When to Consult Your Doctor About Eye Pain

Here’s a simple guide from our team at DeyeNamics to help you determine when eye pain is something to watch and when it’s something that needs a doctor’s care.

First, What Causes Eye Pain?

Eye pain can come from a variety of sources, including:

• Eye strain from too much screen time
• Dry eyes or allergies
• Foreign objects like dust or lashes
• Infections such as pinkeye (conjunctivitis)
• Injuries from sports or accidents
• Underlying health conditions like glaucoma or migraines

Some of these issues are mild and temporary. Others? Not so much.

When Eye Pain Is a Red Flag

If you experience any of the following, it’s time to stop wondering and start dialing your eye doctor:

Sudden, Severe Eye Pain

This could be a sign of acute glaucoma, a serious condition that can lead to permanent vision loss if not treated quickly. This could also be a sign of scleritis or uveitis which are also serious conditions that require immediate evaluation and intervention.

Pain With Vision Changes

Blurry vision, halos, double vision, or sudden loss of sight is never normal. These could signal a retinal issue, corneal issue, or an infection which can significantly impact your vision if not addressed early after developing these symptoms.

Redness, Swelling, or Discharge

These signs often point to infection (like conjunctivitis) or inflammation (like uveitis), which require medical care.

Light Sensitivity

If bright lights suddenly hurt your eyes, it could be more than just a headache. Some infections and inflammatory conditions cause this symptom.

Foreign Object or Trauma

If you’ve been poked in the eye, or got something in it and flushing didn’t help, get it checked immediately by an eyecare provider. Don’t try to remove objects lodged in the eye yourself because this can cause significant and potentially permanently sight-threatening problems.

Persistent Headaches With Eye Pain

Sometimes, eye pain comes from behind the eyes. For instance, it’s common in migraines or sinus infections. But it’s worth an eye doctor’s opinion if it's intense or recurring.

So, When Should You Not Worry?

We always recommend seeing an eye doctor whenever you’re concerned about your eye health. However, some eye discomfort isn’t an emergency.

You can usually manage it at home if:

• You’ve been staring at a screen too long (take a break, blink more, use artificial tears)
• You have mild allergies
• You didn’t sleep well (rest and cool compresses can help)

Still, if you’re unsure or experience these issues with increasing frequency, it’s always okay to schedule an appointment with your eye doctor. It’s your vision. It’s worth protecting.

Bottom Line

Your eyes are delicate and incredibly important. While not all eye pain means something serious, ignoring signs could risk your sight.

Call your eye doctor if the pain is sudden, intense, or comes with other symptoms like double vision or partial loss of vision. Fast action can make all the difference.

Bonus Tips for Happy Eyes

While we take any eye discomfort seriously and can recommend treatments to help soothe your irritated, painful eyes, we can also recommend these tips to get you started:

1. Follow the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
2. Use proper lighting when reading or working.
3. Stay hydrated, and don’t forget to blink, especially if you’re glued to screens. Good quality and frequent blinks can significantly impact the clarity and comfort of your vision.
4. Keep your hands away from your eyes (especially during allergy or flu season). Rubbing your eyes only exacerbates the problem or causes other problems.

Do you have eye pain and are not sure what to do? Schedule a visit at one of DeyeNAMICS’ offices in California, Connecticut, Iowa, or Texas. Your future self (and your future vision) will thank you.