Eye Pain When Blinking: Causes, Treatments, and More..

Eye Pain When Blinking 

Some of the body functions are involuntary and reflexive, we usually don't notice them, such as breathing and blinking eyes, until something gets awry. Sometimes, we tend to blink more if we something in the eye or experience eye pain. Recognizing this discomfort is easy but diagnosing the causes can be complex.

 Let's discuss some causes of eye pain when blinking and hoe we can treat them.

WHAT CAUSES YOUR EYE TO HURT WHEN BLINKING ?

As the eye lid moves across the cornea, (the most sensitive tissue of human body) each time you blink, any foreign object, dryness, irritation or inflammation of the cornea can cause eye discomfort.

More serious conditions may prevail too causing eye pain. 

Possible Causes for Eye Pain on Blinking include Eye Injuries : -

• Eye Injuries :

 The human eye is delicate and susceptible to some injuries and factors such as acute trauma or accumulation of debris. Corneal scratch is another example that can occur due to frequent eye rubbing and touching. These can injure the eye or the eye socket. 

• Eye Debris :

If a foreign object gets into your eye, it irritate the cornea and inner eyelid, further causing eye pain. These debris can be as small as an eyelash and still cause significant irritation in the eye.

• Allergic Conjunctivitis :

Conjunctiva is a thin membrane covering the eyeballs and inside of eyelids. Allergies to substances like pollen or mold spores can cause inflammation of this membrane, further making your eyes red, itchy and watery. This can be also painful. Also, this infection causing conjunctivitis is 'contagious', i.e. likely to spread to and affect others.

• Pink Eye :

Pink eye (Conjunctivitis) is an infection or swelling in the outer membrane of your eye and the lining of your inner eyelid. It causes this membrane to become inflamed, giving your eye a noticeable red or pink color. Pink eye is also contagious.

• Stye :

A stye happens when the eyelash follicles or oil glands on the eyelid become infected, leading to swelling on the eyelid and causing pain on blink. While the stye itself is not contiguous but the bacteria that caused it can spread to others with direct contact.

•  Blepharitis :

Blepharitis is a condition where the edges of the upper or lower eyelids become inflamed, sore causing pain when blinking. This can cause swollen, itchy eyelids, red, watery eyes and a burning sensation.

As per eye specialists, bacterial infections, blocked glands or certain skin conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis are a few factors behind blepharitis.  

• Dry Eyes :

 Your eyes produce tears to make blinking, moving and seeing comfortable. Dry eye syndrome is condition where a production of tears is disrupted. This causes the eyes to become dry and irritated and also include pain while blinking.

TREATMENTS 

Various treatments depending on the cause of the eye pain :

For Eye Injuries : 

• In case of a chemical burn, rinse off your eye with sterile saline or cold water. 
• Eye drops can be used for discomfort or prevent infections.
• Medication can also be used to reduce pain, prevent infection, or to relax the eye muscles.
• Serious injuries or burns will require medical treatment and may even need a surgery.
  

 For Eye Debris :

• Wash your eye immediately with clean cold water if there is something in it.
• Slightly pulling up the upper eye-lid away from the eye may help loosen the object.
• A person could also run artificial tears or saline over the eye while it is open to flush the debris away.
• You can seek medical treatment if the condition is getting worse.
• A doctor may examine the eye using several methods : Anesthesia, Eye Vitals Check, Slit Lamp Examination etc.

For Allergic Conjunctivitis :

• Keeping your surroundings clean and minimize soft furnishings.
• Holding a piece of cotton wool soaked in cold water on the eyelid can soothe the eyes.
• Artificial tears dilute the allergen and help remove it.
• Anti-allergy eye drops or oral medications. 

For Pink Eye :

• Use ibuprofen (a painkiller) for pain.
• Artificial tear eye drops can help relieve soreness and stickiness.
• Apply warm compresses that can soothe the discomfort. 
• Avoid contact lenses, and touching the eyes and face. 
• In most cases, pink eye infection goes away without medical treatment. If the doctor suspects a bacterial infection, they may recommend antibiotics.

For Stye :

• Put a very warm, wet compress on the eye for short periods of time, a few times per day. It may temporarily ease the pain.
• Keep your eyes clean and avoid touching with hands.
• Over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication may also ease the pain of a stye.
• Use eye drops that may help to relieve the pain of styes.
• Antibiotics can kill the bacteria that cause a stye to grow.
• When a stye does not go away or turns into a chalazion, a doctor may recommend surgery.

For Blepharitis :

• Wash your eyes with clean water frequently.
• Using warm compresses may relieve its pain.
• Try over-the-counter artificial tears for lubricating eyes.
• Antibiotics applied to the eyelid have been shown to provide relief of symptoms and resolve bacterial infection of the eyelids.
• Steroid eyedrops or ointments can be used for this.

For Dry Eyes :

• Use eye drops causing artificial tears.
• Over-the-counter (OTC) eye drops are effective treatment for dry eyes.
• Home remedies include avoiding wind and smoke; and using humidifiers.
• Taking omega-3 fatty acids may improve symptoms of dry eyes.
• Getting an acupuncture therapy.
• Medical eye drops include Restasis and Xiidra. 

WHEN IS EYE PAIN AN EMERGENCY ?

When your eye hurts, it's hard to think of anything else. But if the pain is severe enough, or if you've lost vision, you should see a doctor. A painful eye is caused by : allergies, illness, injury, infection or a foreign body in the eye. Symptoms vary, but if you have any of the following symptoms, you should seek a medical care : 

• Unusual severe eye pain
• Sudden change in vision
• Trouble moving your eye or unable to keep it open
• Extensive swelling or puffiness
• Blood or pus coming from your eyes
• Abdominal pain, vomiting and headache that accompanies eye pain
• Eye pain caused by trauma or exposure to chemical
• Seeing halos around  

HOW CAN YOU PREVENT EYE PAIN ?

Protecting your eyes can prevent the eye pain. Some of the ways to prevent eye pain are :

• Wear protective eyewear while performing risky tasks. Also use simple protective wears daily such as goggles or sun glasses.
• Handle dangerous chemicals with caution. Spray such chemicals away from your body.
• Avoid giving your children toys that can injure their eyes.
• Clean your contact lenses thoroughly and routinely.
• Limit screen time.
• Improve the air quality of your space around.
• Adjust the lighting and brightness of devices to your comfort.

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