Share:
Stinging in the eye - definition, causes and therapy
contents
- definition
- Eye diseases as the main cause
- Stinging in the eye due to eye injuries
- Eye piercing by external influences
- Other causes of stinging in the eye
- diagnosis
- therapy
- Medication
- Medicinal herbal treatment
- Operative treatment
definition
As a sting in the eye, a certain form of eye pain is defined. These are basically caused by an irritation of the eye nerves. The source of pain with stinging in the eye can have countless nerve origins. However, the genesis is always the same. Due to a given nerve irritation, such as inflammation or vasoconstriction, the affected eye nerves in turn send stimulus signals to the brain. This, in turn, reacts with the transmission of pain signals in order to noticeably express the neuronal state of irritation.
Even long work on the screen can be the trigger for eye piercing. (Image: sebra / fotolia.com) The optic nerves are provided by the cranial nerves II to VI and can be divided as follows:
- II. Cranial nerve / optic nerve (optic nerve)
The optic nerve conducts visual signals between the retina and the brain. - III. Cranial nerve / eye movement nerve (oculomotor nerve)
As III. Cranial nerve controls the Nervus oculomotorius true to the name of some essential motor functions of the eye. These include the muscle functions responsible for lifting the eyelids, the eye movements for adjusting the refractive power of the eye (accommodation) and the pupil constriction (miosis or stenosis) and the movements of four of the six outer eye muscles. - IV. Cranial nerve / eye roll nerve (trochlear nerve)
The fourth cranial nerve, also known as the trochlear nerve, controls the oblique upper eye muscle, which is responsible for the rolling of the eyes. - V. cranial nerve / triple nerve (trigeminal nerve)
The V. cranial nerve, in comparison to the other nerves important for ocular function, has a decisive peculiarity, because it is subdivided into three nerve branches. The upper and lower jaw nerves are of peripheral importance to the eye. However, the third nerve branch of the triplet nerve is provided by the ophthalmic nerve (ophtalmic nerve), which in turn is divided into four main branches: - Cranial vein nerve (Ramus tentorii)
A nerve branch, which, after forming, returns from the ocular nerve into the cranial cavity and grows together with the hard meninges. - Frontal nerve (frontal nerve)
This nerve branch supplies the orbit and the frontal sinus. - Tear nerve (lacrimal nerve)
As the name suggests, this nerve nerve of the eye nerve is responsible for the supply of the eye's lacrimal glands. - Nasal Lid Nerve (Nervus nasociliaris)
In addition to the nasal cavity and the lacrimal ducts, the nasociliar nerve also supplies the middle eye skin, the cornea of the eye and the conjunctiva. - VI. Cranial nerve / oesophageal nerve (nervus abducens)
Another cranial nerve that is essential to ocular functions is the VI. Cranial nerve, better known as nervus abducens or oesophageal nerve. It ensures an adequate eye position and prevents squinting by twisting the eyeball inwards or outwards.
Behind the retina, a nerve cord leads into the brain. There the optic nerves are connected with five cranial nerves. (Image: crevis / fotolia.com) Because of what factors it comes just to a stinging eye pain instead of, for example, to a burning or pressure pain, is still unclear. However, many sufferers describe a stinging pull that indicates certain states of tension. In addition, eye piercing is often accompanied by other symptoms, such as loss of vision (loss of visual acuity, for example), increased lacrimation, redness, swelling of the eyes, dizziness or headache. The causes of stinging in the eye can be roughly divided into three core areas:
- eye diseases
- eye injuries
- External influences
Eye diseases as the main cause
The most obvious reason for a sting in the eye are, of course, diseases of the eyes. Possible causes of illness in this regard are very versatile, with eye infections in particular frequently causing pain sensations. In view of the numerous eye nerves, corresponding inflammations can also be localized very differently. In optic nerve inflammation, for example, pain stimuli emanating from the optic nerve are very likely. Likewise, retinal inflammation (retinitis) often causes irritation to the optic nerve, as it is responsible for the signal transmission between the retina and the brain.
Ocular inflammations such as conjunctivitis (conjunctivitis), however, usually cause pain in the area of the nose-lid nerve, as this is responsible for the supply of the conjunctiva. The same applies to corneal inflammation (keratitis) and the inflammation of the middle eye skin, better known as iritis (uveitis). An eyelid inflammation (blepharitis) may theoretically lead to stinging pain in the eye due to irritation of the nasociliar nerve. The tear nerve, which is located directly next to the nasal-lid nerve, reports primarily with lacrimal inflammation (dacryoadenitis) with stinging pain symptoms in the eye.
