Almost every person has eye soreness from time to time. It can be caused by various eye problems and underlying conditions. Some of them heal on their own, while others require medical attention to prevent serious vision problems. 


Below are 5 serious conditions that can cause eye soreness. If you suspect you have one of them, be sure to make an appointment with an ophthalmologist. 


1. Bacterial conjunctivitis


Bacterial conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva. This is a translucent membrane that covers the white area of your eyeball. When harmful bacteria get on your conjunctiva, small blood vessels in the conjunctiva become irritated and more apparent. For this reason, the whites of your eyes seem red or pink. The symptoms of bacterial conjunctivitis include eye redness, pain, itchiness, and tearing. 


To treat bacterial conjunctivitis, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic in the form of eye drops or ointment. Antibiotics help prevent the spread of the infection, reduce complications, and speed up recovery. 


2. Blepharitis 


Blepharitis is the inflammation of the eyelids. In most cases, this condition affects both eyes and the margins of the eyelids. Blepharitis usually develops when small oil glands near the base of the eyelashes get blocked. This is a chronic condition that can be caused by underlying health problems like dermatitis, allergy, rosacea, or infection. The symptoms of blepharitis include watery eyes, eye redness, itchiness, greasy eyelids, crusted eyelashes, pain, and blurred vision.


Antibiotics can be prescribed to treat blepharitis. They can be in the form of eye drops, creams, and ointments. If blepharitis doesn’t respond to topical remedies, your ophthalmologist can prescribe oral antibiotics. 


3. Foreign body in the eye


A foreign body in your eye is something that normally shouldn't be in your eye. This can be dust, wood chips, metal shavings, or even insects. A foreign body is most commonly found under the eyelid or on the surface of the eye. Laborers, woodcutters, fitters, and boilermakers are at a higher risk of getting a foreign body in their eyes. The symptoms of a foreign body in your eye include red eye, pain, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, and the feeling of a foreign object in your eye.


If you suspect you have a foreign body in your eye, don’t try to remove it from the eye yourself. Be sure to visit an ophthalmologist, so the doctor can safely remove a foreign object from your eye without damaging it. 


4. Corneal abrasion


A corneal abrasion is a little scratch on the upper protective layer of your eye called the cornea. Contact with dust, dirt, sand, wood shavings, metal particles, contact lenses, or even the edge of a piece of paper can scrape your cornea. Ignoring this problem can contribute to serious inflammation inside the eye called iritis. The symptoms of corneal abrasion include eye pain, redness, sensitivity to light, tearing, and even headache. 


There are several options that can help your cornea recover. They include:


  • Wearing a patch on the injured eye to limit blinking and prevent abrasion from getting worse
  • Using moisturizing eye drops to soothe the cornea
  • Using antibiotics to prevent infection
  • Wearing special contact lenses to relieve eye pain


5. Acute angle-closure glaucoma


Acute angle-closure glaucoma is a serious eye condition that suddenly increases the pressure inside your eye. The symptoms of this condition develop just as dramatically as glaucoma. The symptoms include eye pain, blurred vision, red eye, pain, headache, and even vomiting. Acute angle-closure glaucoma can quickly lead to serious complications like the development of cataract, optic atrophy, and corneal decompensation.


The treatment of acute angle-closure glaucoma includes drops and medications to lower pressure in your eye. Once the pressure becomes lower, the doctor can use a laser to perform laser iridotomy or laser gonioplasty.