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Eye Pain

Eye pain can be worrying and uncomfortable. Whether it's a sharp pain, throbbing, or dull ache, understanding the source of your sore eye is the first step to finding relief. While some causes are minor and easily treated, others may indicate something more serious requiring medical attention.

Experiencing pain, discomfort or a sudden change in your vision? Please call your local store and we’ll see you as soon as possible.

Types of eye pain and what they could mean

Recognising the specific type of pain can help you and your optometrist narrow down the potential cause. Here are some of the different types of eye pain and their symptoms to look out for:

Sudden sharp pain in the eye

A sudden sharp pain, especially when the eye is moving, is a common symptom of a foreign body (like dirt or dust) getting into your eye. To resolve this at home, try flushing your eye with lubricating drops.

If you wear contact lenses, remove them and rinse them out with saline.

If there is something sharp visible in your eye, don’t try to remove it yourself, but call your optometrist for advice. They might recommend you pop in and see us for some help.

If you can’t see anything in your eye but pain persists, it’s a good idea to see your optometrist, to get to the bottom of what’s going on.

Pain in the eye and temple

Some types of headaches, like cluster headaches, can result in painful, sudden experiences that can have eye‑related symptoms such as eye swelling, light sensitivity, constricted pupil and eye redness.1

Stabbing pain in the eye 

Much like sharp eye pain, a stabbing pain in the eye can happen for several reasons, from eye irritation to more serious conditions. 

Often, it’s nothing to worry about and will go away on its own. But if you’re experiencing symptoms, it’s important to book an eye test, so any underlying conditions can be detected and diagnosed as soon as possible. 

Throbbing or dull eye pain 

A dull ache or throbbing sensation is often associated with inflammation or swelling. It can be a symptom of a condition like scleritis or iritis, which involves inflammation of different parts of the eye.

Although the pain may be less severe, it’s just as important to consult your optometrist if you’re experiencing symptoms.

Pain in the Outer Corner of Your Eye

A sore outer corner of the eye or a sore red eye is often caused by localised issues. This could be due to:

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We’re here to help

To learn more about the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of eye conditions, visit our eye conditions hub or find out more about OCT scans here. Alternatively, book an appointment to get answers to all your questions.

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Causes of eye pain

Eye pain is a symptom, not a condition, and it can be caused by many different factors.

Sharp eye pain and acute angle‑closure glaucoma

Acute angle‑closure glaucoma should be treated as a medical emergency. This condition is caused by a rapid increase in pressure inside your eye, leading to severe eye pain and other symptoms such as blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, headache, and seeing halos around lights.

Acute angle‑closure glaucoma can be treated with medication or laser surgery. If you’re experiencing these symptoms, you should see an optometrist or doctor immediately.

Sharp eye pain and microbial keratitis (corneal infection)

Microbial keratitis is a painful infection that affects the cornea, the transparent layer at the front of your eye. It’s often related to contact lens wear or a scratch on the surface of the eye, but there are many other potential causes.

If not treated, it can lead to complications with your vision and may cause scarring. Your eye may also become increasingly red and painful due to the development of an ulcer on the surface of the cornea.2

Occasionally, you can see this ulcer (it looks like a small white spot). It’s usually treated with antibiotic eye drops and, in some cases, a swab from the ulcer is taken to find out which bacteria have caused the infection. In serious cases, you may be admitted to the hospital to see an ophthalmologist. If you have symptoms of keratitis, you should contact your optometrist as soon as possible.

Sharp eye pain and scleritis

Inflammation of the white part of the eye (sclera) can cause sharp eye pain, redness, blurred vision, watery eyes, and extreme light sensitivity.3

Scleritis is often caused by an eye infection, and it has been associated with various autoimmune disorders. The condition can be treated with non‑steroidal anti‑inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, and antibiotics.3

People with scleritis will see an ophthalmologist in order to prevent any further complications. Your optometrist can detect scleritis through a microscope called a slit lamp test during your eye exam.

Eye pain and iritis

Swelling and inflammation of the iris (the coloured ring around the pupil) can lead to pain in the eyes, redness, light sensitivity, and decreased vision. This condition is also called anterior uveitis and is usually detected through the use of a slit lamp.

Steroid and dilating eye drops can help relieve pain and inflammation. Without treatment, iritis can lead to complications such as vision loss, glaucoma, and cataracts. If you have symptoms of iritis, you should get your eyes tested as soon as possible.

Eye pain and optic neuritis

Optic nerve inflammation can lead to damage to the nerve fibres that carry visual signals from the eye to the brain. Symptoms of this condition, which is sometimes linked to multiple sclerosis, include eye pain and temporary vision loss.

Steroid medications can reduce inflammation and speed up the recovery of vision. Most people regain close‑to‑normal vision after an episode of optic neuritis, but it is important to seek medical care. OCT technology can help to establish the presence or progression of optic neuritis.

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Can OCT scans detect the causes of eye pain?

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans are just one part of a range of other valuable tests your optician will use to assess your eyes and to help them narrow down the cause of your eye pain.

Find out more

When to seek medical attention for your sore eye

ressure or pain behind the eye is often temporary, linked to a headache or sinus pressure. However, there may be a more serious underlying cause, like an infection, inflammation, or tissue damage that needs treatment. Your optometrist will need to evaluate your eye health to find the source of your eye pain. Then they can decide the best treatment options to help.

If you think your eye pain is caused by an injury or accident, or that there may be something stuck in your eye, book an appointment as soon as possible. Your optician may also recommend adding an OCT scan to your test. You can also Ask the Expert over our live chat.

Treatment of eye pain

Some treatments for pain behind the eyes include:

  • Removal of any foreign body

  • Treatment of any underlying causes

  • Prescription medication

  • Home treatments like cold compresses

  • Over‑the‑counter eye drops

  • Over‑the‑counter painkillers

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FAQs about eye pain

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Get expert eye advice

If you’ve noticed a change in your vision, or have experienced any symptoms mentioned above, it’s worth booking an appointment with one of our optometrists.

Contact your local storeSee more eye conditions