Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesSeeking Medical Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Seeking Medical Care
Pain in the corner of the eye is common and can happen for many reasons, some of which are severe. The pain sensations can be sharp, achy, throbbing, or burning.
While some benign reasons exist for corner eye pain, some may indicate the need for prompt medical care. Understanding the causes and treatments is crucial for ensuring that eye pain is properly treated to avoid any long-term complications.
This article discusses the various causes of pain in the corner of the eye and treatment options for each.
ljubaphoto / Getty Images
Causes of Pain in the Corner of the Eye
Many causes are associated with pain in the corner of the eye, including:
Tear Duct Blocks and Infections (Dacryocystitis)
Tears are vital to the health of the eye. They act as a lubricant and protection for the eyes, and once they are no longer needed, they make their way back into the body through small holes in the inner corner of the eye known as tear ducts. In some cases, tears cannot drain into the body through the ducts because of a blockage.
How Long Does Treatment Take?After you have been diagnosed and received a treatment plan, the infection will likely clear up within seven to ten days.
How Long Does Treatment Take?
After you have been diagnosed and received a treatment plan, the infection will likely clear up within seven to ten days.
What Is Dacryocystitis (Tear Duct Infection)?
Blepharitis
There are several treatment options available for blepharitis, including:
Types of BlepharitisThere are two types of blepharitis: anterior and posterior. The kind most associated with pain in the corner of the eye is posterior blepharitis. It can develop due to infections but also skin conditions, including scalp dandruff and rosacea.
Types of Blepharitis
There are two types of blepharitis: anterior and posterior. The kind most associated with pain in the corner of the eye is posterior blepharitis. It can develop due to infections but also skin conditions, including scalp dandruff and rosacea.
What Is Blepharitis?
Pinguecula and Pterygium
Pingueculaandpterygium, sometimes referred to as“surfer’s eye,”are noncancerous growths that develop on the clear tissue that covers the eye, known as theconjunctiva.
Typically, a pinguecula will develop first and present as a yellowish raised growth near the inner side of the eye. It can then grow into a pterygium, a fleshy growth containing blood vessels.
Treatment options vary for pinguecula and pterygium. In some cases, no treatment is required as it will go away on its own. However, if the condition is more severe and affects a person’s vision, they can opt for therapies that include:
Avoiding Pinguecula and PterygiumTo avoid developing surfer’s eye, you’ll want to wear sunglasses when outdoors to protect your eyes from the elements and use artificial tears or eye drops when your eyes are dry.
Avoiding Pinguecula and Pterygium
To avoid developing surfer’s eye, you’ll want to wear sunglasses when outdoors to protect your eyes from the elements and use artificial tears or eye drops when your eyes are dry.
Sties
Asty, otherwise known as a hordeolum, develops as a red bump on the edge of your eyelid. The bump is tender to the touch and can lead to pain in the corner of the eye if it develops there. Eyelid infections typically cause sties.
Along with pain in the corner of the eye, a sty may also cause:
In many cases, a sty will resolve on its own, but the discomfort can be remedied using home treatments, including:
Depending on the severity, a healthcare provider may also prescribe antibiotic creams or ointments to put on the sty to help it heal faster. If it doesn’t resolve, you will have to see an eye specialist known as anophthalmologist.
How Long Does It Take for a Stye to Heal?Typically, the course of a sty will last one to two weeks. You should see a healthcare provider if it doesn’t clear up within that time.
How Long Does It Take for a Stye to Heal?
Typically, the course of a sty will last one to two weeks. You should see a healthcare provider if it doesn’t clear up within that time.
6 Tips to Prevent Styes
Foreign Body or Scratch
While your eye has certain protections, it is not always free from harm from foreign bodies, such as dust, dirt, or an eyelash. Other foreign objects, such as glass or metal, can also get into the eye.
When there is a foreign object in your eye, other symptoms can develop alongside pain, including:
To treat the eye, a healthcare provider must assess the eye for vision changes and the foreign body. Once located, they will use anesthetic eye drops to numb the eye and then gently remove it. Healthcare providers may also wash out your eye with saline. To assess the damage, anX-raymay be taken to see how far into the eye the foreign object is.
After the object is removed, you may have to wear an eye patch to protect your eye while it heals. Your healthcare provider may also provide eye drops to be used to help speed up the healing process and relieve discomfort.
