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Ocular Pain

"Pain" is a word of limited value in reporting eye problems. One needs to resort to the rich thesaurus of language. There are certainly occasions on which the problem is only resolved with the help of an interpreter!

Surface irritation is suggested by burning, scratchiness, grittiness, dryness and foreign body sensation. There are many possible causes, each of which can be addressed specifically.

Deeper discomfort relates to ache, strain, heaviness, pressure, tightness, headache, etc. Confounding assessment is the complexity of the nerve pathways of sensation. These arise as a consequence of the embryological development of the head, neck and brain. Thus many of the deeper "pain" sensations referred to the eye arise within the neck and shoulders. As a highly trained medical graduate, the ophthalmologist can by way of history and examination isolate the source of the sensation.

Deep "eye pain" is not commonly caused by serious eye problems such as inflammation or high eye pressure. If the eye is red or blurred in particular, these concerns do need to be excluded by an eye surgeon at the microscope, as they are not otherwise recognisable.

General Ophthalmology

Subspecialties

Glaucoma
Cataracts
Cornea
Pterygium
Retinal Vein Occlusion
Macular Degeneration
Diabetic Eye Disease
Uveitis
Ocular Pain

Associated Sites

Glaucoma Australia
AMD Alliance
Vision Australia
Guide Dogs Association (NSW)
Stepping Out with Confidence (Western Australian Blind Assoc)
Seeing Eye Dogs Assoc.
The Fred Hollows Foundation

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