Why Do My Eyes Hurt When I Move Them? (5 Shocking Reasons ...

Are your eyes hurting when you move them? Does it hurt to look in a certain direction? If so, you’re not alone. Many people experience eye pain in their lifetime. However, various things could cause your eyes to hurt when you move them. The causes of eye pain can range from dry eyes to neurologic conditions. Even sinus infections can cause pain in the eyes.

It is important to note that the following list is not meant to act as a formal diagnosis for your eye pain. Instead, this is a tool to educate yourself about what can cause eye pain. Please consult with your doctor if you’re experiencing eye pain.

Sinus Infection

Your sinuses are hallowed spaces in your skull. They are located above, below, and between the eyes. Believe it or not, when your sinuses are irritated, they can affect your eyes. Symptoms of a sinus infection that can affect the eyes include:

• throbbing pain and pressure around the eyeballs
• Other symptoms of a sinus infection include:
• runny or stuffy nose

• loss of sense of smell
• headache
• pain or pressure in the face
• mucus dripping from the nose down the throat
• sore throat

• fever

If any sinus infection symptoms are present, along with eye pain with movement, you could have a sinus infection.

Optic Neuritis

Optic neuritis occurs when the optic nerve becomes inflamed. The optic nerve connects the eye to the brain. It is not known what causes optic neuritis, but researchers believe an autoimmune disorder could cause it. Optic Neuritis can cause pain in the eyes. This pain can feel worse when you move your eyes.

Injury

Believe it or not, there are many ways to injure your eyes. Eye injuries can come from sports injuries, accidents, or objects coming into contact with the eyes.

These injuries can cause changes to vision and, in severe cases, permanent vision loss. In addition, pain and swelling will accompany an eye injury. The pain can be constant and worsen when you try to open, close, or move your eyes. In some cases, the eyes and entire face can swell.

Many people also experience eye injuries on the job. So much so that March is workplace eye wellness month. It is essential to realize that eye injury can happen anywhere. Try to take precautions if you are doing activities that can put you at risk for an eye injury. Protective eyewear, such as goggles, can be effective in lowering the risk of an injury.

Eye Strain

Eye strain is an extremely common condition. It occurs when your eyes get tired from intense use such as long drives, extended computer screen use, or other digital screens. In some cases, eyes strain can suggest an underlying condition. However, it goes away once you rest your eyes in most cases. In addition, eye strain can cause pain in discomfort,

Pink Eye

Pink eye occurs when the lining of your eyelid and eyeball become inflamed. This causes redness in the white of the eyes. Your eyes may also produce and discharge as well. The discharge will form a crusty substance on your eyelashes at night.

Pink eye can cause pain in the eyes as well. Multiple things could cause a pink eye infection. Bactria, irritants, reactions to eye drops, viruses, and fungi can all cause pink eye.

Treatment for Eye Pain

There are a variety of options to treat eye pain. However, the best course of action is to speak with your doctor and find what is causing your eye pain.

If an irritant is causing your eye pain, home methods can be effective in soothing the pain. Healthline recommends the following:

• Over-the-counter eye drops can effectively treat the symptoms of the causes of eye pain.
• Cold Compress can relieve burning and itching.
• Aloe vera mixed with water applied on closed eyes with cotton swabs can also provide relief.

Medical treatment options are also available. Most medical treatments will involve

• Medicated drops
• Antibiotic eye drops
• Eye ointment (in there is an infection)

Sometimes pain in the eyes can be caused by allergies. If this is the case, anti-allergy medication will be prescribed. In extreme cases, surgery may be needed. However, surgery is only decided upon if your eyesight or health are at risk.

When Should I See a Doctor?

The American Academy of Ophthalmologists recommend that you see a doctor immediately if you experience the following symptoms:

• redness in your cornea
• unusual sensitivity to light
• exposure to pinkeye
• eyes or eyelashes are encrusted with mucous
• moderate to severe pain in your eyes or your head

If you are looking for a doctor in the Houston area, MYCHN is a full-service health center. Our medical team is here to help; we provide a patient-centered approach. Please visit our website to learn more.

Bottom Line

If you’re asking, “Why Do My Eyes Hurt When I Move Them?” There could be a variety of causes for eye pain. Some of the reasons for eye pain are minor; some are serious. There are also at-home and medical treatment options. The best course of action is to speak with your doctor to determine what is causing your eye pain.

Resources

Why Do My Eyes Hurt? Causes and Treatment (healthline.com)

Pain When Moving Eyes And Tilts Head To Look At Something (medicinenet.com)

Pressure behind the eyes: 6 causes and treatment (medicalnewstoday.com)

Pain Behind Eye With Movement | Why it May Hurt to Move Your Eyes (buoyhealth.com)

Optic neuritis – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic

Eye Injury: Symptoms, Treatment, Causes (clevelandclinic.org)

Eyestrain – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic

Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis): Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Prevention (webmd.com)