When your child complains about pain in their eye, you might not know what to do. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to determine what causes eye pain in children, which is why it’s a good idea to bring your child to an eye doctor.
Today, Alderwood Optical & Canyon Park Vision Clinic discusses common causes of eye pain and children and shares tips on what to do about it.
Metal shavings, inorganic grit, sawdust and other organic materials can adhere to the surface of the cornea. This can cause mild to severe discomfort, which is mostly felt when blinking. Other symptoms include blurred vision and light sensitivity.
Visit an eye doctor to have the corneal foreign body safely removed and prevent eye infection. Your child may be prescribed antibacterial eye drops to prevent infection as the cornea heals.
While most corneal abrasions aren’t serious, they can cause discomfort, light sensitivity and watery eyes. Many superficial corneal scratches heal on their own within a day. However, only an expert can tell if the pain is from a minor scratch, a deep abrasion or a corneal foreign body.
Dry eye syndrome is another common cause of eye discomfort. The cause of your child’s eye pain is probably due to dry eye if using lubricating eye drops provides significant comfort. Usually, dry eye syndrome doesn’t require urgent attention. However, your eye specialist can run tests to determine the severity of dryness and recommend treatment options.
Your child might experience pain behind the eyes due to a sinus infection. Meanwhile, a stye usually causes pain around the eyes. If your child is experiencing recurring pain, visit an eye doctor for treatment.
At Alderwood Optical & Canyon Park Vision Clinic, we provide eye disease diagnosis, low vision services and vision needs evaluation. Call us at (425) 485-0430 or complete our online form to request an appointment. We assist patients in Redmond and Kirkland, WA.