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Why Do Your Eyes Hurt? Common Causes of Eye Pain

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Everyone has had sore eyes at some point. Eye pain can be quite temporary and improve with a bit of rest, such as in cases of light eye strain from desk work. Of course, eye pain can signify a deeper, more severe issue.

If you have been struggling with excessive eye pain—or the pain that has persisted over a long period—it is best to get to the root of why your eyes hurt by visiting your eye doctor. Your doctor can go over your symptoms and determine the best way for how to treat your eye pain.

Here, we’ll go over a few of the most common sources of eye pain.

Why Does the Back of My Eyes Hurt?

It is quite common for patients to ask their eye doctor, “Why do the back of my eyes hurt?” Pain behind the eye can feel somewhat dull or sharp, depending on the cause. Your eye doctor will need to check your eye health to determine a possible source of pain. But some of the most common reasons that the back of one’s eyes may hurt are:

  • Dry Eye Syndrome
  • Vision Problems
  • Sinusitis
  • Scleritis
  • Optic Neuritis
  • Migraines and Cluster Headaches

Why Do My Eyes Hurt When They Move or When Blinking?

Another common complaint from patients is from the pain they experience when they move or blink their eyes. Causes for this type of eye pain can range quite a bit, from sinuses to more severe eye diseases.

If you are experiencing significant issues related to pain when you move or blink your eyes for more than 48 hours, you may need the attention of your eye doctor.

Some of the most common causes of eye pain when you move or blink your eyes are sinuses/allergies, dry eyes, a sty, or pink eye (conjunctivitis). Eye pain associated with eye movement or eye blinking may include glaucoma or optic neuritis.

What Causes Eye Pain?

There are several causes of eye pain. A few of them include:

  • Allergic conjunctivitis
  • Astigmatism
  • Blepharitis
  • Chemical burns
  • Headaches
  • Corneal scratches
  • Eye ulcers
  • Dry eyes
  • Eye injury or eye debris
  • Scleritis
  • Optic Neuritis

How to Treat Eye Pain?

What causes eye pain will vary from patient to patient. Eye pain treatment will vary based on the exact cause of an individual’s eye pain. It is best to visit your eye doctor to determine why your eyes hurt and how to treat your eye pain.

If you are experiencing eye pain and would like to learn the causes, schedule an eye exam with your local optometrist in Milton, ON today.

Written by Dr. Ronald Nicholas Strohan

Dr. Strohan has been an integrative optometrist in the Milton, Ontario area for over 40 years and has always stayed true to his philosophy of focusing on excellent patient eye care. He has studied behavioural optometry for more than 4 decades and is passionate about providing clear vision for patients of all ages. He takes pride in offering the latest eye care products and advancements in vision therapy.
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