Eye Pain and Other Vision Symptoms You Should Not Ignore

Are you sure it’s just an eyelash caught in your eye? Well, if you aren’t, paying your eye doctor a visit won’t take up too much of your time, and you can rest assured that any problems you may have will be addressed. 

In the Philippines, approximately 500,000 Filipinos are visually impaired, according to blind.org.ph, a non-profit organization that studies blindness statistics in the Philippines. On the other hand, there are more than 285 million people who are visually impaired in the world, reports the World Health Organization (WHO).

According to WHO, 80% of these cases could have been avoided if only they got their eyes checked by a professional and wore their prescription glasses. Don’t take eye symptoms lightly. In this infographic, we share with you several symptoms you should never ignore. 

1. Flashing lights, floaters, or gray shadows 

These “floaters” can be more than just blobs of color. They can be black or gray specks, strings, shadows, and cobwebs in your vision. What you’re experiencing can be the detachment of the retina, called Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD). It could also be a retinal tear, but you should check with your doctor to be sure. 

2. Red eyes

Fatigue, allergies, or eye irritation because of improper contact lens sanitation can lead to bloodshot eyes. Outside of that, it could be pink eye, or keratitis, a corneal infection that causes redness, pain, inflammation, and discharge. Catch keratitis in its early stages to avoid vision loss. 

3. Sensitivity to light and watery eyes

Also called “Photophobia,” having trouble exposing your eyes to light and getting teary whilst doing so may be an effect of an eye infection or inflammation. It can also be uveitis, an inflammation of the uvea caused by an eye injury or infection. These are the usual side effects, and your eyes should be examined to prevent Photophobia from worsening. 

4. Sudden eyelid droop

If your eyelid feels heavy out of nowhere, it could be due to something neurological. This droop can be a sign of a stroke, aneurysm, or brain damage/malfunction. Apart from droopy eyelids, you should also check if both pupils of your eyes are the same size. Having unequal pupils could be a strong indication of an aneurysm.

5. Orbital eye pain

Eye discomfort inside your eyeballs is called orbital eye pain. This feeling could be an indication of glaucoma, especially if you feel pressure around your eyes. That’s a big symptom for glaucoma patients. If the eye pain escalates, it’s best to consult your doctor and check if there are eye problems that run in the family because glaucoma tends to be genetic. 

6. Double vision

Seeing double of an image when there should only be one indicates double vision symptoms. The two images can be side to side, on top of each other, or vice versa. Episodes of double vision can root from exhaustion or excessive alcohol intake, which doesn’t warrant any concern. If you have been experiencing double vision for quite some time now, it could be a sign of Keratoconus, or Cataracts, which are serious eye diseases that need treatment. 

7. Hazy and blurred vision

Maybe it’s time to replace your old glasses with newly prescribed ones, but don’t rule out other eye problems just yet whenever you get hazy or blurred vision. Diabetics frequently experience blurred vision especially when their blood sugar levels fluctuates. Check with your doctor for health conditions you might have that connects to having blurry vision. 

8. Eye discharge or crusty eyes

If you notice any change in color or consistency of your eye discharge, call the doctor right away. Experiencing these kinds of symptoms could suggest you have an eye infection like pink eye. Green or yellowish discharge are indicators of pink eye. Since it can be contagious, always wash your hands before touching your eyes. You should also change your pillowcases often and refrain from sharing towels, washcloths, or other personal eye cosmetics and eye care products with others.

9. Eye discomfort from contact lenses

If you’ve always been a contact lens user and you suddenly experience discomfort from wearing your lenses, check on this immediately. Eye pain from contact lenses should be taken seriously because it can lead to a contact lens-related infection. Inspect your contacts if there are any tears or debris you missed inside. If there’s still pain when you wear them, contact your doctor as soon as possible. 

10. Dry eyes with itchy and burning feeling

The best way to handle anything uncomfortable in your peripherals is to keep yourself from scratching them. If you’ve been feeling burning or itchy sensations, this is most often due to an eye infection, allergies, or just plain tiredness. The worst-case scenario though is that you might have blepharitis, meaning your eyelids are inflamed because of bacteria stuck on your eyelashes. 

Go to your eye doctor for prescription eye drops or ointments to alleviate any eye discomfort you’ve been feeling.

At the end of the day, remember that you only have one pair of eyes, so it’s important to take good care of them. The health of your eyes can vastly determine the path you take in life.

So, if you feel any of these symptoms, it’s best not to ignore them. Call the doctor right away or any eyewear specialist in the Philippines like Vision Express who offers a free vision check. As they say, prevention is better than cure!