Why Does My Eye Hurt When I Blink?

There are many factors that can cause you to feel pain when blinking. Pain can be a sign of something more serious. Sometimes, it will go away on its own. What are the signs that you should call your optometrist when you feel pain?

We at Calgary Family Eye Doctors want our patients’ vision to be clear and worry-free. We have compiled some information that will help you determine if your eye pain is normal when you blink or if it requires urgent care.

Causes Common

Here are some of the most common causes of eye pain while blinking.

• Conjunctivitis: You may know it by its popular name, pinkeye. The conjunctiva (the clear layer on the surface of the eyeball) becomes infected, red, and swollen. You may experience gritty eyes and discomfort when blinking.
• Blepharitis: Blepharitis, a chronic skin condition, begins at the base of eyelashes and produces clumps. These clumps cause the eyelids to feel sticky and uncomfortable, leading to excessive blinking. Itchy eyelids are another common symptom.
• Headaches cluster: Cluster head headaches are characterized by pain behind the eye on one side. Cluster headaches may cause red eyes and painful, swollen eyelids.
• The cause of dry eye disease is inadequate tear production. Blinking on a dry eyeball is painful and irritating.
• Debris: When a foreign item enters the eye, it can cause irritation and pain to the cornea. Even a small eyelash can cause irritation, which results in pain when you are blinking.
• Optic Neuritis: Optic Neuritis is inflammation of the optic nervous, which causes pain while moving the eyelids and eyes. The pain is more prominent when you look up.
• Sty: This is an infection of the eyelids that begins with the oil glands. It can cause the eyelid to turn red or swollen and result in painful eye blinking.

A Little Serious

Your eyes may hurt more than usual. Here are some conditions to be aware of:

• The most common type of glaucoma, open angle glaucoma, is not accompanied by symptoms. Patients with open angle glaucoma, the most common form, rarely experience symptoms. Closed angle glaucoma can cause an increase in eye pressure that causes severe pain in the eye. This is usually accompanied with a reddened eye and a feeling of nausea. It usually occurs in only one eye.
• Corneal Ulcers Corneal Ulcers can develop following an infection or scratch on the surface of the eye. Corneal Ulcers are painful and can cause pain when you blink.
• Burns Working with hazardous chemicals or materials can increase the risk of eye injury. Flash and chemical burns can happen quickly and can have severe consequences.
• Eye Injuries: All injuries to the eyes or face should be treated immediately.
• Uveitis this inflammation can affect one or both of your eyes. The pain is not felt when you blink, but it can be moderate to severe in one or both of your eyes. It’s usually accompanied with light sensitivity. Untreated, it can cause scarring in the eye as well as long-term complications like glaucoma.

If you are experiencing eye pain or an emergency, contact your optometrist as soon as possible . If you are outside of your optometrist’s office hours, go to the nearest hospital emergency room.

Help At Home

You may find relief at home or in the pharmacy if you experience minor pain while blinking without any other symptoms. You could try:

• Use of a humidifier
• Warm compresses
• Eye drops
• Wearing sunglasses in bright sunlight
• Adjusting the light when using screens
• Take frequent breaks from your screens
• Consider updating your eyeglass prescription
• Contact our office to discuss your symptoms with an optometric assistant

Avoid complications

It is possible that your eye pain when you blink may not be serious or dangerous. Getting treatment is a serious step. Untreated swellings, infections, and injuries may lead to additional complications.

• More serious infections
• Eye damage
• Changes in vision
• Loss of Vision

Should I Be Worried?

It’s important to manage any vision issues as soon as possible.

If your symptoms worsen or persist for more than 24 hours, contact your optometrist, especially if they are accompanied by other symptoms such as:

• You may experience pain when you move your eyes
• Eyelid swelling or lashline swelling
• Light Sensitivity
• Feeling tenderness in your sinuses

If you have any of these symptoms, and also experience pain while blinking, then go to an urgent care facility.

• Sudden vision loss
• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal pain that is severe
• Halos around lights
• Pain in the eye

Keeping Eyes Happy & Healthy

Your optometrist will diagnose your eye pain and prescribe the appropriate treatment. They can also perform a comprehensive exam in order to determine the root cause.

Calgary Family Eye Doctors advises that you seek urgent medical attention if your symptoms worsen or if the pain becomes more severe. We are always here to assist you if you have any concerns. We know that your vision is important, so we make sure to provide you with quality care as soon as possible.