- Strabismus, amblyopia. If both eyes see the picture in front of them incorrectly, this leads to increased strain. As a result, not only your eyes hurt, but also your head.
There are diseases that develop not in the eyes, but in peripheral organs; with their prolonged development, complications arise from the organs of vision, this also leads to pain:
- Diabetes. A large amount of glucose accumulates in the patient’s blood, which is not distributed to the tissues, but binds to cholesterol and forms plaques. They are transported through large and small vessels, including the microcirculation of the eyes. This leads to blockage, severe pain, decreased or complete absence of vision.
- Atherosclerosis. Cholesterol accumulates in the patient’s blood, which spreads through the vessels, clogging their lumen. The mechanism of the disease is the same as for diabetes mellitus.
- Arterial hypertension. Increased pressure puts stress on the endothelium. This leads to rupture of the vessel wall and hemorrhage inside the eyeball. With chronic hypertension, the function of the visual organs decreases, and constant headaches and eye pain occur.
- Ischemic disease. A person experiences spasm of peripheral vessels. If this happens in the eyes, nutrition is disrupted. Gradually, the organs of vision will fail to function. Severe spasm causes severe pain.
- Vasculitis, increased fragility of blood vessels. If the endothelium is fragile, this leads to hemorrhage in any part of the body. Painful sensations appear during spasms, which causes a decrease in vision function.
- Neuropathy. The inflammatory disease can spread to the optic nerve, this is dangerous because it connects to the brain. This causes a decrease in its functionality and constant pain.
For each disease, a separate treatment is determined. Therefore, diagnostics are initially carried out, identifying the nature of pain, decreased vision function and other symptoms.
What causes the disease
Most often, patients who have problems with the visual system experience two symptoms: pain and pain in the eyes. Pathology of the visual analyzer can lead to serious consequences, including blindness. Therefore, first we need to talk about the causes of pain in the eyes. The treatment will depend entirely on this fact.
So, the main reasons for the occurrence of the disease:
- Burn or injury. Physical damage to the eyelids or cornea of the eye leads to a similar unpleasant sensation, so you need to protect your visual organs.
- Infection. If the virus has penetrated the orbital area of the eye, then redness of the mucous membrane appears, the patient in this case will complain of excessive lacrimation.
- Glaucoma. Represents an increase in intraocular pressure.
- Astigmatism. Leads to deformation of the cornea and lens, as a result of which the patient sees much worse.
- Overstrain of the visual apparatus. The most common reason among office workers, because they work with a computer all day.
- Trigeminal neuralgia. This pathology is accompanied by additional symptoms of a specific nature.
The source of the visual impairment must be identified quickly, and then better therapy will be prescribed. The doctor’s primary task is to find the cause and also come up with a way to combat the disease.
First aid if something gets in your eyes
If a foreign object gets into the eye, provide first aid. If there is minor damage, this can be done at home. But if blepharospasm or extensive damage occurs, contact an ophthalmologist or traumatologist.
First aid is carried out in several stages:
- Anesthesia. It is used if the patient is unable to open his eyes. Use solutions of lidocaine and novocaine. They are dripped in limited quantities, as they cause side effects with prolonged action.
- The person is placed in a dark room to reduce the strain on the visual organs. This eliminates photophobia and the patient can open the eyelids.
- Washing. It is better to use an antiseptic solution. Furacilin is suitable for this. Dissolve 1 tablet in a glass of water. Pharmacies sell ready-made solutions. The drug is instilled directly into the eyes. If this does not help, liquid is poured into the cup, and the victim lowers his open eyes into it. The fluid inside is blinked to remove the foreign body from the mucous membrane.
- If a foreign body causes a burn, you cannot do without the help of a doctor. He will remove the foreign object using ophthalmic instruments.
- Antibiotic instillation. This step is required to exclude a bacterial infection. The medicine is used for up to 7 days. They use Vigamox, Tobrex.
What to do if you have discomfort
Sometimes even the simplest actions help get rid of painful sensations in the eyes. For therapy to be most effective, the causes of the disease must be eliminated. For example, if a patient has electroophthalmia, a compress of raw or grated potatoes will help relieve the burning sensation.
