Eye diseases, contrary to popular beliefs, are not limited to visual impairment. And the glasses prescribed by the ophthalmologist, although a nuisance, are not the worst. It is much more dangerous to get an eye injury with a violation of the integrity of the cornea or purulent inflammation of the auxiliary structures of the eye.
Quite often, the oculist hears the patient’s complaints that the eye hurts under the upper eyelid, it hurts to press, blink, squint. This is usually a manifestation of the inflammatory process of some structure of the upper eyelid, conjunctiva or microtrauma of the cornea.
A bit of anatomy
Our eyes are not only made up of what we see. In addition, there are a large number of different systems related to the eye, but not fulfilling the direct function of vision.
Actually, the eyeball is a complex optical organ that has modified cells in its structure that are characteristic of the brain. In other words, the retina, which has photosensitive cells - “rods” and “cones” - is the external representative of the cerebral cortex.
In front of the retina is the most massive structure - the vitreous. In front of him is a crystalline lens capable of changing the refractive properties. Outside of the “lens” there is an iris that gives the eye color . In the center of it is a pupil, which, depending on the brightness of the light, can expand or contract. Still outside is the anterior chamber of the eye. And all this is covered with a thin, dense and transparent cornea.
Supporting organs and structures help the eye to be in comfortable conditions. Inside the eye socket, as on a pillow, lies on loose fiber. They move six muscles. In the inner corner is a lacrimal sac, along the duct of which a tear fluid constantly keeps the cornea moisturized. Eyelids with eyelashes cover the eye, protecting it from excess light and foreign bodies.
More about centuries
A person has two pairs of them, except for the rudimentary third located at the inner corner of the eye. Covered from the outside with very thin skin, from the inside they are lined with mucous membrane - conjunctiva. Inside the eyelids, loose fiber fills, in the thickness of which there is a circular muscle of the eye that closes the eyelids. Cartilaginous plates, more pronounced on the movable upper eyelid, are located along the ciliary edge. Each of these plates contains about twenty-five glands that produce a modified secretion of secretion secreted through the ciliary ducts.
Each structure has its own name in Latin. Names of diseases are formed from them, which can be manifested by the fact that the eye hurts under the upper eyelid, it hurts to press, move its eyes, blink, or “sand in the eyes” is felt, constant lacrimation and other anxieties are observed. But the pain in one or both eyes can be secondary, i.e. its cause is not a disease of the eye itself or auxiliary structures, but adjacent organs.
How eyes can hurt
Almost all diseases are accompanied by pain in the affected organ. No exception are the eyes. If your eye hurts under the upper eyelid, it hurts to press the eyelid and eyeball, pay attention to the nature of the pain. It is a rather specific sign, and already by it an experienced ophthalmologist can suspect a particular disease.
Oculist patients describe pain symptoms ranging from minor discomfort to excruciating seizures or constantly present sensations of burning, tingling, pulsation. Pressing or bursting pain may be noted. The constant feeling that there is a speck in the eye or sand has gotten into the eyes. The duration, severity and localization of pain depends on the causes that caused it.
Causes of eye pain
The most common reason, but at the same time the most easily corrected, is banal overwork. It arises with prolonged eye strain associated with reading in vehicles, as well as with insufficient or too intense lighting. When working with small parts or long-term fixation of the gaze (working at a computer, controlling vehicles or mechanisms).
Other causes of ocular pain can be directly associated with the eyeball, with auxiliary structures of the eye, or with diseases of other organs. Separately, it is necessary to note foreign bodies and eye injuries.
A foreign body may be a fallen cilia, a piece of solid material that has fallen into contact with dirty hands or is brought in by a stream of air, flying chips or a splinter. The latter may be accompanied by trauma to the conjunctiva and / or cornea. At the same time, quite a few do not know how to remove the speck from the eye correctly, and an uncomplicated foreign body, when removed, injures the mucous membrane of the eyelid or the lining of the eye.
Eyeball injuries are extremely rarely isolated. Most often, damage to the entire ocular apparatus is observed, including damage (bruises and fractures) of the orbit with contusion and hematoma of the eyeball, fiber, eyelids. Injuries include burns, thermal and chemical.
Eye diseases accompanied by pain
Directly in the eyeball, pain such as glaucoma can be accompanied by pain. Especially its acute closed-angle or open-angle shape. In addition, pain is caused by: astigmatism, erosion or ulcers of the cornea, hyphema (hemorrhage in the eyeball), keratitis (inflammation of the cornea), iritis (inflammation of the iris), scleritis and sclerokeratitis, uveitis (inflammation of the choroid).
Reasons related to supporting structures
The most common culprits in this group are inflammatory and structural diseases, as well as functional disorders. Inflammation includes all blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids) and conjunctivitis of any etiology. These are viral (herpes), bacterial (staphylococcal infection), fungal (candidiasis) and trachoma (chlamydial infection).
Inflammation of the lacrimal gland (dacryoadenitis) and lacrimal sac (dacryocystitis), the space between the sclera and conjunctiva (episcleritis), complicated chordaeolium (barley in the eye), orbital cellulitis (inflammation of the ocular tissue) is also accompanied by painful sensations.
Structural diseases and functional disorders occurring with a pain symptom are represented by xerophthalmia (dry eye syndrome), cholazion (cyst of the eyelid gland), lacrimal gland tumor, orbital pseudotumor.
Eye pain as a manifestation of other diseases
The reason that the eye under the upper eyelid hurts, it is painful to press on it, may be damage to the meninges (subdural hematoma) in brain injury, or other diseases of the brain. Possible pain in the eye with inflammation of the optic nerve. Migraines, high-temperature viral colds (flu), and hypertension also cause pain with eye movements and eyeballs.
First aid and home treatment
First aid is provided in situations such as: a foreign body and eye injury (including burns). Knowing how to get the speck out of the eye correctly, it is very simple to help a person without harming him. It should be removed with a soft material (cotton swab, corner of a paper towel), gently prying in the direction of the inner corner of the eye. In case of chemical burns, rinse for several minutes with running cool water without rubbing the eyes.
Barley on the eye is "treated" by pulling the cilia over the site of inflammation. Uncomplicated conjunctivitis usually disappears within a few days of eye drop therapy. More serious are situations where there is a seal under the upper eyelid, or the eye under the upper eyelid hurts and there is a discharge, especially of a purulent character. Then medical attention is required. If a pain symptom occurs, the right eye or the left one, or both, hurts, it is urgent to consult a specialist.