Of course, there are also eye diseases that are not associated with inflammation. Just think of the well-known Green Star (glaucoma). Stinging pain, especially if accompanied by accompanying symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or headache, may be a major stroke and should therefore be taken very seriously. In general, persistent eye piercing in the case of existing eye disease should always be clarified by a doctor. Painful eye nerves often tend to damage nerves in the near future, leading to irreparable vision loss in the worst case scenario.
Caution eye infarction: Diseases and permanent irritation of the optic nerve in particular involve the risk of eye infarction! This leads to a loss of optic nerve tissue, which can lead to complete blindness!
Injuries of the eye vessels are usually visible through bleeding in the eye. (Image: ViDi Studio / fotolia.com) Stinging in the eye due to eye injuries
Eye-piercing is as dangerous as with some eye disease in the context of injuries to the organs of vision. Not only obvious wounds, such as sharp or sharp objects on or in the eye, can be considered as an injury. Especially on the eye, which is known as a body organ for its special sensitivity, the character of possible injuries is much more versatile.
It is conceivable, inter alia, an injury from the inside. Vascular damage, as caused by high blood pressure, is a good example. A stinging in the eye is usually accompanied by vascular haemorrhages, which appear as blood in the eye. However, these can also be harmless in nature, as they affect only small blood vessels and only once - for example after special effort and associated increased vessel pressure - appear in appearance.
Somewhat more problematic are painful nerve irritations due to extreme UV radiation. In this case, eye piercing often occurs in combination with twitching light flashes in the eye and, if the radiation has lasted too long and nerves have been severely damaged by the UV light, may result in blindness. Likewise, toxic gases may be responsible for a risky stinging in the eye. To corresponding eye injuries it comes especially with stays in polluted environment. People who are exposed to aggressive exhaust fumes (for example when working in chemical factories) should therefore always wear protective goggles.
Eye piercing by external influences
In addition to injuries that are commonly not to joke, but there are also numerous harmless, albeit annoying causes of piercing eyes, which are due to external stimuli. Just think of dry heating air that makes the eye especially in the winter months to deal with. Cold drafts can also put a heavy strain on the eye and cause irritating eye pains. In addition, of course, also dust particles, which cause unpleasant painful stimuli on contact with the eye.
Animal hair allergies can also cause irritation of the eye and thus a stinging in the eye. (Image: Ralf Geithe / fotolia.com) A special pain stimulus from the outside are formed by stinging in the eye environmental allergens. Persons who are allergic to pollen, fungal spores or animal hair, complain relatively often about eye piercing, here usually accompanied by heavy tears of the eyes, itching in the eye area, eye redness and puffiness on the eye. Another risk group is provided by people who spend an extraordinary amount of time with eye-strain activities such as screen work, microscopic analyzes, observations or time-consuming reading activities. The nerves of the eye are here particularly stressed and therefore also slightly overused, which favors pain symptoms such as burning or stinging eyes.
Other causes of stinging in the eye
As a radiation pain stinging eyes like to occur in migraine. The neurological disorder is known for the wide range of its pain symptoms and, in addition to extreme head and stinging eye pain, may also cause concomitant symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. The situation is similar with cluster headaches. These are usually expressed by exceptionally violent, unilateral pain attacks in the temples and eyes. The causes of cluster headache are not yet clear. However, certain painful stimuli in the area of the trilling nerve seem to provoke headache attacks.
diagnosis
The individual diagnosis can be very different for stinging in the eye, depending on the cause. At the beginning of each examination, however, the patient survey (anamnesis) provides the patient's medical history as well as existing symptoms. Some symptoms, such as watery eyes or redness, can then be detected as part of a first gaze diagnosis. There are also special tests to assess symptoms that are not immediately apparent.
For example, an eye test helps to detect impaired vision. Pressure sensations in the eye, as well as eye diseases, which usually cause a change in the intra-ocular pressure conditions, can be with the intraocular pressure measurement (tonometry) come to grips with. To assess the condition of different eye segments, diagnostic methods such as slit-lamp examination or ocular fundus reflection (ophthalmoscopy) may also be used. In both cases, ophthalmologists use special equipment that is equipped with a light source to allow a close inspection of the eye structures.