Dryness and pain in the eyes, redness caused by any substance, significantly reduce their effect with copious rinsing with ordinary running water. If severe unbearable pain and inflammation are detected, you should use a compress of tea bags. For best results they should be kept moist and cool.
If the cause of lacrimation and pain is a foreign body entering the eye, it must be carefully removed. A clean cloth is a good remedy, or you can blink the affected eye in water in the palm of your hand. Constant work at the computer has a detrimental effect on the visual system. Therefore, it is recommended to take a break at least once every hour to allow your eyes to relax. It is difficult to overestimate drops for pain in the eyes, which are a good help in coping with the problem. We'll talk about them in more detail below.
In what cases should you consult a doctor?
A doctor is always consulted if the patient uses treatment for 1 week, but the discomfort does not go away. This may mean the presence of a disease that the person does not know about.
There are symptoms for which you should not self-medicate:
- severe swelling of the eyelids, which completely covers the cornea;
- lack of pupillary reflex to bright light;
- different pupil sizes;
- hemorrhage in the cornea, visible visually;
- severe pain in which the patient cannot open the eyelids;
- extensive suppuration, in which the antibiotic does not help; perhaps the microorganisms are resistant to the active substance;
- a sharp deterioration in health (rise in body temperature, weakness, fatigue, lethargy);
- immediate decrease in vision;
- burn, mechanical damage.
Providing first aid at home with further failure to see a doctor will lead to a deterioration in health, decreased visual acuity, and complications.
Why can the left temple of the head and eyes hurt?
For your information! Damage to the intervertebral discs and other spinal tissues is the most common cause of left-sided temple pain, which occurs as a result of a block in the cervical blood vessels that supply the brain with nutrients.
This may result from the appearance of salt build-ups in the spinal column. As a result, the body does not receive the required amount of nutrients and oxygen.
Pulling, aching, unpleasant, painful sensations appear and the accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid increases.
Sensitivity to weather changes
Pain appears in the temporal region and left eye, which occurs in parallel with a sharp spasm and a surge in pressure.
This occurs due to a sudden change in weather.
In this case, the eye can be affected by conjunctivitis, nervousness appears, and the whole body begins to ache. There is a throbbing and prolonged pain in the temporal region.
Infectious processes
For various infectious processes, diseases of bone formations or colds. Discomfort in the temple (pulling, maybe boring) is observed with the development of the described diseases and their progression.
Note! The cold muscle in the temporal region begins to actively pulsate during chaotic head movements
Neurological type problem
Stress and depression, great emotional stress during the day, constant overexertion - all this can cause unpleasant sensations.
What bad habits are associated with eye pain?
Bad habits that lead to impaired vision include smoking, alcoholism, and drug addiction. All toxic substances negatively affect blood vessels and nerve tissue.
Smoking reduces the flow of oxygen through the lungs into the blood. This causes hypoxia of organs, including the eyes. Smoking reduces the elasticity of the vascular endothelium. It becomes brittle, so in addition to hypoxia, the risk of hemorrhage increases.
Drugs destroy all tissues with which they interact. If they are used for a long time, they accumulate in the brain and optic nerve. This reduces visual acuity. Drugs disrupt the conduction of nerve impulses from cones and rods through the optic nerve to the brain. Lack of pupillary reflex is common.
Bad habits include prolonged use of electronic gadgets. They create a strain on the eyes, as the gaze concentrates only on nearby objects.
This results in a missing, curved lens. The condition is called spasm of accommodation. It causes myopia, that is, decreased visual acuity for distant objects.
Causes of pain and burning in the eyes
Pain in the eyes can have quite a few “culprits” - let’s look at the most common causes of this symptom.
Dry eye syndrome
This common unpleasant phenomenon is associated with insufficient production of tear fluid in the eye. The syndrome is especially common among computer professionals, as well as among all those who spend a lot of time behind a monitor screen. Dryness of the eye leads to many unpleasant sensations, in addition to cutting pain: redness of the whites of the eyes, pain, burning, tearing, etc. Removal of papilloma on the eyelids is almost painless.
Dry eye syndrome occurs most often for three main reasons:
- due to long-term intense work at the computer;
- due to specific, too harsh and bright office lighting;
- due to the air conditioner running.
