One Eye Burning And Watering: 15 Possible Causes And Treatment

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HealthlineSubscribeOne Eye Burning and Watering: 15 Possible Causes and Treatment

Medically reviewed by Vicente Diaz, MD, MBA — Written by Kathryn Watson — Updated on September 2, 2025

Foreign object
Chemical burn
Contact lens
Chlorine
Dry eye
Pterygium
Blepharitis
Conjunctivitis
Herpes
Sunburn
Ocular rosacea
Corneal ulcer
Episcleritis
Anterior uveitis
Rheumatoid arthritis
When to seek medical help
Takeaway

Eye pain and watering can occur with injury, infection, and other health conditions.

Whenever your eyes are burning or tearing, it can be difficult to think about anything else. Many eye conditions tend to affect both eyes at once, but some only cause tearing or redness in one eye at a time.

Even if only one eye is affected, you should probably know what’s going on so you can treat the problem and get relief as quickly as possible.

Let’s take a look at some of the more common causes of — and treatments for — watering, burning symptoms that only affect one eye.

Foreign object in your eye

A foreign object in your eye, such as a speck of dust or sand, can feel like it’s scraping the surface of your affected eye.

You may experience symptoms like:

burning
redness
tearing
excessive blinking
feeling of pressure or discomfort in your eye

If you’ve been cleaning your house, working on a DIY project, or spending time outside in windy weather, you might be more likely to have a foreign object swept into one of your eyes.

If you have a small foreign object in your eye, you may be able to flush it out with saline solution or artificial tears. Stay calm, keep eye movement to a minimum, and ensure you wash your hands before touching your eye. Don’t put any pressure on your eye if there’s something stuck in it.

Seek emergency medical attention if there might be metal, wood, or glass in your eye, or if the object in your eye is larger than a tiny speck.

Protect your eyes during high risk activities

Always wear eye protection when working with materials that have the potential to enter your eyes, such as wood, metal, glass, or chemicals.

Chemical eye burn

Eye injuries from chemical exposure are another possible cause of burning and watering in one eye. These types of eye injuries can occur at work, particularly in industries where chemicals are used, or at home from everyday household products.

Chemical injuries to the eyes may be divided into three categories:

Alkali burns. These are the most dangerous. Chemicals with a high alkaline content can penetrate the surface of the eye and cause damage to the internal and external parts of the eye. Examples of high alkali chemicals include ammonia, lye, and potassium hydroxide. They can be found in household cleaning products used for toilets, clogged drains, and ovens.
Acid burns. Although acid burns aren’t as dangerous as alkali burns, they can still cause damage to the eye. Examples of chemical acids include sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and acetic acid. These chemicals may be found in household products like nail polish removers and automobile batteries.
Irritants. This category of chemicals has a neutral pH and tends to irritate the eye rather than damage it. Examples are pepper spray and pH-neutral household cleaners.

If your eyes have been exposed to a chemical, the first thing you should do is irrigate them thoroughly. Work settings typically provide emergency eyewash stations with sterile saline solutions.

If you’re at home and don’t have access to a saline solution, you can wash out your eye with tap water in a cold or lukewarm shower. If no shower is available, flush your eyes with water from your sink or any other clean source. Time is of the essence, and the fastest source of water is best.

You should then call a doctor or a Poison Control Center (800-222-1222) for further instructions.

Contact lens wear

Sometimes, falling asleep with your contact lenses on or wearing them for an extended period of time can cause eye redness and irritation. Itching and tearing can also occur.

Contact lenses can sometimes rip or tear apart in your eye, making symptoms worse. This is most likely to occur if you’re wearing your contacts for longer than recommended (for example, extending daily-use contact lenses for multiple uses).

Misuse of contact lenses can cause serious eye infections.

If a contact lens is causing irritation and redness in one eye, carefully remove it. Flush your eyes with saline or artificial tears. Don’t put a new contact lens in your eye right away. Wear glasses to give your eyes a break from your lenses.

Chlorine irritation

Red or irritated eyes are not uncommon after getting out of a chlorinated swimming pool. Pollutants, like urine and sweat, can combine with chlorine to create chloramines, which bother the eyes.

Chloramines can also cause skin irritation and rashes.

If you notice redness or burning in your eyes after chlorine exposure, splash them with clean, cool water. Then, use saline or artificial tears to rinse the chlorine out of your eyes.

Redness symptoms should disappear within 30 minutes of swimming. Be careful to avoid swimming with contact lenses in your eyes. You should also consider wearing goggles to keep chlorine and other pool-related pollutants out of your eyes.

Dry eye

Dry eye syndrome is a condition where your eyes don’t produce enough tears to keep them fully lubricated throughout the day. Dry eye symptoms in only one eye can happen.

