Why Does My Eye Hurt When I Blink?

December 11, 2023 by Yuvastri Dheepan

Does your eye hurt when you blink? In some cases, the pain goes away on its own. However, there are cases when emergency medical services are required.

Read the full post to understand why your eyes hurt when you blink and what you can do about it.

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What Causes Eye Pain When You Blink?

The most common causes for eye pain when you blink is a stye, dry eyes, or a pink eye. Pink eye is another name for conjunctivitis. Serious conditions can also cause eyes to hurt while you blink. This could happen due to optic neuritis and glaucoma.

Here are some of the causes of eye pain when you blink:

1. Allergic Conjunctivitis

Some people are allergic to mould spores and pollen which could cause inflammation to the conjunctiva. Conjunctiva is the thin membrane that covers the eyeballs and the insides of the eyelids. The allergic conjunctivitis or inflammation can cause itchiness and redness in the eyes which becomes very painful.

2. Chemical Burns

If you work in a space where you are exposed to chemicals, it could cause eye burn or damage.

3. Dry Eyes

Your eyes produce tears to make moving, blinking, and seeing convenient and comfortable. If your eyes are not making enough fluid, you will experience all kinds of symptoms of dry eyes. This includes pain while blinking.

4. Debris In The Eye

If you blink and your eyes hurt, it could be caused by debris in the eye. This could happen in the case of foreign objects in the eyes. Even a little debris (as small as an eyelash) could cause irritation and pain in the eye.

5. Glaucoma

Glaucoma is the fluid buildup in your eye. Although glaucoma causes very few symptoms but in case you feel pressure in the eye, it is an emergency situation. Contact your medico immediately in this case.

6. Pink Eye

Pink eye is the swelling or infection in the eye’s outer membrane and the lining of the inner eyelid. Pink causes membrane inflammation or you may also find a noticeable pink or red colour in the eye. This is contagious and it causes pain in the eye.

[ Read: How To Get Rid of Eye Red After Shower ]

7. Stye

A Stye happens when the staph infection develops in the oil glands and eyelash follicles on the eyelid. The infection causes inflammation and swelling that makes blinking painful. Styes happen to be contagious, so it is best to wear shades at all times.

[ Read: Essential Oils for Eye Stye ]

8. Injury Or Trauma To Your Face

If there is a face trauma or injury, blinking may become difficult and painful. A fractured eye socket may also cause pain while blinking.

9. Bacterial Infection

In case there is a bacterial infection, you could get pain while blinking your eyes.

What to Do If You Get Eye Pain While Blinking?

There are some at-home remedies you can try to reduce eye pain while blinking. Sometimes the best way for eye care is to get more sleep, wear sunglasses, and gain access to good-quality eye drops.

Here are some other remedies:

Warm compress helps in relieving pain. You can use a small cloth to do hot water compresses. Make sure you do it regularly to reduce eye pain.
Over the counter medication is also available. Speak to an eye doctor about this.
Artificial tears eye drops can also help in moistening the eyes to avoid pain or itching. Dry eyes can cause major pain and discomfort which is why artificial tears and eye drops are required.
Avoid exposure to all kinds of pollutants. You must wear sunglasses or shades to cover your eyes if you are already experiencing discomfort and pain.
Humidifiers also help in reducing symptoms of dry eyes.
Adjust the lighting of your home. Make sure it’s comfortable for your eyes.
Reduce your day’s screen time. If you are experiencing pain in the eyes, it is best to reduce screen time and give your eyes some rest.
Blue light glasses are quite helpful. They help in reducing the glare and prevent damage to your eyes.
Wash your eyelids with a no-tear shampoo.
Make sure you remove any foreign objects from your eyes.
It’s time to upgrade the sunglasses. Wear them any time you go outside.

What To Do If The Pain In The Eye Is Caused Due To Serious Conditions?

In the case of serious conditions, you must speak to a doctor.

For chemical burns, glaucoma, and optic neuritis, doctors will recommend the right kind of treatment or surgery. You should never do DIY in this case.

Eye pain caused by blinking should get better on its own, but if it persists, medical intervention is required.

Any discomfort in the eye should be taken seriously because your vision gets impacted if something goes wrong. Get it checked immediately if the pain and discomfort lasts for a considerable amount of time.

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