What’s Causing Pain in the Corner of Your Eye?

Medically reviewed by Johnstone M. Kim, MD

Pain in the corner of the eye is common and can happen for many reasons, some of which are severe. The pain sensations can be sharp, achy, throbbing, or burning.

While some benign reasons exist for corner eye pain, some may indicate the need for prompt medical care. Understanding the causes and treatments is crucial for ensuring that eye pain is properly treated to avoid any long-term complications.

This article discusses the various causes of pain in the corner of the eye and treatment options for each.

Causes of Pain in the Corner of the Eye

Many causes are associated with pain in the corner of the eye, including:

Tear Duct Blocks and Infections (Dacryocystitis)

Tears are vital to the health of the eye. They act as a lubricant and protection for the eyes, and once they are no longer needed, they make their way back into the body through small holes in the inner corner of the eye known as tear ducts. In some cases, tears cannot drain into the body through the ducts because of a blockage.

When that happens, bacteria and other germs can gather in and around the blocked duct, leading to dacryocystitis, an infection of the tear ducts. Typically, dacryocystitis is caused by bacteria, namely staph and strep. Other symptoms can develop alongside pain in the corner of the eye, including:

• Inflammation and redness in the corner of the eye

• Excessive tear production leading to tearing

• A small and tender mass over the corner of the eye

• Pus or discharge from the eye

• Fever

The standard treatment for an infection of the tear ducts is oral antibiotics since most cases are caused by bacteria. If the infection is severe, a person may be hospitalized and given intravenous (IV) antibiotics. Other possible treatments are:

• Eye drops: Antibiotic eye drops, or ointments may be prescribed to help clear up the infection.

• Surgery: A thin wire is inserted into the tear duct to clear a blockage that may be causing the infections. Surgical intervention is typically reserved for those with recurrent dacryocystitis or infants who get the infection more than once. Other surgeries can be performed, including expanding the tear duct to remove the blockage. Another removes the lacrimal sac, which is a sac in the corner of the eye that collects tears.

How Long Does Treatment Take?

After you have been diagnosed and received a treatment plan, the infection will likely clear up within seven to ten days.

Learn More: Blocked Tear Duct in Children

Blepharitis

Blepharitis is an infection characterized by eyelid inflammation and often caused by bacteria. A specific type, known as posterior blepharitis, can lead to pain in the corner of the eye. Other symptoms that may develop alongside eye pain include:

• Irritation

• Eye redness caused by excess blood in the vessels of the eye

• Feeling as though there is something in your eye

• Crusting on the eyelids

• Excessive tearing

• Light sensitivity

• Blurred vision

There are several treatment options available for blepharitis, including:

• Warm compress on the eye

• Removal of crusting and flaking through the use of baby shampoo or other eye cleaner such as Avenova or OcuSoft

• Eyelid massage

• Topical antibiotic ointment for bacterial infections

Types of Blepharitis

There are two types of blepharitis: anterior and posterior. The kind most associated with pain in the corner of the eye is posterior blepharitis. It can develop due to infections but also skin conditions, including scalp dandruff and rosacea.

Learn More: What Are Blepharitis Symptoms?

Pinguecula and Pterygium

Pinguecula and pterygium, sometimes referred to as “surfer’s eye,” are noncancerous growths that develop on the clear tissue that covers the eye, known as the conjunctiva.

Typically, a pinguecula will develop first and present as a yellowish raised growth near the inner side of the eye. It can then grow into a pterygium, a fleshy growth containing blood vessels.