Dry eye symptoms can include:

redness
tearing
pain
blurry vision
feeling that grit or sand is stuck in your eye

Artificial tears specifically made to treat dry eye can provide relief. You may also want to change your immediate environment to avoid the wind and spend more time in a room with a humidifier.

People who work at a computer also blink less often, which can lead to dry eyes. If you spend a lot of time in front of a computer, give your eyes a break by looking away from the screen every 20 minutes. Also, remind yourself to blink often to lubricate your eyes.

Pterygiums or pingueculae

Pterygium, also called “surfer’s eye,” is a benign growth that can occur in the clear covering of your eye. It’s often shaped like a wedge.

Symptoms include:

redness
blurred vision
eye irritation

A pinguecula, similar to a pterygium, is another potential cause for burning and watering in one eye. These noncancerous growths develop on the conjunctiva, the thin layer of tissue that covers the white part of your eye.

Pterygiums and pingueculae typically only affect one of your eyes. Often, there are no other symptoms. If pterygia grow large enough, they may interfere with your vision. However, this isn’t the case for pingueculae.

If you have symptoms due to a pterygium or a pinguecula, your doctor may prescribe eye drops to reduce inflammation. You may need surgery to remove the growth if symptoms don’t subside.

To avoid getting pterygiums (or pingueculae) in the future, always wear sunglasses outside and treat dry eye with eye drops.

Blepharitis

Blepharitis is inflammation of your eyelid. It happens when oil glands on your eyelid become clogged. Blepharitis can also be caused by an overgrowth of bacteria or mites (demodex) on the eyelids.

While blepharitis typically affects both eyes, it’s possible to have only one eye experience symptoms.

Symptoms include:

tearing
burning
pain

Blepharitis can also become infected, leading to additional symptoms, such as colored discharge and an infected lump on your eye called a stye.

If you have blepharitis, you can use a clean, warm compress to try to reduce inflammation and loosen the clog from your oil gland. Washing the eyelids with a cleanser designed specifically for this purpose can also help.

If home remedies don’t work, you’ll need to get a prescription for steroids or an ointment to prevent an infection. Infected blepharitis needs to be treated with antibiotics.

There are also in-office procedures for blepharitis, such as microblepharoexfoliation and thermal pulsation.

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis (pink eye) symptoms often start in one eye, but the condition can spread and affect both eyes simultaneously.

Pink eye symptoms can include:

burning
tearing
gritty feeling
abnormal discharge
itchiness

The treatment for conjunctivitis depends on whether you have bacterial, viral, or allergic forms of the condition. If your conjunctivitis is triggered by allergies, antihistamine drops, and a cool compress may be enough to treat it at home.

Both viral and bacterial forms have the potential for spread, although viral conjunctivitis is more contagious. Viral conjunctivitis cannot be treated, so you’ll need to wait it out for 7 to 10 days. Bacterial conjunctivitis must often be treated with a round of prescription antibiotic eye drops.

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus and herpes simplex keratitis

Herpes zoster and herpes simplex type 1 are viruses that can cause pain and redness in just one eye.

Herpes zoster is the virus that causes chickenpox or shingles. When this virus affects an eye, it’s called herpes zoster ophthalmicus.
Herpes simplex 1 typically causes cold sores and fever blisters on the lips and face. When this virus affects an eye, it’s called herpes simplex keratitis. Herpes simplex 2 also has the potential to cause herpes simplex keratitis, though it’s less common.

Herpes infections of the eye are known as herpetic eye diseases.

Talk with an eye doctor if you suspect you may have an eye infection caused by the herpes virus. Treatment for herpes in the eye usually involves antiviral eye drops or pills. Corticosteroid drops may be recommended in some instances if the infection is affecting the cornea.

Sunburned eye

Just like your skin, the sun’s UV rays can damage your eyes. This can impact both of your eyes or just affect one eye.

You might notice symptoms like:

redness
burning
tearing

Try to self-treat with rest and a cool compress. If that doesn’t work, try an over-the-counter pain reliever. Keep your sunglasses close by when you’re treating a sunburned eye.

Ocular rosacea

Rosacea can affect your eyes as well as your skin. Ocular rosacea is an inflammatory eye condition that can impact both eyes at once or just one.

Symptoms include:

redness
itching
tearing
irritation

Rosacea triggers, such as diet, stress, or alcohol, can also cause ocular rosacea to flare up.

Artificial tears and eyelid washes may help soothe symptoms of ocular rosacea. However, avoid over-the-counter eye drops designed to treat red eye symptoms, as they don’t work for ocular rosacea.

A warm compress may also help to relieve blocked glands and reduce inflammation. If you’re experiencing frequent ocular rosacea flare-ups, you may want to speak with a dermatologist.

