Eye Pain

What is eye pain?

Eye pain is when your eye hurts, feels uncomfortable or aches. It can happen on the surface like with corneal abrasion or dry eye syndrome or deeper inside, such as with iritis or glaucoma. Most cases are minor, but it’s helpful to know when to see an expert. Standard Eye tests are free for under‑16s; adults will pay a fee.

Different types of eye pain 

What might be causing your eye pain and what it could point to?

Sudden sharp or stabbing pain in the eye 

This is often caused by a scratch or something getting into your eye, like dust or grit. You might feel like there’s something stuck or a sharp pain when blinking. 
 
Try flushing your eye with lubricating drops or saline solution. If you wear contact lenses, take them out and rinse them and try wearing your glasses for the rest of the day. Do not try to remove anything sharp from your eye yourself – call your optometrist for advice.

If the pain carries on or there is no clear cause, book an eye check. 

Throbbing or deep aching pain 

This could point to inflammation or raised eye pressure, as seen with scleritis, optic neuritis or acute glaucoma. It’s always best to have this kind of pain checked. 

Burning, itching or gritty eyes 

This might be caused by dry eye syndrome, allergies or infections like conjunctivitis. You might feel like there’s something in your eye. If the feeling does not go away, come in for an eye check. 

Pain behind the eyes or in the temples 

This can be linked to tension headaches, sinus problems or cluster headaches. Some people also experience blurred vision, red eyes or sensitivity to light. Speak to your GP or optometrist if symptoms continue. 

Eye strain and tiredness 

If your eyes feel sore, achy or heavy, especially after long periods on screens or reading, it may be eye strain. 

You might also find it uncomfortable to look in certain directions or focus for too long. 

Taking regular screen breaks and wearing the glasses with right prescription can help ease the discomfort. If it keeps happening, book an eye test to check your vision. 

Eye pain symptoms you might notice 

Eye pain often comes with other symptoms that can help show what’s going on. Keep an eye out for these common signs. They can point to different causes and tell you when it’s time to get help.

Red or bloodshot eyes

If the whites of your eyes look red or patchy in colour, it could be a burst blood vessel, allergies or irritation. This might happen from rubbing your eyes, straining, or even coughing too hard. It can look worrying, but it’s usually harmless and settles in a week or two. 
Learn more about burst blood vessels

Sticky or watery eyes

If your eyes are glued shut in the morning or constantly watering through the day, it could be conjunctivitis. This is when the thin layer over your eye gets inflamed. It’s common, often contagious, and usually clears up with basic care and practicing good hygiene.   
Learn more about conjunctivitis

Blurry vision or seeing halos

If your sight goes fuzzy with deep discomfort or you start seeing rainbow rings or halos around lights, it could be a sign of acute glaucoma. This is caused by a build‑up of pressure inside the eye and can lead to vision loss if not caught early. 
Learn more about glaucoma

Pain in bright light

If bright light suddenly becomes hard to cope with, it could point to inflammation inside the eye. This is often a sign something more serious is going on. 

A deep ache in or around the eye

This could be iritis, where the coloured part of your eye (the iris) becomes inflamed. It often causes redness, blurred vision and light sensitivity too and it needs treatment to avoid long‑term damage. 

A gritty or scratchy feeling

If it feels like there’s something in your eye that you can’t blink away, it might be dry eye syndrome. This happens when your eyes don’t make enough tears – or the tears dry out too fast. Another possible cause is a scratched front surface of the eye (corneal abrasion), which can happen after rubbing your eyes or from something like dust or sand. 
Learn more about the feeling of something in the eye

A sore lump on your eyelid

This is often a stye, which shows up as a red, swollen bump near the edge of your eyelid. It might feel tender and make your eye water, but it usually clears up on its own with a warm compress.  
Learn more about styes

Redness, pain and changes to your vision

If you have an autoimmune condition, it can sometimes affect your eyes too. Inflammation linked to autoimmune disease can cause ongoing redness, soreness or problems with vision, and usually needs care from a specialist. 

How is eye pain treated?

An optometrist will explain what’s going on and what to do next.

Mild cases

Dry eyes or a small scratch on the surface of your eye might sound worrying, but they often clear up with a bit of care at home. Lubricating drops, a warm compress, and a short break from contact lenses can all help ease things.

Learn more about dry eye syndrome.

Infections

If your eye’s red, sore, or a bit sticky, it could be something like conjunctivitis or a stye. These are common and usually clear up with the right treatment – sometimes that means antibiotic drops or ointment to help things along.

Learn more about conjunctivitis and styes.

More serious conditions

Some types of eye pain need quick treatment – like glaucoma, iritis or a sudden injury. If the pain is severe, your vision’s changed, or light really hurts your eyes, don’t wait it out. Get it checked to avoid lasting damage.

Learn more about glaucoma