Discomfort in the eyes for many people is becoming the norm: long work at the computer, reading in uncomfortable conditions, etc.
All these are direct causes of the development of many unpleasant symptoms.
The human eye is not adapted for long-term loads of this kind.
If the eyes are not adequately cared for, this can lead to the development of serious diseases, the outcome of which in most cases is deplorable.
How to determine the cause of pain and how to prevent the formation of pathologies?
Eyes hurt: causes
If your eyes hurt, the reasons for this are always pathological. The only question is how severe the pathology is. Fortunately, for the most part, really serious diseases are painless (they are "dumb" and do not make themselves felt until the last) and it is difficult to miss them, but there are exceptions. What diseases can the pain syndrome speak of:
• Inflammatory lesions of the eye structures. Among them, the notorious and well-known conjunctivitis. It is an inflammation of the conjunctiva - the shell of the eyeball. It does not carry immediate danger to eyesight, but causes a lot of uncomfortable phenomena, moreover, it is easily transmitted from the carrier (extremely contagious).
The uveitis is much more severe. This is a whole group of pathologies that are characterized by inflammation of the choroid of the eye (it can be anterior, when the iris becomes inflamed, it can cover the entire membrane). Uveitis is dangerous for its aggressive course: inflammation easily passes to the retina, which is fraught with partial or complete loss of vision.
Keratitis The defeat of the cornea. Inflammation of the cornea can lead to clouding and a significant decrease in vision.
All three of these groups of diseases are of infectious origin. These are diseases that are easier to prevent than to cure (especially true for uveitis and keratitis).
• Eye injuries. A variety of mechanical, thermal, chemical eye lesions are expected to be accompanied by pain.
• Eye strain. Professional "disease" of office workers, jewelers, students, programmers (also other people whose work is associated with high visual load). Strictly speaking, it is not a disease. With a long look at an object located at the same distance from the eye, the muscles of the organ become overworked.
• Eye pathology. An extremely dangerous and no less insidious disease, in which there is a pain syndrome - glaucoma. Unfortunately, the "azure" disease can occur with lingering symptoms: a person in this case does not know about his problem, writing off the aching pain in the eye to fatigue.
• Diseases of the nervous system. Migraine, cluster headaches are always characterized by intense pain in one eye.
• Allergy. Allergies can occur in different ways: asthmatic attacks, edema, and may be inflammation of the eye. More often allergic conjunctivitis develops. It can be difficult to distinguish between the allergic form of the disease and the infectious one.
• Diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Oddly enough, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine can give pain in the eyes. This is a reflected sensation.
• Autoimmune diseases affecting connective tissue. They are extremely rare.
• Other mechanical causes. So, wearing lenses for too long can lead to pain.
Sore eyes (causes): symptoms
As it turned out, if the eyes hurt, the reasons are different. In addition to pain with the described problems, other manifestations are observed:
• Inflammatory lesions accompanied by intense aching and / or burning pains localized on the surface of the eyeball. With posterior uveitis, the pain syndrome is felt somewhere "deep" in the eye, this is an alarming symptom. In addition to pain, the following manifestations occur:
-intensive lacrimation. Due to the increased activity of the lacrimal gland (this is a natural protective reaction of the body). The eye thus tries to get rid of the pathogen of inflammation, while at the same time accumulating a large number of white blood cells at the site of the lesion.
- redness of the eyes. Blood supply to the eye increases dramatically. With blood, cells fighting the infection (white blood cells) enter the site of the lesion.
-separation of pus (characteristic of conjunctivitis). Probably everyone at least once in their life woke up with their eyes literally stuck together. Separation of pus is a normal occurrence in infectious lesions. This is proof of the active functioning of the immune system (pus contains a huge amount of dead bacteria mixed with dead white blood cells).
- A frequent companion of eye inflammation is hyperthermia (fever). Symptoms of intoxication of the body develop: headache, weakness, etc.
• Overvoltage accompanied by pain in the eyes, lacrimation. Eyes turn red (capillaries visible). The contours of distant objects become blurred, visual acuity drops sharply. This is a temporary phenomenon that disappears without a trace after 1-2 days (provided that the eyes "rest"). If overvoltage occurs constantly, the risk of myopia (myopia), accommodation spasm is great. Solving such problems is much more difficult.
• Eye diseases (in particular glaucoma) proceed in different ways. Pain is almost always present, but you need to have a fair amount of observation to determine the presence of the disease. Glaucoma is often disguised as a neurological pathology: migraine, osteochondrosis. The pains are unilateral, can be extremely intense (with a sharp increase in intraocular pressure). The eye turns red, the pupil expands and ceases to adequately respond to light. When looking at a light source (lamp, lamp, etc.), the patient sees rainbow circles.
• With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine not only and not so much the eyes hurt. Discomfort is "spreading", its source is determined in the region of the spine. Often, patients note heaviness and throbbing pain in the back of the head. It is not easy to distinguish osteochondrosis from other pathologies that cause ocular symptoms. Only a doctor can do this.
