What causes one eye to hurt followed by warmth, swelling, and pain in half of the face, and what should be done about it?

Generally, eye pain on one side accompanied by warmth, swelling, and pain in half of the face may be related to eye strain, conjunctivitis, migraine, glaucoma, trigeminal neuralgia, or other causes, and targeted treatments are recommended. It is advised to seek timely medical evaluation and treatment. Specific analyses are as follows:

1. Eye Strain

Prolonged use of electronic devices or keeping the eyes fixed in one position for extended periods may lead to fatigue of the eye muscles and eye pain, which can then trigger discomfort on one side of the face via nerve conduction. Other common symptoms include eye fatigue, blurred vision, headaches, and dry eyes. It is important to rest the eyes regularly and allow them adequate relaxation.

2. Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva—the thin membrane covering the surface of the eyeball—and may cause eye pain that spreads via nerves to produce abnormal sensations on one side of the face. The affected area may feel warm and swollen, with additional symptoms such as redness of the eye, increased discharge, blurred vision, and light sensitivity. Treatment may include antibiotic or antiviral eye drops such as chloramphenicol eye drops, ganciclovir eye drops, or ofloxacin eye drops, used under a doctor's guidance.

3. Migraine

Migraine is a neurological disorder typically characterized by throbbing headaches and various neurological and sensory disturbances. It may cause eye pain that radiates through the nervous system to the face, resulting in warmth, swelling, and pain on one side. Some patients may also experience heaviness of the eyelid and pain or pressure around the eye. Medications such as indomethacin tablets, nimodipine tablets, or compound propranolol caffeine tablets may be prescribed by a physician to help relieve symptoms.

4. Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a condition marked by elevated intraocular pressure, which may lead to symptoms including eye pain, blurred vision, redness of the eye, headache, nausea, and vomiting. The disease may also affect the nervous system, causing abnormal facial sensations. Treatment options, based on medical advice, may include mannitol injection, prednisolone acetate eye drops, or pilocarpine nitrate eye drops.

5. Trigeminal Neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia is a facial nerve disorder that may result from nerve compression or abnormal signal transmission. It often presents as sudden, severe facial pain and swelling, accompanied by eye pain, tearing, and facial twitching. Medications such as carbamazepine tablets, gabapentin tablets, or phenytoin sodium tablets may be recommended by a doctor for management.

In daily life, it is important to maintain good eye hygiene, avoid excessive eye use, and refrain from rubbing the eyes to protect overall eye health.