What is what does it mean when your eye hurts when you blink?

Eye Pain When Blinking: What It Could Mean

Experiencing pain when you blink can be quite uncomfortable and concerning. Here's a breakdown of potential causes and what you should know:

• Dry Eye Disease: Dry%20eye%20disease is a common condition where your eyes don't produce enough tears or the tears evaporate too quickly. This can lead to irritation and a stinging or burning sensation, especially when blinking.

• Blepharitis: This involves inflammation%20of%20the%20eyelids, often near the base of the eyelashes. It can cause redness, itching, and a gritty feeling, making blinking painful.

• Conjunctivitis (Pinkeye): Conjunctivitis is an inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva, the clear membrane covering the white part of your eye and the inside of your eyelids. It can cause redness, itching, discharge, and pain upon blinking.

• Corneal Abrasion: A corneal%20abrasion is a scratch on the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye. This can be incredibly painful, particularly when blinking, as the eyelid rubs against the damaged area. Foreign objects, contact lenses, or even just rubbing your eye too hard can cause this.

• Foreign Body: Something as small as a speck%20of%20dust trapped under your eyelid can cause significant pain with blinking.

• Stye (Hordeolum): A stye is a painful, red bump near the edge of your eyelid, caused by a bacterial infection of an oil gland.

• Chalazion: Similar to a stye, a chalazion is also a bump on the eyelid, but it's usually less painful and develops further away from the edge of the eyelid. It results from a blocked oil gland.

• Uveitis: Uveitis is an inflammation of the middle layer of the eye (uvea). While it can cause various symptoms, including blurred vision and light sensitivity, pain, especially when blinking, can be present.

When to See a Doctor:

If the pain is severe, persistent, accompanied by vision changes, discharge, light sensitivity, or if you suspect a foreign body or corneal abrasion, it's crucial to see an eye doctor (ophthalmologist or optometrist) promptly. Self-treating can sometimes worsen the condition.