What causes pain around the eyes?
May 25, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Wang Shuai
Introduction
In general, pain around the eyes may be related to eye strain, eye injury, ingrown eyelashes, conjunctivitis, tic disorders, or other factors. If discomfort occurs, it is recommended to seek medical attention promptly. In daily life, maintain good eye hygiene by avoiding rubbing the eyes with hands. When washing hair or face, take care to prevent dirty water from entering the eyes to reduce the risk of bacterial infection.
Under normal circumstances, pain around the eyes may be related to eye strain, unhealthy lifestyle habits, blepharitis, eyelid eczema, glaucoma, and other factors. If discomfort occurs, timely medical attention is recommended. Specific analysis is as follows:
1. Eye Strain
Using the eyes for extended periods, especially without adequate rest, may lead to eye fatigue, which can cause pain around the eyes. It is advisable to avoid prolonged eye use and to reasonably schedule work and study time involving visual tasks.
2. Unhealthy Lifestyle Habits
Irregular sleep patterns, frequent late nights, and poor sleep quality may contribute to eye pain. It is recommended to establish a healthy daily routine with consistent early bedtime and wake-up times to help alleviate eye discomfort.
3. Blepharitis
Blepharitis is an acute, purulent inflammatory condition affecting the eyelid glands, usually caused by bacterial infection or skin disorders. Inflammation can irritate ocular tissues, causing circumferential eye pain, often accompanied by symptoms such as eyelid redness, swelling, and discharge. Treatment may include medications such as ofloxacin eye drops, erythromycin eye ointment, or chloramphenicol eye drops, used under a doctor's guidance.
4. Eyelid Eczema
Eyelid eczema is an allergic skin condition that can present in acute, subacute, or chronic forms. Long-term use of low-quality cosmetics may trigger skin allergies around the eyes, leading to pain and discomfort, along with symptoms such as redness, flaking, and thickening of the skin. Treatment options under medical supervision may include zinc oxide ointment, tobramycin-dexamethasone eye ointment, or loratadine tablets.
5. Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a blinding eye disease primarily caused by elevated intraocular pressure damaging the optic nerve. Increased eye pressure can stimulate the trigeminal nerve, resulting in pain around the eyes, possibly accompanied by dryness, soreness, or a feeling of heaviness in the eyes. Treatment under a doctor’s direction may involve medications such as pilocarpine nitrate eye drops, brimonidine tartrate eye drops, or carteolol hydrochloride eye drops.
In daily life, it is important to maintain good eye hygiene—avoid rubbing the eyes, and take care to prevent dirty water from entering the eyes during hair washing or face cleansing to reduce the risk of bacterial infection.
