What causes eye pain?
Mar 17, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Wang Shuai
Introduction
Prolonged staring at electronic screens, reading, or staying up late without giving the eyes adequate rest can lead to continuous tension of the ciliary muscle and cause pain. It is important to use your eyes wisely: every 20 minutes spent looking at an electronic screen, gaze at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. You can also apply a warm compress to relax the eye muscles. Pain may also occur when foreign objects such as dust or sand accidentally enter the eye and irritate the ocular surface tissues.
Eye pain may be caused by excessive eye use, foreign bodies entering the eye, conjunctivitis, hordeolum (stye), glaucoma, and other conditions. Appropriate management can be selected based on specific circumstances. If discomfort occurs, prompt medical attention is recommended.
1. Excessive Eye Use: Prolonged focusing on electronic screens, reading, or staying up late prevents the eyes from resting, causing continuous tension of the ciliary muscles and resulting in pain. It is important to use the eyes reasonably—for every 20 minutes spent viewing a screen, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Applying warm compresses can also help relax the eye muscles.
2. Foreign Body in the Eye: Dust, sand, or other foreign substances accidentally entering the eye can irritate ocular surface tissues and cause pain. In such cases, do not rub the eyes, as this may worsen the injury. Try blinking to allow tears to flush out the foreign body. Alternatively, rinse the eye with large amounts of clean water. If discomfort persists, seek medical attention promptly.
3. Conjunctivitis: Inflammation of the conjunctiva caused by bacterial, viral, or allergic factors can manifest as redness, pain, and increased secretions in the eyes. Under a doctor's guidance, patients may use medications such as levofloxacin eye drops, acyclovir eye drops, or sodium cromoglycate eye drops to alleviate symptoms.
4. Hordeolum: Infection of the eyelid glands by Staphylococcus bacteria leads to acute suppurative inflammation, causing localized redness, swelling, heat, and pain in the eye area, with a palpable hard nodule. Patients may follow medical advice to use medications such as erythromycin eye ointment, ofloxacin eye drops, or cefaclor capsules to relieve symptoms.
5. Glaucoma: Elevated intraocular pressure damages the optic nerve, causing eye discomfort often accompanied by headache, blurred vision, nausea, and vomiting. It is recommended to use medications such as brinzolamide eye drops, latanoprost eye drops, or acetazolamide tablets under medical guidance to alleviate symptoms.
In daily life, avoid prolonged exposure to unfavorable environments, wear protective goggles to protect the eyes, and use normal saline to rinse the eyes.
References:
[1] Huang Manxin, Du Wei, Chen Ying. Clinical and Genotype Characteristics and Tear Immunoglobulin Levels in Human Adenovirus Infection-Induced Conjunctivitis [J]. Chinese Journal of Nosocomiology, 2024, 34(22): 3457-3461.
[2] Du Fusheng, Duan Yanping, Pu Jianping. Discussion on the Treatment Approach of Yang Ci Acupuncture for Punctal Area Hordeolum Based on the Theory of "Fire Accumulation Requires Dispersal" [J]. Chinese Journal of Ophthalmology and Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2024, 34(12): 1161-1164+1172.
