Why Does My Eyeball Hurt? What Should I Do?

The significance of eye health cannot be overstated. Nowadays, electronic devices such as computers and smartphones are widely used. If one frequently uses these devices without proper eye protection, it can easily lead to various eye problems, a typical symptom being eye pain. There are numerous reasons for eye pain, and it is crucial to understand them and take appropriate measures based on individual conditions. Let's delve into the causes and solutions for eye pain.

a. Eye Fatigue: Prolonged reading, computer work, writing, or other visual tasks can cause eye fatigue, leading to soreness and discomfort in the eyeball. Resting for a while can help alleviate the pain. Persistent eye strain can also cause swelling and nausea, which may be due to farsightedness, astigmatism, or presbyopia without proper eyewear.

b. Stabbing Eye Pain: This type of pain feels like a needle piercing the eye, typically localized to the front of the eyeball, especially the corneal surface. Along with the pain, symptoms such as photophobia, tearing, or difficulty opening the eyelids may occur. These symptoms can be caused by electric ophthalmia, corneal burns, keratitis, corneal ulcers, or foreign bodies in the cornea.

c. Swelling Eye Pain: Pain and swelling felt in the central area of the eyeball can be severe, sometimes resembling a bursting sensation. This can be unbearable. Such symptoms are often due to intraocular pathology or high intraocular pressure, which can be caused by glaucoma, intraocular tumors, or iridocyclitis.

Method 1: Wet Heat Compress. Place a sterilized dry gauze with three layers over the eyes and apply a hot water bag for 20 minutes, repeating three times daily. Alternatively, fold a gauze into 10 layers, soak it in boiling water for 10 minutes, then squeeze it dry and place it on the eyes. Ensure the temperature is not too hot to avoid burning the skin around the eyes, and replace the gauze every 5 minutes. This method helps reduce inflammation, swelling, and pain, aiding in the treatment of scleritis, conjunctivitis, and sty.

Method 2: Eye Bath. Clean chrysanthemum flowers and boil them in a pot. Pour the infusion into a cup and place the cup over the eyes, opening them wide. Repeat this process for 5 minutes, three times a day. This not only cleanses the eyes but also provides therapeutic benefits. It is effective in relieving inflammation and pain in conditions like keratitis and conjunctivitis.

Method 3: Honey and Distilled Water. Mix 50ml of distilled water with a teaspoon of honey and add 0.5g of sodium bicarbonate. This mixture will produce bubbles. Let it stand and add more bicarbonate until the bubbling stops. Use this 50% honey water to rinse the eyes, which can help alleviate eye pain caused by keratitis.