A sudden, sharp, or stabbing pain in one eye can come from dry eye, a trapped eyelash, a corneal scratch, contact lens irritation, inflammation, or an infection. In some cases, sharp eye pain can signal a more urgent condition that needs prompt treatment.
Seek immediate medical care if the pain is severe, follows an injury or chemical exposure, or occurs with sudden vision changes, intense redness, nausea, or vomiting. If the pain persists, recurs, or interferes with your daily activities, schedule an eye exam at Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center to identify the cause and discuss treatment options.
Common and Moderate Causes of Eye Pain
Eye pain isn’t always something to panic about; there are many common causes of mild to moderate pain and discomfort in the eyes.
Dry Eyes
Dry eye develops when your eyes do not produce enough healthy tears or when tears evaporate too quickly. The exposed eye surface can become irritated, causing burning, stinging, grittiness, redness, blurry vision, or occasional sharp eye pain.
Dry air, wind, prolonged screen use, contact lenses, certain medications, and some medical conditions can contribute to dry eye symptoms. Artificial tears may provide temporary relief for mild irritation, but persistent or painful symptoms should be evaluated by an eye doctor. Treatment depends on what is disrupting your tear film.
Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
Conjunctivitis, commonly called pink eye, occurs when the conjunctiva becomes inflamed. The conjunctiva is the clear tissue covering the white part of the eye and lining the inside of the eyelids.
In addition to redness, conjunctivitis may cause:
- Burning, itching, or soreness
- A gritty feeling
- Watery eyes
- Eyelid swelling
- Discharge or crusting
- Blurry vision
- Light sensitivity
Viruses, bacteria, allergies, and other irritants can cause conjunctivitis. Because the appropriate treatment depends on the cause, avoid using leftover antibiotics or someone else’s eye drops. Wash your hands frequently, avoid touching your eyes, and stop wearing contact lenses until an eye doctor says it is safe to resume.
Seek prompt care if redness occurs with significant pain, light sensitivity, reduced vision, marked swelling, or thick discharge.
Eye Strain
Eye strain can develop after prolonged screen use, reading, driving, or other activities that require sustained focus. Symptoms may include tired or sore eyes, headaches, blurry vision, dryness, burning, and difficulty concentrating.
Eye strain usually causes aching or irritation rather than sudden stabbing pain in one eye. Do not assume severe, recurring, or one-sided pain comes from screen use alone.
To reduce digital eye strain, adjust screen brightness, limit glare, blink regularly, and follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. If symptoms continue despite rest or interfere with daily activities, schedule an eye exam to check for dry eye, focusing problems, or an outdated prescription.
Contact Lens Issues
Contact lenses can cause sharp eye pain when they dry out, fit poorly, trap debris, or scratch the cornea. Sleeping in lenses not approved for overnight wear, wearing them longer than recommended, or exposing them to water can also increase the risk of infection.
Remove your contact lenses if you develop pain, redness, discharge, light sensitivity, or blurry vision. Do not put them back in until an eye doctor has evaluated your symptoms or confirmed it is safe.
Contact lens wearers should seek prompt care for significant or worsening pain. A corneal infection can progress quickly and may threaten vision without treatment.
Foreign Bodies
An eyelash, dust particle, piece of sand, or other foreign material can cause sudden sharp pain, tearing, redness, and the feeling that something is stuck in your eye.
Do not rub your eye. Small, loose particles may wash away with clean water or sterile saline. If discomfort continues after rinsing, an eye doctor should check for a corneal scratch or material trapped beneath the eyelid.
Do not attempt to remove an object that appears embedded in the eye. Seek immediate care for metal, glass, high-speed debris, chemical exposure, severe pain, or any related vision change.
Corneal Abrasions
A corneal abrasion is a scratch on the clear front surface of the eye. Because the cornea contains many nerve endings, even a small scratch can cause intense or stabbing pain.
Other symptoms may include:
- A feeling that something remains in the eye
- Excessive tearing
- Redness
- Blurry vision
- Light sensitivity
- Difficulty keeping the eye open
Fingernails, contact lenses, plant material, makeup tools, and trapped debris can scratch the cornea. Avoid rubbing the eye or using leftover medication. An eye doctor can check the extent of the injury, remove any remaining debris, and prescribe treatment when needed.
Seek prompt care if the pain is severe, your vision changes, the injury involves plant material or a contact lens, or symptoms do not begin improving.
Inflammation
Inflammation can affect different parts of the eye and may cause aching, burning, tenderness, or sharp pain. The location, severity, and accompanying symptoms depend on the affected tissue.