Removing a Foreign Body at Home
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
While having pain in the corner of the eye doesn’t always indicate something serious, you should contact a healthcare provider in the following circumstances:
Summary
You should also see a healthcare provider if there are signs of infection, such as a high fever, or if you notice changes in your vision. These could be indicators that something more severe is occurring that requires prompt medical intervention. Getting a proper diagnosis from a healthcare provider will ensure that whatever is causing your eye pain will be dealt with accordingly.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Harvard Health.Tear duct infection (dacryocystitis).Aleid S, Schellini SA, Alsheikh O, Elkhamary SM.Acute dacryocystitis retention: A case report and literature review.Arq Bras Oftalmol.2022 May-Jun;85(3):306-308. doi:10.5935/0004-2749.20220044Osmosis from Elsevier.Dacryocystitis: What is it, causes, symptoms, and more.Putnam CM.Diagnosis and management of blepharitis: An optometrist’s perspective.Clin Optom (Auckl).2016 Aug 8;8:71-78. doi:10.2147/OPTO.S84795National Eye Institute.Blepharitis.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is a pinguecula and a pterygium?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Hordeolum (stye).Aumond S, Bitton E.The eyelash follicle features and anomalies: A review.Journal of Optometry.2018;11(4):211-222. doi: 10.1016/j.optom.2018.05.003Better Health Channel.Eye Injuries - foreign body in the eye.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Harvard Health.Tear duct infection (dacryocystitis).Aleid S, Schellini SA, Alsheikh O, Elkhamary SM.Acute dacryocystitis retention: A case report and literature review.Arq Bras Oftalmol.2022 May-Jun;85(3):306-308. doi:10.5935/0004-2749.20220044Osmosis from Elsevier.Dacryocystitis: What is it, causes, symptoms, and more.Putnam CM.Diagnosis and management of blepharitis: An optometrist’s perspective.Clin Optom (Auckl).2016 Aug 8;8:71-78. doi:10.2147/OPTO.S84795National Eye Institute.Blepharitis.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is a pinguecula and a pterygium?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Hordeolum (stye).Aumond S, Bitton E.The eyelash follicle features and anomalies: A review.Journal of Optometry.2018;11(4):211-222. doi: 10.1016/j.optom.2018.05.003Better Health Channel.Eye Injuries - foreign body in the eye.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Harvard Health.Tear duct infection (dacryocystitis).Aleid S, Schellini SA, Alsheikh O, Elkhamary SM.Acute dacryocystitis retention: A case report and literature review.Arq Bras Oftalmol.2022 May-Jun;85(3):306-308. doi:10.5935/0004-2749.20220044Osmosis from Elsevier.Dacryocystitis: What is it, causes, symptoms, and more.Putnam CM.Diagnosis and management of blepharitis: An optometrist’s perspective.Clin Optom (Auckl).2016 Aug 8;8:71-78. doi:10.2147/OPTO.S84795National Eye Institute.Blepharitis.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is a pinguecula and a pterygium?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Hordeolum (stye).Aumond S, Bitton E.The eyelash follicle features and anomalies: A review.Journal of Optometry.2018;11(4):211-222. doi: 10.1016/j.optom.2018.05.003Better Health Channel.Eye Injuries - foreign body in the eye.
Harvard Health.Tear duct infection (dacryocystitis).
Aleid S, Schellini SA, Alsheikh O, Elkhamary SM.Acute dacryocystitis retention: A case report and literature review.Arq Bras Oftalmol.2022 May-Jun;85(3):306-308. doi:10.5935/0004-2749.20220044
Osmosis from Elsevier.Dacryocystitis: What is it, causes, symptoms, and more.
Putnam CM.Diagnosis and management of blepharitis: An optometrist’s perspective.Clin Optom (Auckl).2016 Aug 8;8:71-78. doi:10.2147/OPTO.S84795
National Eye Institute.Blepharitis.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is a pinguecula and a pterygium?
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Hordeolum (stye).
Aumond S, Bitton E.The eyelash follicle features and anomalies: A review.Journal of Optometry.2018;11(4):211-222. doi: 10.1016/j.optom.2018.05.003
Better Health Channel.Eye Injuries - foreign body in the eye.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
