Why does my left eye sometimes feel slightly numb?

Under normal circumstances, occasional numbness in the left corner of the eye may be caused by local compression, eye strain, periorbital neuritis, allergic conjunctivitis, trigeminal neuralgia, or other reasons. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly, identify the underlying cause, and receive appropriate treatment under a doctor's guidance. Specific analyses are as follows:

1. Local compression: Prolonged lateral sleeping position pressing on the eye or wearing overly tight glasses can compress blood vessels and nerves in the left eye corner, causing temporary numbness. Adjust sleep posture to avoid eye pressure, choose loose and comfortable glasses, and when numbness occurs, gently massage the eye corner with fingertips for 1–2 minutes to promote local blood circulation.

2. Eye strain: Staring at electronic screens for long periods or staying up late can cause tension in the muscles around the eyes, pulling on nerves and leading to numbness in the eye corner. Take a break every 30 minutes of screen use to look into the distance for 20 seconds, adjust screen brightness to match ambient lighting, ensure 7–8 hours of sleep each night, and apply a warm towel (around 40°C) to the eyes for 10 minutes.

3. Periorbital neuritis: Viral infection or exposure to cold may trigger inflammation of the nerves around the eye, manifesting as numbness in the eye corner and occasional stabbing pain. Keep warm to avoid cold exposure, ensure adequate rest, and follow medical advice to take neurotrophic medications such as vitamin B1 tablets, mecobalamin tablets, and vitamin B12 injections.

4. Allergic conjunctivitis: Exposure to allergens such as pollen or dust mites can cause an allergic reaction in the conjunctiva that spreads to the skin around the eyes, resulting in numbness and itching. Avoid known allergens, wear protective eyewear outdoors, and use antiallergic eye drops such as levocabastine hydrochloride eye drops, sodium cromoglicate eye drops, or olopatadine hydrochloride eye drops as directed by a physician.

5. Trigeminal neuralgia: Compression of the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve by a blood vessel can cause episodic numbness and severe pain in the eye corner. Avoid exposing the eye area to extreme hot or cold stimuli, follow medical instructions to take medications such as carbamazepine tablets, oxcarbazepine tablets, or phenytoin sodium tablets to relieve symptoms, and consider microvascular decompression surgery in severe cases to relieve nerve compression.

Maintain good eye hygiene in daily life and avoid rubbing your eyes with dirty hands. In terms of diet, increase intake of foods rich in vitamin B complex, such as eggs, spinach, and nuts, reduce consumption of spicy and irritating foods, and support the health of nerves around the eyes.