Allergy
Negative reactions of the body of an allergic nature can also cause pain in the eyes. Allergies can be caused by various factors: from foods to medications and household items. Strabismus in adults often occurs due to long periods of time spent at the computer. The most common symptom is constantly very watery eyes; pain occurs when the mucous sclera dries out.
Incorrect selection of vision-correcting products
If you purchased lenses or glasses with diopters that are unsuitable for your vision, your visual organs will be forced to greatly strain when using these products. As a result, the “picture of the world” before the eyes is distorted, and the eyes themselves experience pain due to constant tension. The diagnosis of eye presbyopia is more common in older people.
If the pain is caused by contact lenses, do not rush to blame the manufacturer for the poor quality of the products. Perhaps the issue is the individual sensitivity of the cornea: in this case, wearing contact lenses is contraindicated in principle.
Injuries and foreign bodies
With mechanical injury to the eyes, a resulting stinging sensation is not uncommon. If dust, sand, speck or other foreign body gets into your eyes, then pain is one of the main signs of this phenomenon. Eyelid ptosis can be corrected surgically.
Inflammatory diseases
If a person experiences any inflammatory disease of the cornea, conjunctiva, or other organs of vision, the appearance of pain is a common symptom.
With ophthalmological diseases such as blepharitis and uevitis, pain in the eyes is often felt. Note that these diseases are also accompanied by photophobia and excessive lacrimation. Treatment of eyelid xalthesma with folk remedies gives good results.
A parasitic disease such as demodicosis, caused by microscopic mites, can also cause a feeling of pain in the eyes.
In addition to the above, pain in the eyes can also occur due to:
- neuralgia;
- infectious diseases of a non-ophthalmological nature;
- astigmatism;
- glaucoma;
- eye burns, including from hot steam and household chemicals;
- acrid tobacco smoke;
- high intraocular pressure;
- malfunction of the sebaceous glands;
- Rarely, but still, a corneal ulcer does occur - a disease that also leads to a feeling of pain.
Sometimes pain is caused by taking antidepressants, as well as medications used to lower blood pressure. Antihistamines can also sometimes give a similar side effect. How to treat dry macular degeneration of the retina can be found here.
If the pain occurs simultaneously with profuse lacrimation, the cause may be a sharp wind, frost or other not very pleasant weather conditions. Note that in this case the symptom will go away on its own as soon as external conditions become more favorable for the eyes.
As you can see, there are more than enough reasons - in order to get rid of the unpleasant sensation, you need to find out exactly what caused the pain in your particular case. What night blindness is can be read here.
Why do my eyes hurt in the morning and before bed?
Many people experience eye pain in the morning. Normally, such a symptom should not exist. It is associated with the penetration of viruses and bacteria that disrupt the microflora of the mucous membrane.
In the morning, suppuration sticks the eyelashes together, so the person is unable to open his eyes. Pain may occur due to chronic lack of sleep.
If painful sensations appear in the evening, this may be due to the following reasons:
- prolonged wearing of contact lenses, especially if they are used incorrectly or have expired;
- eye strain during the day with prolonged use of a computer, TV, phone, tablet;
- daily presence in a cramped room where the eyes do not relax, since a person looks at nearby objects and not into the distance (this leads to a spasm of accommodation, increased load on the lens);
- development of various diseases of the eyeball and surrounding soft tissues;
- high blood pressure, hypertension;
- use of glasses and lenses with incorrectly selected diopters.
Some causes can lead to complications if they are not addressed in a timely manner. For example, when choosing the wrong diopters for an optical device, vision gradually decreases, causing increased stress on the lens, retina and optic nerve.
Treatment methods
The greatest importance when choosing tactics for treating pain in the eyes is to establish the exact causes of the appearance of the pathological symptom. For this purpose, the doctor conducts a thorough examination, issues a referral for examination of an eye smear, scraping from the surface of the eyelids, and conducts special tests to assess the degree of tear formation.
Only after receiving the examination results can the cause of the disease be identified and truly effective treatment prescribed. If a bacterial pathogen is detected, eye drops with an antibacterial component will most likely be prescribed.
Special moisturizing eye drops will also help get rid of dry eye syndrome. To eliminate tick-borne infestations, medications are used that are applied to the skin of the eyelids.
Prevention
After the course of treatment, specialists will tell you about methods of preventing eye diseases. First of all, they should be observed when swimming in a pool or open water.
