Eye Pain
Medical Author:
Jay Robert Woody, MD
Jay Robert Woody, MDDr. Jay Woody is a diplomat of the American Board of Emergency Medicine, a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Medicine and is an Attending Physician at Parkland Health and Hospital System, Children's Medical Center of Dallas as well as several other north Texas facilities. He is a well-known and widely published authority in the field of emergency medicine and the former regional medical director of a freestanding emergency medicine practice. Medical Editor:
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical EditorMelissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
Eye Pain OverviewEye pain is often described as burning, sharp, shooting, dull, gritty, a feeling of "something in my eye," aching, pressure, throbbing, or stabbing. Sometimes eye pain is confused with other symptoms, such as a headache, sinus pain, toothache, or a migraine. Eye pain is a common reason for people to seek medical care from their doctor (or an ophthalmologist, a specialist who deals only with eyes). Viewer Comments & ReviewsEye Pain - TreatmentThe eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:What was the treatment for your eye pain? Eye Pain - CausesThe eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:What caused your eye pain? |
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Eye Pain
Iritis Overview
The iris is the circular, colored portion of the front of the eye with the dark pupil in the center.
The iris is made up of muscular fibers that control the amount of light entering the pupil so that we can see clearly. The iris accomplishes this task by making the pupil smaller in bright light and larger in dim light. The iris is the front part of the uveal tract of the eye (the iris in the front and the ciliary body and uveal tract behind it). In some people, the iris can become inflamed. This is termed iritis.
Inflammation of the front part of the eye is referred to as anterior uveitis or iritis, whereas inflammation behind this is known as posterior uveitis.
Iritis Causes
Iritis may be a consequence of trauma (traumatic iritis) or nontraumatic causes. In a significant number of cases, no cause for the iritis is found.
- Blunt trauma to the eye can cause traumatic inflammation of t...
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Optic Neuritis »
Optic neuritis is defined as inflammation of the optic nerve.
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