What Does It Mean When Your Left Eye Hurts?

For many people, whenever they experience a change in their overall health and well-being, they immediately want to understand what's causing the disruption and how it can be remedied. 

If your left eye hurts, this pain is typically a symptom of several possible conditions, most of which aren't generally considered serious. According to Healthline, eye pain is categorized as either ocular pain, which occurs on the surface of your eye, or orbital pain, which occurs within the eye itself. Understanding the category of pain is the first step toward diagnosing and treating the issue.

If your eye hurts and you're experiencing a burning or itching sensation, this indicates ocular pain. If you're experiencing a throbbing, aching, or stabbing sensation, or if your eye feels gritty, this indicates orbital pain, per Healthline. The cause behind each type of pain varies, so you'll need to do some investigating to determine what influenced the initial irritation. Thankfully, treatment options are available for both orbital and ocular pain, many of which you can manage from the comfort of your own home.

In terms of ocular pain, the burning or itching sensation is commonly caused by something that is stuck in your eye, such as makeup, dirt, or an eyelash. If your contact is dirty or irritating to your eye, this causes ocular pain as well. Otherwise, you may have a sty, which is "a blepharitis infection" that creates a small bump on your eyelid (via Healthline). To treat these causes, apply a warm compress to your eye, flush your eye carefully with water, and use eye drops to reduce irritation (per WebMD).

In some instances, your left eye hurts because you've contracted conjunctivitis or experienced a corneal abrasion. A corneal abrasion occurs when you've suffered an injury to your cornea, which can happen when you're rubbing your eye. For these conditions, you'll need antibiotics and an ointment prescribed by your doctor to ensure the infection or abrasion is treated properly.

Orbital pain is usually indicative of a health condition such as glaucoma, migraines, optic neuritis, or sinusitis. If you're experiencing orbital pain in your left eye, it's best to contact your health care provider to schedule an appointment to determine the cause and best treatment for the problem. Unlike ocular pain, most conditions causing orbital pain require medical assistance to address, per Healthline. If your left eye hurts, it's more than likely that you'll be feeling better in no time.