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When you think of body pains and aches, the eyes do not normally spring up in that train of thought. This is all the more reason to take any eye pain very seriously and seek immediate consultation with your doctor. Unless an injury is involved, it is often difficult to pinpoint the cause of eye pain. What makes the situation even more complicated is the fact that pain intensity does not necessarily indicate the seriousness of the cause. AllAboutVision has compiled a list of the most common causes for pain in the eye, stressing that an immediate visit to the doctor is the safest course of action.
If the front or inside of your eye hurts
One reason for that could be the presence of a corneal foreign body. Sometimes it can result in mild discomfort but these foreign bodies can also cause severe discomfort. Typical symptoms include blurry vision and sensitivity to light. Removal of the foreign body is an easy procedure but it should be done without delay, or a serious eye infection could follow.
Sometimes eye pain is the result of a scratched cornea, or what doctors call corneal abrasion. Most of these abrasions are not serious and heal within a day, but deeper abrasions may lead to complications, sometimes even resulting in a corneal ulcer if treatment is not provided.
Dry eyes? Discomfort?
Dry eyes are another widespread cause of eye discomfort and can sometimes lead to a corneal abrasion since the cornea cannot be kept moist. Dry eyes are not usually a matter of medical emergency but your doctor may need to conduct tests to assess the severity of the condition and prescribe the most effective treatment.
There are several other causes of eye pain and while they are not as common, some of them are very serious, for example endophthalmitis. This is a condition brought about by bacterial infection or, in rare cases, complications after cataract surgery. Eye pain can also be the result of pink eye (conjunctivitis), eye infection, iritis (inflammation of the iris) or discomfort attributable to contact lens wear.