Corneal ulcer

A corneal ulcer is a sore on the cornea, the clear layer of tissue covering the eye. It’s usually caused by an infection from small scratches or injuries to the eye.

Those who wear contact lenses tend to be at the highest risk for this type of eye ulcer — especially if they sleep in their lenses.

Symptoms can occur in just one eye and may be similar to an eye infection:

redness
pain
swelling of the eyelid
discharge
sensitivity to light
blurred vision

See a doctor if you suspect you have a corneal ulcer or an eye infection. Both conditions require medical attention. Corneal ulcers are severe and should be treated immediately.

An eye doctor will prescribe an antibacterial or antiviral medication to treat the underlying infection. If your eye is swollen and inflamed, corticosteroid eye drops may also be prescribed.

In rare cases, a doctor may prescribe antifungal or antiprotozoal medications.

Episcleritis

Episcleritis is an inflammation of the episclera, which is the clear layer on top of the white part of your eye.

There’s no known cause, but doctors suspect it may be associated with an underlying inflammatory or rheumatologic condition, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.

Symptoms include:

redness
irritation
tearing
sensitivity to light
gritty sensation in the eye

Episcleritis can be mistaken for pink eye, and, like pink eye, it may go away on its own.

However, if your eye is very painful and your vision is blurry, you should seek immediate medication attention. You may have an eye condition called scleritis, which can lead to eye damage if not treated.

Anterior uveitis

Anterior uveitis is inflammation of the middle layer of the eye. It’s often called “iritis” because it affects the iris, or colored part of the eye.

Anterior uveitis may be caused by trauma to the eye or a foreign body in the eye. It may also be associated with certain health conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, syphilis, tuberculosis, or herpes simplex.

Symptoms include:

redness and soreness
blurred vision
sensitivity to light
small, irregularly shaped pupils

If you’re experiencing the above symptoms, talk with a doctor.

Anterior uveitis is typically treated with eye drops to reduce pain and steroid drops to reduce irritation and inflammation. With treatment, anterior uveitis will usually go away within a few days.

If left untreated, anterior uveitis can progress into more serious conditions, such as glaucoma, cataract, or retinal edema.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune condition where your immune system attacks healthy tissue in your joints. The condition can also cause symptoms of redness and tearing in your eyes.

It’s important to note that RA by itself doesn’t develop in the eyes or cause them to water. However, having RA increases your risk of developing ocular conditions, like anterior uveitis or episcleritis. And these conditions can cause burning or watering in the eye.

A cool compress can give you temporary relief from pain and redness caused by RA. You’ll need to speak with a doctor about RA symptoms that affect one or both of your eyes so that you can avoid long-term damage to your eyes.

Your doctor may recommend topical lubricants and prescription eye drops to treat symptoms.

Which symptoms warrant a trip to the doctor?

In some cases, you can treat symptoms of redness and tearing of the eye yourself. But there are certain additional symptoms that should not be ignored.

Seek medical attention if you have burning and tearing in one eye in addition to any of the following:

severe eye pain, especially if it’s related to chemical exposure or a foreign object stuck in your eye
sudden changes to your vision
symptoms that worsen or don’t go away after a few days
symptoms of an infection, such as green or yellow discharge or a fever
sensitivity to light

You should also talk with a doctor about your symptoms if your immune system is already compromised due to treatment for another condition, such as HIV or cancer.

Takeaway

Watering and burning in one eye can be painful, but most common causes of these symptoms can be treated at home.

When home remedies don’t help soothe symptoms (or if they get worse), it’s time to speak with an eye doctor about other treatment strategies.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Anterior uveitis. (n.d.).https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions/anterior-uveitis
Briseno CA. (2024). What is a pinguecula and a pterygium (surfer's eye)?https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/pinguecula-pterygium
Burning eyes. (2021).https://www.aao.org/eye-health/symptoms/burning-eyes
How to treat pink eye. (2024).https://www.cdc.gov/conjunctivitis/treatment/
Preventing eye irritation from pool chemicals. (2025).https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-swimming/prevention/preventing-eye-irritation-from-pool-chemicals.html
Turbert D. (2025). What is a corneal ulcer (keratitis)?https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/corneal-ulcer

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Medically reviewed by Vicente Diaz, MD, MBA — Written by Kathryn Watson — Updated on September 2, 2025

One Eye Burning And Watering: 15 Possible Causes And Treatment

Foreign object in your eye

Protect your eyes during high risk activities

Chemical eye burn

Contact lens wear

Chlorine irritation

Dry eye

Pterygiums or pingueculae

Blepharitis

Conjunctivitis

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus and herpes simplex keratitis

Sunburned eye

Ocular rosacea

Corneal ulcer

Episcleritis

Anterior uveitis

Rheumatoid arthritis

Which symptoms warrant a trip to the doctor?

Takeaway

How we reviewed this article:

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