Why Does My Eye Hurt When I Blink? 7 Causes and Red Flags
Pain that flares when you blink usually starts on the eyelid or the surface of the eye. Light sensitivity, any change in your sight or a very dark red eye is different, and the NHS puts that under 999 or A&E, not a routine appointment.
Quick facts
- Most likely: a lash or grit under the lid, a stye, crusty lid edges, or dry eyes from long screen time, fans or air conditioning.
- Usual timeline: a stye should go away within a week, and conjunctivitis that has not cleared within 7 days needs a GP.
- Call 999 or go to A&E: light sensitivity, any change in your sight, a very dark red eye, or something stuck in the eye.
- Rule of thumb: Pain on blinking points to the lid or the surface, and light sensitivity or a change in sight means A&E or 999 now.
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Is it a lash, grit or something stuck under the lid?
A sharp, gritty pain that flares with each blink can mean a stray lash or a speck of dust is caught under the lid or on the eye’s surface. Crusty lids can feel gritty too (see the blepharitis section below). The mirror check further down helps. If something is stuck in the eye, such as a piece of glass or grit, the NHS says to call 999 or go to A&E, so do not wait it out or dig at it.
Can a stye or a lid lump be the cause?
It can. A stye is a small, painful lump on the eyelid. The NHS says a stye should go away within a week. Hold a clean flannel soaked in warm water against it for 5 to 10 minutes, two to four times a day, to reduce the swelling. Do not try to burst a stye or remove an eyelash yourself, because that can spread the infection. A stye that does not get better within a few weeks needs a GP. If it is very painful or swollen, affects your vision, produces pus, or spreads to the eye or eyelid, the NHS advises an urgent GP appointment or a call to NHS 111. The stye home care guide and the chalazion versus stye guide explain the difference.
Why are your lids crusty and sticky in the morning?
That pattern fits blepharitis, an eyelid condition. The NHS says it causes swollen, itchy eyelids, that it is not usually serious, and that it can often be treated by washing your eyelids every day. Its symptoms often come and go: sore eyelids, itchy eyes, a gritty feeling, flakes or crusts around the lash roots, and eyelids sticking together when you wake up. Clean the lid edges twice a day. Place a warm, wet cloth or cotton wool on the closed lid for 5 to 10 minutes, then use cotton wool or a cotton bud to wipe the lid edges and lift flakes or crusts. The NHS says a small amount of baby shampoo in water may help. Do not wear contact lenses while you have symptoms, and avoid eye makeup, especially eyeliner and mascara. The blepharitis lid hygiene guide has the routine.
Why does it hurt after screens, fans or air conditioning?
Long screen time, or windy, dry, dusty or air-conditioned places, can dry the eyes. The NHS lists all of these as causes or risk factors for dry eyes, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology notes that dry screen eyes can tear or sting. Take breaks to rest your eyes when you use a screen, and position it so your eyes look slightly downward. The NHS suggests a humidifier if the air in the room is dry. See a GP or an optician if you still have dry eyes after trying home treatments for a few weeks.
Can a virus make your eye hurt when you blink?
Yes, viral conjunctivitis can. Conjunctivitis can make the eyes burn, feel gritty, itch or water, and the NHS lists pus that sticks to the lashes among its symptoms. It usually affects both eyes, and the NHS says it usually gets better in a couple of weeks without treatment. Antibiotics will not work if the cause is a virus or an allergy. If it has not cleared up within 7 days, see a GP. Deep pain or light sensitivity is different, and needs urgent help today.
Is it safe to keep contact lenses in?
No, not while the eye hurts. The NHS says not to wear contact lenses until your eyes are better, and to take them out and wear glasses to rest your eyes. Contact lens wearers are listed first among people at risk of a corneal ulcer, an open sore on the cornea, which is the clear front of the eye. The American Academy of Ophthalmology says corneal ulcers can badly and permanently damage your vision and even cause blindness if they are not treated, so see an eye doctor immediately if you think you have one. The contact lens mistakes guide covers sleeping, swimming and tap water.
When does pain on blinking become an emergency?
The NHS puts light sensitivity, any change to your sight (such as wavy lines, flashing or loss of vision), a very dark red eye, and something stuck in the eye under call 999 or go to A&E. Eye pain with a red eye needs an urgent GP appointment or a call to NHS 111. A white spot on the cornea can be hard to see in a mirror, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology says to see an eye doctor immediately if you think you have a corneal ulcer. If the pain is worse when you move your eyes, tell a doctor. Do not wait it out.
