If you’re experiencing eye pain when you blink, you’re not alone. Many things can cause this problem, from a simple irritant to a more serious condition that needs medical attention.
The sensation can range from mildly irritating to sharply painful, and it can disrupt your day-to-day activities.
This article will explore the possible reasons behind the pain you feel when blinking. Understanding the potential causes can help you take care of yourself and know when to see a doctor.
Common Causes of Eye Pain When Blinking
If your eyes hurt when you blink, it could be due to a few different reasons. Here are a couple of the most common:
Dry Eye Syndrome
Dry eye happens when your eyes don’t make enough tears, or the tears you do make evaporate too fast. This can make your eyes feel scratchy and painful, and that pain can get worse when you blink. Sometimes, the problem is with the oily layer of your tears.
Things like staring at screens for too long, being in a dry place, or taking certain medicines can make dry eye worse. When you’re glued to a screen, you blink less often, and that makes your tears dry up faster.
If you have dry eye, you might feel burning, stinging, or like you have something stuck in your eye. Your vision might even get blurry sometimes.
Eye Strain
Eye strain, which is also called digital eye strain, can happen if you spend too much time looking at screens or doing other things that make your eyes work hard. This can leave your eyes feeling tired and sore, and blinking can make them hurt.
Besides sore eyes, eye strain can also give you headaches, blur your vision, and make it hard to focus.
One thing that can help with eye strain is the “20-20-20 rule”: Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. It’s worth a try!
Infections and inflammation that cause eye pain
Eye pain when you blink can be a sign of an infection or inflammation in or around your eye.
Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, which is the clear membrane that covers the white part of your eye and the inside of your eyelids. Pink eye can be caused by a virus, bacteria, or an allergic reaction.
Symptoms of conjunctivitis include redness, itchiness, discharge, and pain when blinking.
If you have bacterial conjunctivitis, you’ll likely need antibiotic eye drops. Viral conjunctivitis usually clears up on its own. Whether your pinkeye is bacterial or viral, you can prevent its spread by practicing good hygiene.
Blepharitis
Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelids that’s often caused by a bacterial infection or a skin condition. If you have blepharitis, your eyelids may be crusty and irritated, and you may feel pain when you blink.
Other symptoms include burning, itching, and a gritty feeling in your eyes.
The usual treatment for blepharitis is warm compresses and eyelid scrubs with baby shampoo. Sometimes, you may need an antibiotic ointment.
Styes
A stye is a painful, red bump on your eyelid that’s caused by a bacterial infection in an oil gland. Styes can cause localized pain that gets worse when you blink.
You can often treat a stye at home by applying warm compresses to the affected area several times a day.
Avoid touching or popping the stye, because that can spread the infection.
Injuries and Irritants
Sometimes, eye pain when blinking is the result of an injury or an irritant that’s come into contact with your eye.
Corneal Abrasion
A corneal abrasion is a scratch on your cornea, the clear surface at the front of your eyeball. Corneal abrasions can happen when you get something in your eye, when you’re putting in or taking out contact lenses, or if your eye is traumatized in some way.
If you have a corneal abrasion, you may feel a sharp pain in your eye. Your eye may also be sensitive to light, and it may feel like something is still in your eye even after you’ve removed it.
Corneal abrasions can become infected, so it’s important to get medical help to make sure your eye heals properly.
Foreign Body Sensation (FBS)
If you have a foreign body sensation, it feels like something is in your eye even when there’s nothing there. This can happen if a tiny particle is lodged in your eye, if your eyes are dry, or if there’s some inflammation.
You can try flushing your eye with sterile saline solution or artificial tears to try to wash out the irritant. Try not to rub your eye, as that can make the irritation worse.
Allergies
Allergic conjunctivitis occurs when your eyes react to allergens like pollen, dust mites, or pet dander. When this happens, your eyes get itchy and watery, and they may hurt when you blink.
Other symptoms can include redness, swelling, and a burning sensation.
Allergy symptoms can be treated with antihistamine eye drops, oral allergy medications, and by avoiding the allergens as much as possible.
Other potential causes and when to see a doctor
Sometimes, your eyes hurt when you blink because of something other than dry eye or blepharitis. For example:
- Sinusitis: Sinus infections can cause pain and pressure around your eyes, which may get worse when you blink. Over-the-counter decongestants and saline sprays can help.
- Contact lens intolerance: If you don’t care for your contact lenses properly, or if you’re sensitive to the lens material, your eyes may become irritated. Clean your lenses as directed, and ask your eye doctor about other types of lenses.
See an eye doctor if your eye pain is severe, doesn’t go away, or comes with changes to your vision, discharge, or sensitivity to light. You should also seek medical care for injuries, infections, or other underlying conditions.
Key Takeaways
Eye pain when you blink can be alarming, but knowing what might be causing it can help you decide what to do next.
Many minor irritations will clear up with home treatment, but don’t hesitate to seek professional care for symptoms that are severe or don’t go away. If you’re concerned about the health of your eyes, it’s always a good idea to consult an optometrist or ophthalmologist.
Getting a diagnosis and treatment early on can ease discomfort and prevent eye problems from becoming chronic, helping you maintain optimal eye health for years to come.