Eye Pain - How It Can Be Treated?

The clear, outer layer of the eye is known as the cornea. Pain in the cornea can be caused by a number of conditions. Keratitis is an inflammation of the cornea caused by a bacterial, viral or fungal infection or an injury to the eye. It can be treated with eye drops and oral pills. Ocular herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus I and results in sores on the cornea. There is no cure for this condition. Pain in the cornea can also be caused by the many different types of corneal dystrophies which can be treated with medication or even surgery if required.

Styes are harmless and heal on their own within a week. Treatment is usually not required for a stye but home remedies can help it heal faster. Applying a warm, moist compress on the eye 3-4 times a day can help relieve the irritation. Covering up a stye with makeup can further delay the healing and hence you should avoid makeup until it heals. Also, avoid wearing contact lenses and stick to spectacles if you have a vision problem.

Artificial tears are available without a prescription in varying viscosities. Artificial tears with low viscosity can give quick relief with minimal blurring but have to be used quite frequently. On the other hand, artificial tears with high viscosity lubricate the eyes for longer but may significantly blur your vision. Dryness of the eyes caused by inflammation can be treated with steroid eye drops. However, steroid eye drops should be used carefully as they can increase the risk of other eye problems. A punctual plug can also be used to treat dry eyes. This can be described as a sterile device that may be inserted into the opening of the tear drainage ducts to help tears stay on the surface of the eyes for longer.

Conjunctivitis can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection. Viral conjunctivitis is highly contagious and can easily spread from one person to another. Hence, when suffering from this condition, do not share your towels or bed linen with anyone and wash your hands every time you touch your eyes. If left untreated, it can cause corneal scarring and other such conditions. Bacterial conjunctivitis can be treated with eye drops, ointments and medication but viral conjunctivitis must run it s course and will resolve itself within a week or 10 days.