Sore Eyes Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

The term "sore eyes" is an umbrella description for a variety of eye problems and forms of eye irritation (see below). Generally speaking, the words "sore eyes" most often describe an inflammation of the thin covering of the eyeball and the inner eyelid caused by an eye infection such as pink eye.

Such eye problems begin with contact from bacteria and viruses, often when someone touches their dirty hands or fingers to their eyes. But you can also get an eye infection just by being around someone who has sore eyes. It can spread through droplets from an infected person, or even someone with a runny nose or cough.

Most problems that make your eyes sore last 3-4 days, with full recovery in two weeks or less. Complications are possible but rare. A severe and lengthy infection could produce corneal scarring and reduced vision.

Other causes of sore eyes might include:

• a foreign body in the eye,
• an incorrect prescription for glasses,
• dry eyes,
• effects of allergies
• eye infections and inflammation,
• eye irritation from like soap, sunscreen, hair spray or air pollutants,
• eye strain,
• eye styes, cysts and ulcers
• glaucoma,
• injury, damage or trauma
• side effects of medications
• skin conditions, especially rosacea and eczema.

Sore eyes symptoms Symptoms of sore eyes are usually pretty obvious.

• Redness and possibly some swelling.
• A gritty or burning sensation in the eye or eyes.
• Unusually high sensitivity to light.
• Water-like discharge from the eyes
• Crustiness near the eyelashes which may even cause the eyes to feel as if they're glued shut.
• Runny nose and sore throat maybe present.

Vision is usually normal although it may sometimes seem slightly blurry from the discharge or crusting. It's also common for someone with sore eyes to have cold or flu-like symptoms.

Sore eyes treatment Any eye pain or soreness that lasts more than a day or two should get attention from a medical professional.

If the cause of sore eyes is an infection, it will usually cure itself with time. But treatment with anti-inflammatory and antibiotic eye drops or ointment will help speed up the healing process. These can be prescribed by your doctor.

In the meantime, applying warm compresses to the eye for 5-10 minutes several times a day can help relieve some of the discomfort.

Sore eyelids The conditions that cause eye irritation and sore eyes (mentioned above) may also contribute to sore eyelids. Here are some others.

• Allergies - a variety of allergies can affect the eyes.
• Asthenopia - more commonly known as eye strain.
• Blepharitis - inflamed eyelids, often with redness, swelling and crusting.
• Chalazion - a cyst in the eyelid that is caused by inflammation of a blocked gland.
• Ocular Herpes - a viral infection that can cause inflammation and scarring of the cornea.
• Stye - an eye stye is a infection in the eyelash or eyelid which blocks a gland.

Skin conditions like eczema and rosacea that occur in the area of the eye can also cause irritation and soreness.

Eyelid soreness may also be a side effect of certain medications, including:

• Cosopt
• Lumigan
• Rescula
• Travatan
• Xalatan

Sore eyelid treatment The same treatments mentioned above for sore eyes will also help relieve discomfort for sore eyelids.

Eye irritation Eye irritation means any sensation or condition that causes discomfort to the eyes. Most typical causes include

• Dry eyes
• Itchy eyes
• Red Eyes
• Swollen Eyes
• Eye infections like pink eye or conjunctivitis
• Eye styes
• Eye injury, trauma or abrasion
• Eye ulcers
• Eye cancer
• Eye cysts
• Eye strain

Click on the links for each individual condition or disease above to learn more about how to treat or prevent irritation caused by those conditions.

To see a list of sore eyes treatment products, click here.