Conditions associated with eye inflammation include:
- Blepharitis: Inflammation along the eyelid margins that may cause burning, crusting, itching, and soreness.
- Uveitis: Inflammation inside the eye that may cause deep pain, redness, blurry vision, and light sensitivity.
- Keratoconus: Inflammation of the cornea that may cause significant pain, tearing, redness, and difficulty tolerating light.
- Scleritis: Inflammation of the white outer layer of the eye that can cause severe, deep pain and tenderness.
Painful inflammation cannot be diagnosed based on symptoms alone. Seek prompt evaluation when pain is persistent, severe, or accompanied by redness, light sensitivity, or vision changes.
Serious and Urgent Causes of Eye Pain
While many types of eye pain are manageable at home, some are more severe. These causes often require evaluation by an eye care provider.
Glaucoma
Most forms of glaucoma develop without noticeable pain. However, acute angle-closure glaucoma can cause sudden, severe eye pain because pressure inside the eye rises rapidly.
Warning signs may include:
- Intense eye pain
- A red eye
- Sudden blurry vision
- Halos around lights
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
Acute angle-closure glaucoma is a medical emergency. Seek immediate care if severe eye pain occurs with these symptoms.
Chemical Burns
Chemical exposure can quickly damage the eye’s surface and threaten vision. Household cleaners, workplace chemicals, fertilizers, solvents, and other substances may cause intense burning, redness, tearing, blurry vision, or severe pain.
If a chemical enters your eye:
- Begin rinsing immediately with plenty of clean, room-temperature water.
- Continue flushing for at least 15 to 20 minutes.
- Remove contact lenses if they come out easily while rinsing.
- Do not rub the eye or attempt to neutralize the chemical with another substance.
- Seek emergency medical guidance immediately after flushing.
Do not delay rinsing while looking for a specific eyewash solution. After irrigation begins, contact local Poison Control for guidance and seek emergency medical care.
Eye Infections
Eye infections can develop when bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites affect the eye’s surface or surrounding tissues. Symptoms vary, but may include pain, redness, swelling, discharge, tearing, light sensitivity, or blurry vision.
Some infections are mild, while others can damage the cornea or threaten vision. Contact lens wearers may face a higher risk of serious corneal infection, particularly after sleeping in lenses, exposing lenses to water, or using them beyond the recommended schedule.
Seek prompt eye care for worsening pain, reduced vision, significant light sensitivity, thick discharge, swelling, or symptoms that begin while wearing contact lenses. Treatment depends on the type and location of the infection.
Map-Dot-Fingerprint Dystrophy (EBMD)
Map-dot-fingerprint dystrophy, also called epithelial basement membrane dystrophy, affects the outer layer of the cornea. In some people, that layer does not attach securely and can pull away, causing a recurrent corneal erosion.
This condition may cause:
- Sudden or severe eye pain, often upon waking
- A feeling that something is stuck in the eye
- Tearing
- Light sensitivity
- Blurry vision
Symptoms may disappear and return. An eye doctor can examine the cornea and recommend treatment based on the frequency and severity of the erosions. Options may include lubricating drops, ointments, protective contact lenses, or other corneal treatments.
When to Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Seek immediate medical care for eye pain accompanied by any of the following:
- Sudden or severe pain
- Sudden blurry vision, vision loss, or a dark area in your vision
- Halos around lights with headache, nausea, or vomiting
- Significant redness or light sensitivity
- Pain when moving the eye
- One pupil appears different from the other
- An eye injury, embedded object, or chemical exposure
- Swelling or discharge accompanied by fever
- Severe pain that begins while wearing contact lenses
Do not drive yourself if your vision is impaired. Chemical exposures should be flushed immediately before seeking emergency care.
Even without these warning signs, recurring sharp pain in one eye deserves evaluation. An eye doctor can examine the cornea, intraocular pressure, internal structures of the eye, and surrounding tissues to determine the cause of the pain.
Find Solutions for Your Eye Pain
Sharp eye pain can have many causes, from surface irritation and dry eye to corneal injury, inflammation, infection, or acute glaucoma. Because different conditions can produce similar symptoms, an eye examination is the safest way to identify the cause.
Seek emergency medical care for severe pain, sudden vision changes, chemical exposure, or a significant eye injury. For persistent or recurring symptoms, schedule an eye exam with Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center or call (602) 955-1000. Our Arizona eye care team can evaluate your symptoms and recommend an appropriate next step.