Sore eyes (causes): diagnosis
It is not so easy to determine exactly why eyes hurt: the causes are heterogeneous, the symptoms are often blurred. It is impossible to understand without the help of an ophthalmologist: the risk is too great to make a mistake, and the price of such a “miss” is high. The diagnostic strategy, as a whole, is standard:
• Initial inspection. Includes oral questioning of the patient and conducting "routine" studies. This includes eye examination according to special tables, examination of the fundus. Examination of the retina, optic nerve and fundus vessels by “routine” methods determines only the most severe violations, therefore it cannot be called informative, but visual acuity is necessary.
• IOP measurement. Almost everywhere, contactless devices for changing intraocular pressure are installed. A high level of IOP gives reason to suspect glaucoma.
• Biomicroscopy. Examination with a slit lamp. Allows you to examine the environment of the eye (including the choroid). It is used to diagnose uveitis.
• Computer perimetry. It makes it possible to evaluate the field of view. In some diseases (glaucoma, retinal pathologies, etc.), “blind” areas (scotomas) occur. Perimetry makes it possible to identify such areas. The most informative is computer perimetry. Other methods are less accurate.
• Ophthalmoscopy with a Goldman lens. It is used less often, since it requires special equipment and skills. In district clinics it is almost impossible to meet an electronic ophthalmoscope, according to indications refer to the so-called. to a laser surgeon.
• Genioscopy. Contact method for the diagnosis of glaucoma. It consists in examining the anterior chamber of the eye (makes it possible to evaluate the drainage system of the organ of vision). A simple, at the same time informative research method.
• Ultrasound examination of the eye. It is prescribed in controversial cases, allows you to identify changes from all the media of the eye: choroid, retina.
In the complex of these studies is enough to make a diagnosis. As a rule, only some of these methods are applied. It all depends on the clinical picture and the observation of the doctor.
Sore eyes (causes): treatment
Specific treatment methods and drug names are determined by the doctor based on the identified pathology. The treatment in the vast majority of cases is conservative and consists in the local use of drugs (in the form of drops and ointments). In severe glaucoma, surgical treatment can be prescribed.
The following groups of drugs are prescribed:
• Antibacterial drugs (antibiotics). They are prescribed for all types of infectious lesions of the eye. Helps the immune system cope with the pathogen. The form is different: ointments, drops.
• Eye fatigue medications. Almost not prescribed by doctors, since the therapeutic value of such drugs is doubtful, and a huge number of contraindications have been found. Such popular Vizin drops and the like are dangerous: they have a vasoconstrictor effect, worsen fluid outflow and nutrition of the eyes. Their use is fraught with grave consequences.
• Drugs for corneal injury. Traumatic factors, even minor ones, disrupt the integrity of the eye tissue: cornea and conjunctiva, which is manifested by edema, redness, pain and burning, a sensation of a foreign body in the eye. To restore eye tissue after injuries, agents with dexpanthenol, a substance that has a regenerating effect on tissues, in particular the Korneregel eye gel, have proven themselves well. It has a healing effect due to the maximum concentration of dexpanthenol 5% *, and its carbomer, due to its viscous texture, prolongs the contact of dexpanthenol with the ocular surface.
• Anti-inflammatory drops. To relieve the discomfort caused by inflammation. In uncomplicated clinical cases, doctors prescribe Diklo-f, Indocollyr (at the same time it is an anesthetic) and others.
• Painkillers. The use of analgesics is practiced to relieve discomfort.
• Glaucoma preparations. They include a whole range of tools. They are selected only by a doctor and strictly based on the characteristics of the patient's body and the course of the pathology.
• Antihistamines. Assigned in combination with analgesics and anti-inflammatory with proven allergic etiology, eye problems.
Eyes hurt (causes): prevention
The described diseases are difficult and give dangerous complications. Meanwhile, there are simple rules by adhering to which risks can be minimized.
• The eyes should be given rest. The traditional "formula", according to which you need to interrupt for five minutes every hour, does not work. It is much more efficient to look at the most distant objects every 2-5 minutes for 10-20 seconds.
• Hygiene rules are mandatory. Dirty hands should not be touched. A simple truth that we often heard by children and telling our children, but poorly digesting.
• For any discomfort in the eye area, contact an ophthalmologist immediately. It may be a banal overwork, or glaucoma. Vision is not worth joking.
Thus, the causes of pain in the eyes are numerous. Almost always we are talking about diseases, many of which are fraught with visual impairment and problems in the future. As soon as the patient feels discomfort in the eyes, it is impossible to postpone the visit to the doctor. Thanks to this responsible approach, it will be possible in time to identify the disease and begin to treat it.
* 5% - the maximum concentration of dexpanthenol among ophthalmic forms in the Russian Federation. According to the State Register of Medicines, State Medical Devices and Organizations (Individual Entrepreneurs) engaged in the production and manufacture of medical devices, as well as data from manufacturers' open sources (official websites, publications), April 2017
There are contraindications. It is necessary to read the instructions or consult a specialist.
