7 Things To Try If You’re Experiencing Eye Pain

Posted by: Eye Health Northwest in General Eye Health on June 30, 2020

Woman suffering from eye pain

Do your eyes hurt more often than not? Are you trying to figure out how to treat them? 

No one likes experiencing pain, especially eye pain. Your eyes can be sensitive, so it can be difficult to know how to treat pain when it occurs. 

Eye pain is a pretty common feeling to experience. There are many different causes and treatments. 

Treatments can range from lifestyle changes to medical treatments. Here are 7 things to try if you’re experiencing eye pain.

1. Change the Light

Depending on the activity, sometimes increasing or reducing the amount of light will help. For example, if you are watching TV, decreasing the amount of light might help you feel better. 

If you are reading or doing a detail-oriented task, adjusting or increasing the light can help. If you focus the light on the page, you should be able to see clearly and not feel pain or strain.

2. Take Breaks

If you notice that your eyes hurt while reading or looking at a screen for long periods of time, try taking a break. This way you can periodically rest your eyes. Sometimes eye pain can merely be due to eye strain.

3. Reduce Screen Time

Sometimes our eyes can hurt from looking at screens. The pain can be from dry eyes and not blinking enough. If you don’t blink, your eyes will start to dry out. 

This can lead to annoying symptoms of dry eye syndrome.  When you are using digital devices, practice the 20/20/20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look away for 20 seconds at something 20 feet away. Make sure what you’re looking at is not a screen, as that will defeat the purpose! 

4. Try Artificial Tears

If your eyes hurt, you may want to try using artificial tears or eye drops.  Over the counter artificial tears are a great option. Ask your doctor which brand or type they recommend. 

Depending on what the cause of your eye pain is, your eye doctor may have recommendations for a brand that treats pain.

5. Make Sure You Have the Right Eyewear

You may experience eye pain if you aren’t wearing the right eyewear. You need to make sure you have the right prescription for your contacts and eyeglasses. Having the wrong prescription can cause eye pain. 

6. Apply a Warm Compress

For certain causes of eye pain, a warm compress can help. For example, if you have a stye, a warm compress a few times a day can reduce any pain and help the stye drain. Do not try to pop it yourself, as that can make the infection worse. 

7. Apply a Cold Compress

If you have eye pain from conjunctivitis, try applying a cold compress. It should help you feel less pain or discomfort. 

If these home remedies do not work, you need to talk with your doctor about other options. Some other options could be prescription eye drops, medication, or surgery. 

For some of the causes of eye pain, surgery is an option for treating it. Figuring out the best course of treatment with your doctor is important for maintaining good eye health. 

Do you need help treating your eye pain? Schedule an appointment at EyeHealth Northwest in Happy Valley, OR now!


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Aloha
18345 SW Alexander St,
Suite A
Aloha, OR 97003
(503) 642-2505 see more
Glisan
6701 NE Glisan Street
Portland, OR 97213
(503) 255-2291 see more
Gresham
24601 SE Stark St.
Troutdale, OR 97060
(503) 255-2291 see more
Hillsboro
6111 NE Cornell Rd
Hillsboro, OR 97124
(503) 846-9400 see more
Lake Oswego
9 Monroe Parkway, Suite 160
Lake Oswego, OR 97035
(503) 636-2551 see more
Milwaukie
11086 SE Oak St
Milwaukie, OR 97222
(503) 656-4221 see more
Mt. Tabor
5935 SE Division St.
Portland, OR 97206
503 777-5546 see more
Newberg
2318 Portland Rd, Suite 300
Newberg, OR 97132
(503) 538-1341 see more
Northwest Portland
1955 NW Northrup St
Portland, OR 97209
(503) 227-2020 see more
Oregon City
1306 Division St
Oregon City, OR 97045
(503) 656-4221 see more
Peterkort
9555 SW Barnes Rd.
#100 (1rst floor)
Portland, OR 97225
(503) 227-2020 see more
Providence Portland
5050 NE Hoyt St., Suite 445
Portland, OR 97213
(503) 231-0166 see more
Providence St. Vincent
9135 SW Barnes Rd., Suite 961
Portland, OR 97225
(503) 292-0848 see more
Southeast Portland
10819 SE Stark St,
Portland, OR 97216
(503) 255-2291 see more
Sunnyside
12050 SE Stevens Rd, Suite 100
Happy Valley, OR 97086
(503) 783-3300 see more
Tigard
15298 SW Royalty Parkway
Tigard OR 97224
(503) 227-2020 see more
Wilsonville
29250 SW Town Center Loop W
Wilsonville, OR 97070
(503) 582-0000 see more
Westside Surgery Center
13240 SW Pacific Hwy
Portland, OR 97223
(503) 639-6571 see more
EyeHealth Eastside Surgery and Laser Center
12050 SE Stevens Rd.
Happy Valley, OR 97086
(971) 206-6100 see more

Our Locations

Aloha
18345 SW Alexander St,
Suite A
Aloha, OR 97003
(503) 642-2505 see more
Glisan
6701 NE Glisan Street
Portland, OR 97213
(503) 255-2291 see more
Gresham
24601 SE Stark St.
Troutdale, OR 97060
(503) 255-2291 see more
Hillsboro
6111 NE Cornell Rd
Hillsboro, OR 97124
(503) 846-9400 see more
Lake Oswego
9 Monroe Parkway, Suite 160
Lake Oswego, OR 97035
(503) 636-2551 see more
Milwaukie
11086 SE Oak St
Milwaukie, OR 97222
(503) 656-4221 see more
Mt. Tabor
5935 SE Division St.
Portland, OR 97206
503 777-5546 see more
Newberg
2318 Portland Rd, Suite 300
Newberg, OR 97132
(503) 538-1341 see more
Northwest Portland
1955 NW Northrup St
Portland, OR 97209
(503) 227-2020 see more
Oregon City
1306 Division St
Oregon City, OR 97045
(503) 656-4221 see more
Peterkort
9555 SW Barnes Rd.
#100 (1rst floor)
Portland, OR 97225
(503) 227-2020 see more
Providence Portland
5050 NE Hoyt St., Suite 445
Portland, OR 97213
(503) 231-0166 see more
Providence St. Vincent
9135 SW Barnes Rd., Suite 961
Portland, OR 97225
(503) 292-0848 see more
Southeast Portland
10819 SE Stark St,
Portland, OR 97216
(503) 255-2291 see more
Sunnyside
12050 SE Stevens Rd, Suite 100
Happy Valley, OR 97086
(503) 783-3300 see more
Tigard
15298 SW Royalty Parkway
Tigard OR 97224
(503) 227-2020 see more
Wilsonville
29250 SW Town Center Loop W
Wilsonville, OR 97070
(503) 582-0000 see more
Surgery Centers

Westside Surgery Center

13240 SW Pacific Hwy
Portland, OR 97223
(503) 639-6571 see more

EyeHealth Eastside Surgery and Laser Center

12050 SE Stevens Rd.
Happy Valley, OR 97086
(971) 206-6100 see more