This NHS content is written for people in England. Services, contact routes and treatment arrangements may differ in other countries.
Eye pain
Many things can cause eye pain, including getting dirt in your eye, infections like conjunctivitis, or conditions like glaucoma or uveitis.
Causes of eye pain
There are many possible causes of eye pain, including different eye conditions.
Other things that can also cause eye pain include eye injuries and eyelid problems.
Do not try to diagnose the cause of the pain yourself.
Ask for an urgent GP or optician appointment, or get help from NHS 111 if:
You have eye pain and:
- the pain is severe
- sensitivity to light
- changes to your vision, like blurring, how you see colour or loss of vision
- your eye is very red (1 or both eyes)
You can call 111 or get help from 111 online . Call 111 if you need help for a child under 5.
Call 999 or go straight to A&E if:
- your eye symptoms start suddenly
- you have eye pain that keeps you awake at night
- you wear contact lenses and have eye pain and vision loss
- you have a red eye, severe headache and feel sick
- you have severe pain or loss of vision and had eye surgery or treatment in the last 4 weeks
- you cannot see (loss of vision)
- you have injured or pierced your eye
- something is stuck in your eye (like a piece of glass or grit)
A&E safety messaging
Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
Bring any medicines you take with you.
Content supplied by the NHS website, refreshed 19 August 2026. View the original NHS article ↗
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