The growths are caused by exposure to outdoor irritants, including wind, dust, and ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun. Symptoms that develop because of the growths can range from mild to severe, and along with eye pain, can include:

• Redness and swelling around the area where the growth is

• Yellow bump on the white part of the eye

• Dryness and itchiness

• Burning sensation

• Feeling as though something, such as sand, is stuck in the eye

• Blurred vision

Treatment options vary for pinguecula and pterygium. In some cases, no treatment is required as it will go away on its own. However, if the condition is more severe and affects a person’s vision, they can opt for therapies that include:

• Steroid eye drops to relieve irritation and inflammation

• Lubricating eye drops

• Surgery to remove a pterygium if it grows too large

Avoiding Pinguecula and Pterygium

To avoid developing surfer’s eye, you’ll want to wear sunglasses when outdoors to protect your eyes from the elements and use artificial tears or eye drops when your eyes are dry.

Sties

A sty, otherwise known as a hordeolum, develops as a red bump on the edge of your eyelid. The bump is tender to the touch and can lead to pain in the corner of the eye if it develops there. Eyelid infections typically cause sties.

Along with pain in the corner of the eye, a sty may also cause:

• Swelling, redness, and tenderness in the eyelid

• A feeling as though something is stuck in your eye

• Increased sensitivity to light

• Excessive tearing

• Crusting of the eye

In many cases, a sty will resolve on its own, but the discomfort can be remedied using home treatments, including:

• Using a warm and wet compress on the eyelid for five to ten minutes three to five times per day

• Ensuring your hands, face, and eyes are always clean by washing regularly

• Avoiding squeezing the sty or touching the area

• Avoiding makeup and other eye products until it has healed

Depending on the severity, a healthcare provider may also prescribe antibiotic creams or ointments to put on the sty to help it heal faster. If it doesn’t resolve, you will have to see an eye specialist known as an ophthalmologist.

How Long Does It Take for a Stye to Heal?

Typically, the course of a sty will last one to two weeks. You should see a healthcare provider if it doesn’t clear up within that time.

Learn More: How to Avoid Getting a Stye

Foreign Body or Scratch

While your eye has certain protections, it is not always free from harm from foreign bodies, such as dust, dirt, or an eyelash. Other foreign objects, such as glass or metal, can also get into the eye.

When there is a foreign object in your eye, other symptoms can develop alongside pain, including:

• Burning and irritation

• Feeling that something is in your eye

• Excessive tearing and watery eyes

• Red eyes

• Loss of vision or blurred vision

• Increased sensitivity to bright light

• Bleeding into the white part of the eye

To treat the eye, a healthcare provider must assess the eye for vision changes and the foreign body. Once located, they will use anesthetic eye drops to numb the eye and then gently remove it. Healthcare providers may also wash out your eye with saline. To assess the damage, an X-ray may be taken to see how far into the eye the foreign object is.

After the object is removed, you may have to wear an eye patch to protect your eye while it heals. Your healthcare provider may also provide eye drops to be used to help speed up the healing process and relieve discomfort.

Removing a Foreign Body at Home

If you can see the foreign object with your eye and it’s located on the inner eyelid, you can try to clean out the eye and remove the object by flushing it out with water. Otherwise, you should see a healthcare provider.

When to Contact a Healthcare Provider

While having pain in the corner of the eye doesn’t always indicate something serious, you should contact a healthcare provider in the following circumstances:

• The pain is severe and interferes with your vision.

• It develops following an injury to the eye that you haven’t gotten checked out yet.

• You’re experiencing vision changes or vision loss and an increased sensitivity to light.

• Pus and blood are leaking from the eye.

• There is severe swelling of the eye or around the eye.

• You cannot open or move your eyes.

• You have signs of infection, such as a high fever.

Summary

Pain in the corner of the eye can be caused by many things, ranging from something as simple as an eyelash stuck in the eye to bacterial infections. Symptoms that develop alongside the pain are often similar to those of many eye conditions that cause it, so it's essential to see a healthcare provider for any eye pain you experience that lasts longer than a few days.

You should also see a healthcare provider if there are signs of infection, such as a high fever, or if you notice changes in your vision. These could be indicators that something more severe is occurring that requires prompt medical intervention. Getting a proper diagnosis from a healthcare provider will ensure that whatever is causing your eye pain will be dealt with accordingly.

Read the original article on Verywell Health.