Sore eyes can be caused by a variety of things. In most cases they are caused by staring at a computer screen or book for too long. Your eyesmay become sore after a long day at work or if you have been deprivedof sleep. An incorrect eyeglass prescription may also lead to sore eyes. Additional causes may include:*.Airborne irritants such as chemicals, smoke, smog, animal dander, and pollen*.Contact lens wear*.Excessive rubbing of eyes*.Inflammation caused by allergens or infections*.Too much sun exposure*.Dry eyes or inadequate lubrication of eye surface*.Viral infections such as the common cold*.Blepharitis*.Pink eyeIn some cases, sore eyes may be caused by a serious condition such as optic neuritis, uveitis, iritis, or orbital cellulitis. If sore eyes are occurring daily you should seek medical attention.Airborne IrritantsIn most big cities, and even in many suburbs, the air is filled with pollutants that can irritate sensitive eyes. These irritants include chemical smoke from factories, automobile exhaust, smog, and more. At certain times of year—notably in the springtime—pollen can be a powerful irritant (as will be discussed later, in theallergiessection of this article).Another source of airborne eye irritants is the earth itself. On extremely windy days, dust and other fine particulate matter can be stirred up by strong winds. This dust is often not visible except as a haze in the distance, but it can affect our eyes just the same.People who live in certain climates are especially vulnerable to airborne dust and debris. In California, for example, there is a well-known phenomenon called the Santa Ana winds. These winds originate in the inland mountains of Southern California, and they blow frequently throughout the fall and winter months, bringing with them misery for people with sensitive eyes, from Los Angeles all the way down through the Mexican state of Baja California.Contact Lenses or GlassesContact lensescan be extremely irritating to people who are unaccustomed to them, especially if they are worn incorrectly. If you are experiencing sore eyes and have recently been fitted for contacts, check with your eye doctor to see whether the source of your eye pain might be your contact lenses. It is possible that you are doing something wrong when inserting your lenses, in which case your doctor will be able to show you how to insert your contact lenses in a way that does not make your eyes sore.Besides the fit, there are other ways in which contact lenses can causesore eyes. You may simply need time to get used to a new prescription,or you may need to have your existing prescription changed or updated. Obviously, this applies to glasses as well.Excessive Rubbing of EyesMany people suffer from nervous tics or obsessive compulsions that cause them to rub their eyes constantly. If this is the cause of your sore eyes, you may need to seek psychiatric help.Inflammation Caused by AllergensAnimal dander, pollen, dust, and other common airborne substances can trigger allergic reactions in people who are sensitive to them. The body’s defenses interpret these harmless substances as a threat, and the body reacts by releasing chemicals calledhistamines, which causeitching, sneezing, and eye inflammation.Sun ExposureSpending too much time in the sun without adequate eye protection can cause your eyes to become sore for two reasons:1.Your eyes are irritated by the sun itself2.Your eye muscles become fatigued from constant squinting.To avoid this problem, always be sure to wear a hat and sunglasses when you go out into the sun, and be sure your sunglasses are designed to offer maximum protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays.Dry EyesMany people suffer from a medical condition known as Dry Eye Syndrome, which can cause painful, sore eyes. To learn more about this condition,click here.Excessive Computer UseIf you spend a good portion of your day staring at a computer monitor, or even if you spend a few hours each night reading a good book, you may be causing eye fatigue, which can in turn cause sore eyes.Computer use, in particular, can be associated with a problem known ascomputer vision syndrome. The human eye cannot focus on computer pixels in the same way it can focus on printed material on a page, and it must continually readjust while you are working at your computer. Over time, this cause a repetitive-stress type of injury to the eye.Viral InfectionsSore eyes can sometimes be caused by viral infections suchpink eye(also known as conjunctivitis) orcellulitis(eyelid infection), or even by the common cold.Other Medical Causes of Sore EyesIn some cases, sore eyes may be caused by a serious condition such as optic neuritis,uveitis,iritis, or orbital cellulitis. If sore eyes are occurring daily, you should seek medical attention.
