Blinking should be something you never have to think too much about. However, sore eyes can make blinking a constant discomfort that’s hard to ignore. Whether it’s a subtle irritant or a sharp sensation, blinking pain often points to an underlying issue with your eye health.
Some of the reasons why your eye may feel sore when you blink include:
- Dry eye
- Blepharitis
- Styes
- Conjunctivitis
- Corneal abrasions
Your optometrist can help identify the root cause and recommend the right treatment or solutions to relieve your discomfort and protect your eye health.
Common Causes of Sore Eyes When Blinking
When your eyes feel sore while blinking, the issue often stems from one of these common causes:
Dry Eye Syndrome
Dryness is one of the leading contributors to eye soreness. Tears lubricate your eyes and protect the surface from irritation. Normally, you’re able to refresh that protective layer of tears across the cornea (tear film) with each blink.
Insufficient tear production or poor tear quality can leave the eyes exposed. What should be a refreshing blink is replaced by the eyelid sliding across an irritated cornea. This is called dry eye, and environmental conditions, screen usage, or even hormonal changes can all exacerbate it.
Blepharitis
Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelids. It’s often caused by clogged oil glands near the base of the lashes.
When your eyelids are inflamed, your tender eyelids repeatedly come into contact with the surface of your eye, sometimes causing blinking to become uncomfortable. Common symptoms include redness, irritation, and crusting along the lash line.
Styes
A stye is a small, painful bump that develops when an oil gland or hair follicle on your eyelid becomes infected.
Styes can easily make blinking uncomfortable, particularly if the bump presses against the eye. The soreness is usually localized near the affected area of the eyelid. The stye itself is often fairly visible, and it can be confused with other conditions.
Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, occurs when the conjunctiva (the thin layer covering the white of the eye) becomes inflamed. Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are highly contagious, and if you’re not careful, they can spread rapidly.
Conjunctivitis commonly causes redness, discharge, and soreness as it progresses.
Corneal Abrasions
A corneal abrasion is a scratch on the clear, outer layer of your eye (the cornea). Injuries and foreign objects are some of the more noticeable causes of scratches, but rubbing your eye or contact lens misuse can also damage your cornea.
Corneal abrasions can cause sharp pain and sensitivity to light, especially when blinking.
Less Direct Causes of Sore Eyes
Although the above causes are more common, your eye discomfort may sometimes stem from less typical factors, ones that aren’t solely about your eyes:
Allergies
Another type of conjunctivitis, eye allergies aren’t contagious, but that doesn’t mean they’re any less frustrating. Allergic reactions to pollen, pet dander, or other environmental irritants can lead to itchy, watery, and irritated eyes. Blinking exacerbates the discomfort when allergens inflame the sensitive tissues surrounding the eyes.
Sinus Infections
Your sinuses are hollow spaces that are largely adjacent to the eyes. Excessive sinus pressure from an infection can sometimes affect eyes too, causing soreness or a throbbing pain with each blink.
Migraines
Migraines can bring along some annoying symptoms, like light sensitivity and eye pain. That eye pain might feel like soreness or a sharp ache around your eyes, and it can get worse when you blink or move them.
When to Seek Professional Help
Sometimes eye pain fades on its own, but recognizing when to consult an optometrist is crucial to safeguarding your eye health. Reach out to a professional if you experience:
- Severe or sharp pain that doesn’t subside.
- Changes in vision, such as blurriness or double vision.
- Persistent discomfort despite using home remedies like artificial tears.
- Signs of infection, such as discharge or significant swelling.
- Eye injuries that result in redness, pain, or light sensitivity.
A prompt eye exam means that any serious issues can be addressed before they worsen.
Treating Sore Eyes
Once we know what’s causing your eye soreness, whether it’s dry eye or something else, several treatments may provide relief:
- Artificial tears & lubricating ointments: These are excellent for combating dry eye and are readily available over the counter. For severe dry eye, custom-made drops can give you the boost you need to see comfortably.
- Eyelid hygiene: Excellent for managing blepharitis and styes, properly cleaning eyelid margins can help reduce inflammation and irritation.
- Warm compresses: With a warm compress, you can soften blockages in your eyelid glands and promote healthier tears.
- Prescribed medications: Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis often clear up on their own. When they don’t, your doctor may prescribe antiviral or antibiotic medicine.
This is only a glimpse at the solutions available. Since many conditions can cause sore eyes, you need to determine the source before you can discover the correct treatment. That’s where your optometrist comes in.
OptiLIFT for Supporting Eyelid Function
Sometimes your eyelids need an extra hand. OptiLIFT combines radiofrequency, dynamic muscle stimulation, and microneedling to create a 3-pronged technology designed to support eyelid function and strengthen your blinks. Loose eyelids can mean your tear film doesn’t get spread properly, increasing your risk of dry eye.
OptiLIFT targets the muscles in the eyelids, strengthening them while giving a toned appearance. Blinking should be second nature. OptiLIFT can help.
A Clearer Path to Eye Comfort
Soreness when blinking may be your eyes’ way of signaling that they need attention. If you’re ready to take control of your eye health, schedule an appointment with Higgins Brothers’ Vision Care. Whether you’re seeking targeted solutions like OptiLift or a comprehensive eye evaluation, our team is here to help. It’s time to prioritize your comfort and achieve clearer, healthier vision. Book your consultation with us today and see the world without limits!
