When only one eye feels sore, scratchy, or irritated, it’s natural to wonder what’s going on. The feeling might be mild enough that you keep blinking through it. Or it might be sharp enough to stop you in the middle of your day.
Discomfort in one eye often comes from a surface problem like a scratch, pink eye, eyelid inflammation, or dry eye, but it can also come from an infection or inflammation deeper inside the eye. Once you know the warning signs, you can decide whether home care is enough or whether it’s time to have your optometrist check for eye disease and other causes.
Common Causes of Discomfort in One Eye
Much discomfort in one eye starts at the surface. Foreign objects and corneal abrasions are frequent culprits, and even a tiny scratch on your cornea can feel far worse than you’d expect. Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, can show up in one eye at a time, whether it comes from an infection or an allergic reaction. Blepharitis, inflammation along the eyelid, often causes a gritty, irritated feeling that tends to linger.
Deeper Causes of Pain in One Eye
Deep, achy pain may come from inside the eye. Iritis, also called anterior uveitis, is inflammation of the iris and the tissue around it. It can cause redness, sensitivity to light, blurry vision, and pain, and it needs prompt treatment.
If you wear contacts, you have a higher risk of corneal infections, especially if you sleep in your lenses or skip cleaning them. Take your lenses out and see your optometrist if one eye turns red and painful while you’re wearing them.
Dry Eye and the Feeling of Something in Your Eye
Maybe you’ve rinsed your eye, checked the mirror, and found nothing. That gritty, scratchy sensation is still real. Dry eye disease, or DED, is one of the most common reasons you might feel like something’s in your eye when nothing is there.
DED doesn’t always affect both eyes equally. Your tear production can differ from one side to the other, so one eye may feel drier than the other. And if you sleep facing a fan, sit beside a heating vent, or keep your screen off to one side, the eye closest to it may dry out faster.
Your optometrist may suggest a few approaches depending on how severe your symptoms are:
- Preservative-free artificial tears for mild, everyday dryness
- Prescription eye drops that can calm inflammation
- A daily eyelid cleaning routine that can help with blepharitis and blocked oil glands
How to Soothe an Irritated Eye at Home
Mild irritation without an injury is often something you can start treating at home. Try these steps before you book an appointment:
- Rinse your eye with preservative-free artificial tears or clean water.
- Hold a warm compress over your closed eyelid for a few minutes.
- Keep your hands away from your eye, since rubbing can worsen irritation or scratch the cornea.
- Take regular breaks from your screen so you remember to blink.
If the discomfort lasts more than a couple of days or starts getting worse, have your optometrist take a look.
Signs Your Eye Pain Needs Urgent Care
Some symptoms go beyond everyday irritation. Watch for these signs, as they may point to something that needs timely care:
- Sudden, severe pain in one eye
- Nausea that comes with the pain
- Any change in your vision
- Discharge that keeps getting worse
- Growing sensitivity to light
These signs can point to conditions that need treatment right away. Acute angle-closure glaucoma causes a sudden rise in pressure inside the eye. A corneal ulcer, which is an open sore on the cornea, can put your vision at risk if it isn’t treated. Optic neuritis, an inflammation of the nerve that connects your eye to your brain, can also affect your vision and needs an assessment from an optometrist or ophthalmologist.
What an Eye Exam Can Find
A thorough eye exam can uncover a lot that you cannot see on your own. Your optometrist can check your eyelids for blepharitis or styes, measure the pressure inside your eye, and see how well your tears are working.
If they find signs of infection or inflammation, they can prescribe treatment and schedule follow-up visits to monitor healing.
Getting Help for Discomfort in One Eye
You know your eyes better than anyone, so pay attention when one of them feels off. At Erie Shores Eyecare, we’ll take the time to look for the cause and walk you through your options. Book an appointment and let us help you figure out what’s going on.
