One minute, you're fine, and the next, you're sure something's stuck in your eye. Along with this foreign body sensation, your eye may tear, and the irritation can turn to pain. You may have picked up an eyelash or dust, or there may not be anything there.
This article covers the potential causes, when to seek help, and how to find relief.Here, you'll learn about the causes of foreign body sensations, from a speck on the surface to conditions like dry eyes, pink eye, or even corneal injury that may be at the root.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/something-in-eye-GettyImages-1413060169-c834a3eb59b34b40acbf10d6f5b4db24.jpg "What to do When it Feels Like Something Is in Your Eye (1)")
Foreign Object
When you feel something on the surface of your eye, this is known as a foreign body sensation. Sometimes, if you look closely in the mirror, you will see a speck lodged on the surface of your eye.
Treatment
Avoid rubbing your eye. In some cases, blinking will allow your eye to flush out whatever may be bothering you. If that doesn't work, try carefully splashing the eye with water or flushing it with artificial tears. This can help even if you cannot see the particles that are irritating your eye.
After the speck is out, the foreign body sensation may continue for a couple of days, but should subside on its own. But if it affects your vision or continues to bother you, it's important to have your eye checked by an optometrist or ophthalmologist (eye specialists).
Dry Eyes
With dry eyes, you can feel a foreign body sensation even when nothing is there. The tear film usually allows the lid to glide over the eye. But if there aren't enough tears, these surfaces rub together and can cause discomfort.
Treatment
Using artificial tears can help lubricate the surface and counteract this in the short term. Treating the underlying causes of the dry eye can provide more permanent relief.
Depending on what's causing the dry eye, you may be put on a medication, such as cyclosporine, to relieve this or taken off a medication you are taking for something else if that is the source. Instead, you may be switched to another medication.
If contact lens wear is the issue, you may be asked to limit the amount of time you wear them.
Chalazion or Stye
A chalazion is a lump on your eyelid due to a blocked oil gland. The oil from the gland usually keeps the eye's surface from feeling irritated. A stye is a lump that usually occurs along the base of the eyelashes from an infection to an eyelash root, which can likewise cause you to feel as if you have something in your eye.
Treatment
To treat a chalazion or stye, place a moist, warm compress on the lid several times a day. The warmth of the compress can thin the oil in the gland so it can flow better. The warmth may also bring more blood flow to the area to reduce inflammation.
In some cases, your eye specialist may recommend a steroid injection or surgical draining of the chalazion.
With a stye, your eye specialist may also prescribe an antibiotic to treat the infection. Do not press on or try to "pop" a stye or chalazion.
Blepharitis
Blepharitis is inflammation of the eyelids. It can be due to bacteria or a blocked oil gland. Feeling like you have something in your eye is a common symptom. Other symptoms include redness, itchiness, burning, and crusts on the eyelids or eyelashes.
Treatment
An eye specialist may recommend cleaning your eyelids with a gentle cleanser like baby shampoo and warm water to loosen any crusting in the area and prevent the oil glands from clogging. They may also prescribe steroid eye drops to tamp down on redness and swelling or antibiotics to fight infection.
Conjunctivitis
In conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, the membrane covering the inside of the eyelids and the white sclera of the eye (conjunctiva) becomes inflamed. This can leave you with a gritty sensation in your eyes that feels as if something may be lodged there. It may be caused by a virus, bacteria, allergy, or irritants.
Treatment
Pink eye often resolves on its own within a week or so. You may be able to reduce symptoms with the aid of an over-the-counter (OTC) medication such as Advil (ibuprofen). Using a warm compress or lubricating artificial tears may also help soothe discomfort.
If it doesn't resolve and you have bacterial pink eye, your healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotic drops. There is no prescription medication for the viral form.
Corneal Injury
If the clear dome at the front of your eye (cornea) is injured, it can feel like something is stuck in it, although nothing is present. You may have scratched it, introduced a chemical to the eye, or have an object lodged in it.
Treatment
In the case of a chemical injury, you should immediately begin flushing your eye with water, continue for at least 15 minutes, and then have someone take you to an emergency room to be examined.
If something is stuck in your eye, do not try to remove it. You should instead immediately contact an ophthalmologist to remove it. After an injury, your eye may be patched for a while. Your ophthalmologist may also prescribe eye drops and pain while this heals.
Corneal Ulcer
A corneal ulcer is an open sore or erosion on the cornea. It can make it feel as if something is trapped in your eye. Causes of a corneal ulcer include irritation from contact lens use, an infection, or a complication after an injury.
Treatment
Treatment for a corneal ulcer will depend on what is at the root. Your ophthalmologist may prescribe medications to fight bacteria, fungi, or the herpes virus. Also, you may be given corticosteroid drops to reduce inflammation.
Eye Herpes
Many people have the herpes simplex virus (HSV) lying dormant in their facial nerves. It can emerge seemingly out of nowhere, developing into anything from a cold sore to an eye ulcer. If there is an eye ulcer, there may also be a foreign body sensation associated with it and an accompanying foreign body sensation.
Treatment
If an ophthalmologist determines that your foreign body sensation is caused by the HSV virus, they will likely prescribe an antivirus eye gel with gancyclovir. If this is insufficient, you may be given systemic antiviral tablets to take for a week or so, as well as steroid eyedrops to reduce inflammation.
Fungal Keratitis
Those with fungal keratitis (inflammation of the cornea) usually have had an eye injury in which they came in contact with vegetation. In addition to feeling like something is in the eye, your vision may be reduced. The eye may be red, and there may be discharge and sensitivity to light.
Treatment
Those with a fungal keratitis infection will be given topical and systemic antifungal medication. The infection may also be managed with anti-inflammatory steroid medication. An eye specialist may also scrape away affected tissue. It may also become necessary to remove the infection surgically.
Pterygium
A pterygium is a fleshy bump on the conjunctiva. This can make it feel as if there is something in your eye.
Treatment
To help soothe the symptoms of the pterygium, such as the foreign body sensation, artificial tears may be prescribed to lubricate the surface. If the lesion begins to get bigger, it may have to be surgically removed.
Pinguecula
A pinguecula is a raised, yellowish growth on the white of the eye that typically begins near the corner of the eye, usually on the nasal side. This can leave you feeling as if there is something in your eye.
Treatment
Your eye specialist may prescribe drops to soothe the eye and eliminate the foreign body sensation to help reduce irritation. In addition, steroids may be given to reduce redness and swelling.
Sjogren’s Syndrome
With Sjogren's syndrome, your immune system attacks the glands that allow your eyes to remain moist. The resulting dry eye can make it feel as if there is as the surfaces rub together.
Treatment
To help manage Sjogren's syndrome, your ophthalmologist will treat it like dry eye, using artificial tears and medications like cyclosporine and steroids to suppress inflammation. They may give Salagen (pilocarpine) to help you produce more saliva and tears.
Also, they may put tiny plugs in the eye to block the tear ducts and keep the tears on the surface where they can help the lids glide better.
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
See a healthcare provider immediately for any object lodged in the eye. The sensation of something in your eye is often not linked to an actual object in the eye, but sometimes, this is the cause. If your eye is not improving, see an eye specialist who can take a closer look.
Summary
A foreign body sensation in the eye can be caused by many conditions affecting the eye, including conjunctivitis, dry eyes, stye, chalazion, infection, and injuries. Treatment depends on the cause. See an eye specialist for any ongoing eye symptoms or to address an object lodged in the eye.
