In Singapore’s fast-paced environment, it is incredibly common to spend long hours working in dry, air-conditioned offices, staring intently at computer screens, or wearing contact lenses from morning until night. When our eyes begin to ache, it is tempting to brush it off as simple tiredness, assuming a good night's sleep will fix it.

However, eye pain should not be dismissed, especially when it is persistent, worsening, or accompanied by redness, discharge, blurred vision or light sensitivity. While some cases may be related to dryness or eye strain, others may point to infection, inflammation, corneal injury, raised eye pressure or other eye conditions that require medical attention.

What parts of your eye might have eye pain?

Eye pain can generally be described as either surface pain or deep pain, depending on where it is felt.

• Surface eye pain happens on the outer part of the eye. It may feel sharp, burning, gritty, or like something is stuck in the eye. Common causes include conjunctivitis, dry eyes, corneal scratches, contact lens irritation, or a foreign object such as dust or an eyelash.
• Deep eye pain feels like aching, pressure, throbbing, or pain behind the eye. This may be more concerning and can be linked to conditions such as a sudden rise in eye pressure, migraine, inflammation, or optic nerve problems. Deep or persistent eye pain should be assessed by an eye specialist.

When to see an eye specialist ？

While some mild surface irritation might resolve on its own, certain symptoms indicate a medical emergency. You should seek immediate professional medical attention if your eye pain is accompanied by any of the following red flags:

• Sudden vision changes: Unexplained blurriness, double vision, or a sudden drop in your ability to see clearly.
• Extreme light sensitivity: Normal indoor lighting or daylight becomes unbearable and physically painful.
• Nausea or vomiting: When combined with severe eye pain, this is a classic hallmark of acute angle-closure glaucoma, which can cause blindness if not treated immediately.

How is eye pain treated?

Treatment for eye pain depends on the cause. The right treatment depends entirely on the underlying cause of your eye pain:

• Dryness or mild irritation: Lubricating eye drops, resting the eyes and avoiding triggers such as prolonged screen use may help.
• Infection, inflammation or corneal injury: An eye specialist may recommend medicated eye drops or other treatment based on the diagnosis.
• Contact lens-related eye pain: Stop wearing contact lenses and seek professional advice, especially if there is redness, discharge or blurred vision.
• Injury, chemical exposure or severe pain: Seek urgent medical attention. Do not rub the eye or try to remove anything stuck in the eye by yourself.

Get to know more about eye pain treatment→

Why is a comprehensive eye screening important?

Eye pain can come from dryness, infection, inflammation, corneal injury, contact lens irritation or raised eye pressure. These causes may not be clear from symptoms alone.

A comprehensive eye screening can assess key areas such as eye pressure, the cornea, retina and optic nerve, helping to identify possible concerns and guide the next step if further specialist care is needed.

If eye pain persists or comes with redness, discharge, blurred vision or light sensitivity, an eye screening can help assess your eye health and identify possible concerns. Based on the findings, further specialist consultation or treatment may be recommended.