In these situations, it is advisable to use special safety glasses that will prevent microorganisms, chlorinated water, and foreign bodies from getting into your eyes.
From early childhood, a child should be weaned from rubbing his eyes with dirty hands.
And, of course, those who use contact lenses should observe the rules of hygiene most carefully. Take care of your eyes and consult a doctor in time!
The pain in the eyes can have varying degrees of intensity: it can be weak, almost unnoticeable, or it can be, on the contrary, unbearable. As a rule, it occurs as a consequence of the development of pathological processes in the ocular structures or anatomical structures located around the eye. Much less common are cases where this symptom develops due to diseases of the nervous system that have an adverse effect on the visual apparatus. Factors that stimulate the development of pain:
- Dryness of the conjunctival eye membrane due to prolonged eye strain while working or playing on a PC, studying documents or reading books;
- Contact with eyes of alkalis, acids or other chemicals;
- Improper organization of the daily routine and, as a result, regular lack of sleep;
- Allergic reactions;
- Contact with foreign bodies in the eyes;
- Wearing incorrectly fitted glasses or contact lenses.
In addition, there are a number of diseases that cause redness and pain in the eye. These include:
- conjunctivitis - inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye, covering the inner surfaces of the eyelids and part of the eyeball;
- keratitis - inflammation of the cornea, characterized by the appearance of opacities on it;
- blepharitis - inflammatory processes of the ciliary edges of the eyelids;
- uveitis - inflammatory processes affect the choroid of the eye;
- ulcers of the cornea - appear after injuries, burns, infection with fungi and viruses;
- Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic disease characterized by excruciating attacks of severe pain in the area of innervation;
- any diseases of a viral or infectious nature that are not related to ophthalmology: influenza, ARVI, herpes, measles.
Rules for working with a monitor, smartphone, tablet
It is impossible to completely do without electronic gadgets.
Therefore, people must learn to handle them correctly, observing the following rules:
- use the gadget no more than 2 hours a day if possible;
- if the device is used all day, take a break every 1-2 hours;
- apply gymnastics for the eyes;
- use a relaxing massage for the eyes and face;
- keep your back and head straight, do not hunch, do not slouch;
- use bright sunlight or artificial lighting, do not work in the dark;
- maintain a distance from the monitor, depending on the size of the device;
- often walk in the fresh air, where the gaze concentrates on distant objects, so a spasm of accommodation does not form.
Eye gymnastics is effective for ophthalmological diseases.
You can use a set of simple exercises that will take no more than 5 minutes:
- turning the eyes clockwise and in the opposite direction;
- rapid blinking for 15 seconds;
- strong compression of the eyelids, then relaxation;
- drawing the infinity sign and numbers from 0 to 9 with the eyeballs;
- moving the gaze from the upper right corner to the lower left, then from the upper left to the lower right;
- moving the gaze from the closest object to the horizon line outside the window.
If there is no constant strain on the eyes, do gymnastics once in the morning and once in the evening. If a person uses a computer all day, take frequent breaks for exercise.
It is prohibited to use electronic gadgets while lying down. The body position should be straight. The room is well lit so that a person does not strain to view the monitor. If the patient suffers from myopia or hyperopia, glasses or contact lenses are used to use the device.
Treatment and prevention
If your eyes hurt from the computer, you need to take a number of corrective measures. Here are the rules to follow when working on a computer:
- proper organization of the workplace;
- regular rest;
- eating eye vitamins and healthy foods;
- systematically performing eye exercises.
Workplace settings
The table should not be positioned so that the sun is behind the person's back. Directly in front of the window is also not advisable. The light should fall from the left if the person is right-handed, and from the right if the person is left-handed.
Direct rays of the sun should not hit the computer monitor; in addition, they should not be reflected from it. A table lamp is not enough; the “upper” light should be bright, not spot-on, but diffused throughout the room. You cannot combine lamps of cold and warm shades of light in one room.
Don't let your monitor get dirty. It should be wiped once a week with a cloth soaked in a special composition for cleaning computer screens.
In addition, the monitor needs to be “calibrated” for itself: set the optimal levels of contrast, brightness and frequency. You should not set the brightness too low, as a dim screen surface will increase eye strain.