In addition, if allergic reactions are suspected to cause eye piercing, allergy tests may also be performed. Further conceivable measures are examinations of the eye by means of X-ray, sonography or computed tomography (CT) as well as blood pressure measurements and blood tests for the detection of existing vascular diseases.
therapy
Eye piercing does not necessarily have to be treated. Sometimes it is enough to give your eyes a little more peace and quiet. This is the case, for example, with pain caused by stress or congestion. Even smaller foreign bodies such as grains of sand or dust are usually eliminated by the eye itself, by temporarily increasing the flow of tears and thus flushing out the pain-causing stimulus triggers. However, when it comes to diseases and serious injuries to the eye, professional therapy is without option. Otherwise, in addition to stinging pain, there could soon be permanent eye damage, which should of course be prevented. For the treatment available are the subsequently described therapeutic measures.
Medication
A drug treatment is important in the case of eye piercing, especially in inflammation of the eye. Existing sites of inflammation, as well as potential infectious agents, which are often the cause of ophthalmia, require timely treatment before they spread and thus worsen the course of the disease. Anti-inflammatory eye drops such as Bepanthen, Euphrasia or Posiformin are used to alleviate any inflammation. Bepanthen is also available in salve form.
The stinging in the eye itself is ideally treated with suitable eye drops. Otherwise, of course, there is the option to take a suitable analgesic. In addition, if infection is involved in the inflammatory process, physicians additionally prescribe an antibiotic drug. Eye swellings can in turn be treated with cortisone-containing preparations, whereby an application here carefully weighed, because it often show severe side effects in cortisone, which make the medical drug only for absolute emergencies recommendable.
Eyebright does not bear his name by chance. Ointments and drops of the medicinal herb are available at the pharmacy. (Image: gelilewa / fotolia.com) Medicinal herbal treatment
In support of stinging eyes, you can also avail yourself of the help of useful herbs. A soothing eyebright or eye press is highly recommended, for example, for painless pain (eg dry eyes or overwork). The herb has not received its name in vain, because actually eyebright is extremely beneficial to eye complaints of any kind.
Prescription for eyebright treatment of the eyes:
- 1 tablespoon of eyebright seeds
- 1 teaspoon of eyebright herbs
- 1/4 liter of water
- 1/4 teaspoon of cooking salt
- 1 fresh linen cloth
Take 1 tablespoon of eyebright seeds and boil them with 1/4 liter of hot water. Next, add the eyebright and saline. After everything is well swollen, filter off the herbal mixture and put it in the linen cloth. This can now be used as an eye press.
Tip: Even the filtered Sud does not have to be dumped! It can be used, for example, as a conditioner that also does good to stinging eyes.
However, with all the benefits of eyebright it is important to note that patients should be careful with eye piercing with inflammation or infection involvement with the use of moist eye presses or even eye rinses. Because additional moisture could be beneficial to the breeding ground of infectious germs, which is not conducive to the goal of the therapy. In such cases, the use of envelopes is best discussed in advance with the attending physician. Alternatively, you can also buy ointments from eyebright in the pharmacy. Other herbs that have proven effective in the treatment of eye piercing are goose fingering, lavender, meadowsweet and willow.
Operative treatment
Surgeries are especially important for piercing eyes when a dangerous foreign body (for example, glass splinters) has come into the eye, a serious injury, or serious eye disease such as a cataract or retinitis leaves no option but the disease is surgical to treat. Usually, the procedure is done under local anesthesia, so patients do not have to worry about experiencing more pain. Also, local anesthesia calms the eye movements, allowing the surgeon to work safer on the eye.
If there is an injury to the eye, the operation aims to close existing wounds as much as possible. This is not always possible and existing eye damage can often last a lifetime despite successful wound treatment. Also, removing debris can not always reverse damage to the eye caused by the foreign body. On the other hand, the full chances of recovery are better with early operative therapy of eye diseases.
Incidentally, thanks to modern medicine, it is now possible to replace heavily damaged ocular elements with prostheses. However, the extent to which an eye-piercing health complaint can be remedied by using the prosthesis varies from case to case.
Illnesses with eye piercing as a symptom: optic nerve inflammation, retinal inflammation, conjunctivitis, corneal inflammation, iris inflammation, lacrimal inflammation, cataracts, eye infarction, pollen allergy, house dust allergy, animal hair allergy, migraine, cluster headache. (Ma)