Sharp eye pain can stem from many causes, such as debris in the eye and glaucoma. Without treatment, some of these issues can lead to vision loss and other serious complications.
Intense or sharp pain often results from debris entering the eye.
This type of pain can also occur with migraine or cluster headaches. In some cases, inflammation or fluid buildup in the eye can lead to severe pain, as well as tissue damage and vision problems.
This article lists 10 causes of sharp eye pain, from common to rare, and when to speak with a doctor.
Several conditions ranging in severity can cause sharp pain in the eye or eyes. The following list contains some of the most common causes of sharp eye pain.
1. Debris in the eye
Many people experience sharp pain when debris, such as dirt or dust, lodges in an eye. The pain may feel worse when blinking.
The pain usually subsides once a person flushes the debris from their eye. They can do this by splashing water or saline solution on the affected eye.
If a person continues to experience eye pain, they
2. Eye infections
Eye infections, such as keratitis, herpes, and conjunctivitis, can cause pain in the eye. They may also cause the following symptoms:
- redness
- watering
- discharge that can be watery or yellow-green pus
- swollen eyes
- light sensitivity
Antibiotic eye drops usually clear infections after 3 days.
3. Contact lens issues
Contact lenses can get caught or “lost” in the eye, though they cannot travel very far. Losing a contact lens in the eye can cause pain and the sensation of something being stuck in the eye.
- visiting an eye doctor once a year for an exam and fitting
- avoiding sleeping in contact lenses
- giving the eyes a rest
- following all instructions from the eye doctor
- use resetting drops to lubricate the eyes
- cleaning and storing contacts correctly
- changing contact lenses when it is time and not overwearing them
4. Dry eye
The eyes have three layers of tear film over them: a watery layer, an oily layer, and a mucus layer. These layers help with vision and keep the eyes clean.
In most cases, the eyes continually make tears to keep them moist. However, several factors, such as crying a lot, having medication side effects, wearing contact lenses, and having certain medical conditions, can cause the eyes to dry out. Dry eye is more common as people age, particularly in females postmenopause.
When the eyes become too dry, they can cause symptoms such as:
- stinging
- burning
- redness and irritation
- strings of mucus around the eyes
- pain putting in contact lenses
- a gritty feeling
Treatment for dry eye includes using artificial tears or punctal plugs, which a doctor inserts into the tear ducts to prevent tears from draining away.
Learn more about dry eye and menopause.
5. Migraine
Migraine is a common neurological disease that can cause headaches and other symptoms. It affects about
A migraine headache can cause severe, throbbing pain behind one or both eyes and a person may also experience:
- sensitivity to light and sound
- vision changes, such as seeing flashing lights or having partial vision loss
- dizziness
- loss of coordination
- fatigue
- weakness
- nausea and vomiting
- mood changes
- confusion
- difficulty concentrating
Symptoms of a migraine attack, including all phases of an attack, can typically last from 1 day to 1 week.
6. Optic neuritis
Optic neuritis is swelling of the eye’s optic nerve. One possible cause is the immune system attacking the optic nerve, causing damage.
When optic neuritis occurs, a person may experience symptoms such as:
- pain when moving the eye
- pain in the back of the eye
- faded or dull-looking colors
- blurry vision
- dimming vision
Some people do not need any treatment, and the condition will clear on its own. The most common treatment is the use of corticosteroids. Often, treating the underlying cause can help heal the eye.
7. Uveitis
Uveitis is inflammation of the eye’s middle layer — the uvea. This inflammation can also affect the vitreous fluid. It can occur in one or both eyes.
Uveitis can cause the following symptoms:
- eye pain and redness
- dark spots in a person’s vision
- blurred vision
- sensitivity to light
Uveitis can damage tissue in the eye, which may result in reduced vision or vision loss.
8. Scleritis and episcleritis
Scleritis is severe inflammation of the sclera, which is the outermost membrane of the eye. Though scleritis is rare, people can develop it due to an infection or autoimmune disease or as a side effect of medication. In some cases, doctors cannot identify the cause.
Episcleritis is a similar and more common condition. It is an inflammation of the episclera, which is the thin layer between the sclera and the tissue on the surface of the eyeball.
A person with scleritis may experience mild to severe eye pain that worsens at night or with eye movement. Other symptoms include:
- sensitivity to light
- watery eyes
- blurred vision
- tenderness
- redness in the whites of the eyes
- reduced vision
The symptoms of episcleritis
9. Cluster headaches
Cluster headaches can cause severe pain. People often describe the pain as searing, burning, or stabbing, and it tends to occur above the eye or near the temple.
In this context, a “cluster” refers to a group of headaches that commonly lasts 15 minutes to 3 hours. They usually occur during the day.
Cluster headaches may occur frequently for several days or weeks, with pain-free periods between them.
Other symptoms of cluster headaches include:
- intense pain on one side of the head
- red or watery eyes
- a runny or stuffy nose
- pupil constriction
- drooping eyelids
- sweating
- restlessness or agitation
10. Angle-closure glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damage the optic nerve. Without treatment, glaucoma can cause vision loss and blindness. There are three types of glaucoma: open-angle, normal-tension, and angle-closure glaucoma.
In the U.S., open-angle glaucoma is the
Angle-closure glaucoma occurs when fluid builds up quickly in the front of the eye, causing a sudden increase in pressure and intense eye pain. Another name for this disease is narrow-angle glaucoma.
Other symptoms
- a sudden, severe headache
- nausea
- blurred vision
- seeing halos around bright lights
The symptoms of angle-closure glaucoma develop rapidly.
This condition is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment. A doctor can drain the excess fluid and prescribe medication that reduces the pressure in the eye.
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Severe or persistent eye pain can indicate an underlying medical condition, such as uveitis, scleritis, or angle-closure glaucoma.
A person should contact an ophthalmologist or their regular doctor if they have:
- severe eye pain
- eye pain that does not go away after a few hours
- visual disturbances, such as blurred vision or dark spots
- visible swelling of the eye or nearby tissues
- nausea or vomiting
Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about eye pain.
What causes sharp pain in the outer corner of the eye?
When pain occurs around the eye’s corner, the underlying cause likely affects something surrounding the eye. Styes, infected tear ducts, and blepharitis can all cause pain around the corner of the eye or other areas.
What causes sudden sharp pain in one eye?
The most likely cause of sharp, sudden pain in one eye is debris getting caught in it. In some cases, something may get stuck under a contact lens, or it may result from something flying into the eye, such as sawdust.
What causes sharp eye pain that comes and goes?
Intermittent eye pain could have various causes, such as migraine, cluster headaches, or debris in the eye. Pain and pressure behind the eyes are common symptoms of migraine. An entire migraine attack, including all its phases, can last from 1 day to 1 week. During that time, exposure to light and other stimuli may worsen migraine symptoms and pain in the eyes.
Sharp pain in the eye can cause significant discomfort. Depending on the cause, the pain may resolve without treatment or require medical intervention.
A person should contact a doctor if they experience severe eye pain or pain lasting more than a few hours, as these symptoms can indicate a more serious underlying condition.
Many causes of sharp eye pain are treatable. Doctors typically focus on reducing inflammation and pain, preventing tissue damage, and recovering vision loss.