The default monitor settings are set to the minimum frequency level. You need to set it to maximum.
In addition to the settings, you need to give the screen the correct position. Its upper edge should be below eye level, and the lower edge should be closer to the user and at an angle. The screen must be placed at least 60 cm from the face. If the font is hard to read at this distance, choose a larger size. You need to work with dark font on a contrasting light background, and not vice versa.
Also, purchasing computer glasses will help relieve excess stress on the eye muscles. They protect against screen radiation. When working at a computer, you must keep your back straight and your shoulders straight. This will help prevent back and neck pain.
Walking in green areas - parks, squares, forests - is very beneficial for the condition of the eyes. And also look at bodies of water - lakes, rivers, the sea.
Nuances of work
If you need to type text from paper, it is placed near the monitor. You can use a book stand (these are sold in office supply stores). This will help avoid unnecessary head tilts and eye movements.
If you have to type a lot, it is better to master touch typing with ten fingers. With this method, you don't need to look at the keyboard, which relieves your eyes.
If you work with a computer every day, you need to create a routine in which work and rest should alternate. During rest periods, you need to do eye exercises or simply look outside the window at distant objects.
Selection of glasses
A prescription for glasses (including computer glasses) is issued by an ophthalmologist in cases of the following diseases:
- nearsightedness (myopia);
- farsightedness;
- astigmatism;
- Presbyopia – requires wearing glasses most of the time.
Spectacle lenses are divided into monofocal or multifocal. The former contain one optical power, while the latter contain several optical zones for different distances. As a rule, glasses are selected individually, since in addition to the lenses, their correct alignment, as well as wearing comfort, is also necessary.
Glasses for working on a computer differ from ordinary glasses in that they block the rays of the blue spectrum. This can be achieved in two ways:
- tinting – the lenses on these glasses have a brownish tint;
- reflective coating (blue blocker) completely blocks blue-violet rays in the spectrum of the screen and reflects it from the lenses. They do not have a pronounced shade, they are transparent.
These glasses reduce the brightness of the screen and the main lighting in the room, which helps reduce eye strain. It is logical that they do not provide one hundred percent light and color transmission. Consequently, they slightly distort the colors on the monitor, but not critically.
The most effective glasses for working on a computer screen are considered to be glasses from Fedorov or from Gunnar.
People with myopia can see objects that are close up well, but have difficulty recognizing things in the distance. Therefore, those who suffer from myopia rarely use glasses for computer work. But farsighted people need special glasses, since a computer in the field of view causes stress and excessive eye strain.
Rules for working with glasses
Prevention of eye pain
To prevent pain in the eyeballs, use the following rules:
- daily hygiene procedures to help eliminate the risk of bacterial infection;
- lack of contact with infected people, especially viral diseases;
- temporary restrictions on interaction with electronic devices;
- daily gymnastics for eyeballs and eyelids;
- timely contact with an ophthalmologist and other doctors in the presence of illness;
- timely treatment of systemic diseases that cause eye complications;
- the use of contact lenses or glasses if visual acuity decreases, as their use eliminates eye strain;
- annual preventive examination by an ophthalmologist, instrumental tests, assessment of visual acuity;
- the use of moisturizing drops, drying out of the cornea;
- compliance with hygiene rules when using contact lenses;
- proper nutrition, containing all useful substances, microelements, minerals, vitamins, with the help of which metabolism and tissue regeneration are normalized;
- the use of multivitamin preparations that normalize vision function, for example, Blueberry Forte.
Prevention rules will not be able to completely eliminate the risk of deviations and diseases, but they will significantly reduce it. They are used daily to achieve effect.
Diagnostics
The first appointment begins with a medical history and external examination of the patient. A violation of the visual apparatus is easily guessed, because redness of the eyeball, and sometimes the eyelids, squinting, etc. is detected. An ophthalmologist most often uses the following diagnostic measures:
- A very careful examination of the affected eye and questioning of the patient.
- Examination of a scraping from the skin of the eyelids and a smear from the surface of the organ of vision.
- Verification of the tear production process using diagnostic tests.
After this, you can determine what caused the patient’s discomfort. In some situations, the ophthalmologist sends the patient for a consultation with a neurologist or therapist. Based on additional information, it is possible to more accurately determine the disease, the symptom of which is pain in the eyes.