How do you do the 60-second mirror check?
Stand in good light with clean hands. Work one eye at a time.
- Look in the mirror (10 seconds). Note whether one eye or both hurt. Is the pain on the lid, the eyeball, or both?
- Pull the lower lid down gently (10 seconds). Look for a lash, grit or a crust.
- Check the upper lid edge (15 seconds). Look for crusts, flakes or a tender bump on the rim.
- Note the redness (10 seconds). Is it across the white of the eye, or one small patch near the lid? Write it down for the doctor.
- Test your sight (15 seconds). Cover one eye and read a line of print. Any change in either eye, including blur, means calling 999 or going to A&E.
Try this: the lash check with a helper
A stray lash hidden under the upper lid can be easier to find when someone else looks. Ask them to gently lift the upper lid while you look down into a mirror. Do not dig in with a fingertip, a tweezer or a cotton bud, because the NHS advises against trying to remove an eyelash yourself. If you cannot see it, or the pain stays, see a doctor the same day. If something is stuck in your eye, call 999 or go to A&E. The something in your eye guide covers what to do next.
What should you avoid while it settles?
- Rubbing the eye, or squeezing a lump, which can spread infection.
- Old or leftover eye drops from an earlier prescription.
- Kajal, eyeliner and mascara until the eye settles.
- Contact lenses while the eye is red or sore.
- Oils, herbal washes or home mixes put into the eye.
Who should you see today, and who can wait a week?
Call 999 or go to A&E now for light sensitivity, any change to your sight, a very dark red eye, or something stuck in the eye. Get an urgent GP appointment or call NHS 111 today for eye pain with a red eye. See an eye doctor immediately for pain while wearing contact lenses or a white spot on the eye. Within a week: a GP if conjunctivitis has not cleared within 7 days. Within a few weeks: a GP for a stye or dry eye that has not improved. Outside the UK, use your local emergency number or the nearest eye hospital. More eye guides are in the Eye Care hub.
Light sensitivity, any change in your sight, a very dark red eye, or something stuck in the eye: call 999 or go to A&E. Eye pain with a red eye: an urgent GP appointment or NHS 111 today. Pain while wearing lenses, or a white spot on the eye: see an eye doctor immediately. A baby under 30 days old with red, sticky eyes also needs an urgent GP appointment. This guide cannot tell you what is causing your pain, and only an eye doctor can examine it properly.
Quick answers on eye pain when blinking
Why does your eye hurt when you close it?
Each blink drags the lid across the surface of the eye, so grit or a lash caught there can rub with every blink. Light sensitivity or any change in sight needs urgent help the same day.
Why does your eye hurt when you touch it?
Touch can hurt when the lid or eye is already sore, for example with a stye or a stuck lash. Wash your hands first. Pain that does not ease needs an eye doctor.
Why does your eye hurt when you rub it?
Rubbing can make the irritation worse, so stop, and do the mirror check. The NHS advises against trying to remove an eyelash or burst a stye yourself.
Why does your eye hurt when you press on it?
Pressing on a sore lid or the eyeball hurts when that tissue is already tender. Eye pain with a red eye needs an urgent GP or NHS 111 appointment, and any change in sight calls for 999 or A&E.
Why does your eye hurt after using contact lenses?
Lenses can leave a sore eye sorer, and sometimes the pain means a corneal ulcer. Take the lenses out, as the NHS advises, and see an eye doctor immediately if the pain or redness continues.
Why does your eye hurt when you look at light?
Pain with sensitivity to light is urgent. Light sensitivity is a symptom the American Academy of Ophthalmology lists for corneal ulcer, and the NHS advises calling 999 or going to A&E.
Why does your eye hurt when you cry?
Tears can sting an eye that is already dry, gritty or sore. Pus or pain that lasts after crying needs a doctor.
Is pain on blinking always serious?
No. Many causes are small problems on the lid or the eye’s surface, such as a stye, grit or dryness. Light sensitivity, any change in sight, or a very dark red eye needs 999 or A&E, and eye pain with a red eye needs an urgent GP or NHS 111 appointment.