Causes

By Mayo Clinic Staff
  1. Allergies
  2. Blepharitis — which is eyelid inflammation.
  3. Chalazion — caused by clogged oil glands on the eyelid.
  4. Complication from a recent eye surgery.
  5. Contact lens complication.
  6. Corneal abrasion (scratch): First aid
  7. Corneal herpes infection.
  8. Corneal ulcer.
  9. Dry eyes
  10. Ectropion — which is an outwardly turned eyelid.
  11. Entropion — which is an inwardly turned eyelid.
  12. Episcleritis — which is inflammation of the covering of the white part of the eye.
  13. Eye drops side effect or complication.
  14. Floppy eyelid syndrome — which happens when the eyelid can easily fold on itself.
  15. Foreign object in the eye: First aid
  16. Glaucoma — which is part of a group of conditions that damage the optic nerve.
  17. Hay fever
  18. Injury — such as from blunt trauma or a burn.
  19. Iritis — which is inflammation of the colored part of the eye.
  20. Keratitis — which is inflammation of the cornea.
  21. Orbital cellulitis — which is an infection of the area around the eye.
  22. Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
  23. Scleritis — which is inflammation of the white part of the eye.
  24. Subconjunctival hemorrhage (broken blood vessel in eye)
  25. Uveitis — a form of eye inflammation that affects the middle layer of tissue in the eye wall.

Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.

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Feb. 19, 2025

See also

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  2. Blepharitis
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  8. COVID-19 travel advice
  9. COVID-19 vaccines for kids: What you need to know
  10. COVID-19 vaccines: Get the facts
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  13. COVID-19: Who's at higher risk of serious symptoms?
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  15. Different types of COVID-19 vaccines: How they work
  16. Drug addiction (substance use disorder)
  17. Dry eyes
  18. Dust mite allergy
  19. Ectropion
  20. Extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)
  21. Fight coronavirus (COVID-19) transmission at home
  22. Glaucoma
  23. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis
  24. Hangovers
  25. Headaches and hormones: What's the connection?
  26. Headaches: Treatment depends on your diagnosis and symptoms
  27. Herd immunity and COVID-19: What you need to know
  28. How well do face masks protect against COVID-19?
  29. Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
  30. Iritis
  31. Is hydroxychloroquine a treatment for COVID-19?
  32. Kawasaki disease
  33. Keratitis
  34. Long COVID: Lasting effects of COVID-19
  35. Mayo Clinic Minute: How dirty are common surfaces?
  36. Mayo Clinic Minute: What parents need to know about pink eye
  37. Mayo Clinic Minute: You're washing your hands all wrong
  38. Mayo Clinic Research Finds Risk of Glaucoma Blindness Drops by Half
  39. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C)
  40. Pain Management
  41. Pet allergy
  42. Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
  43. Pregnancy and COVID-19: What are the risks?
  44. Retinoblastoma
  45. Rubella
  46. Safe outdoor activities during the COVID-19 pandemic
  47. Safety tips for attending school during COVID-19
  48. Sarcoidosis
  49. Symptom Checker
  50. Toxic shock syndrome
  51. Treating COVID-19 at home: Care tips for you and others
  52. Uveitis
  53. VEXAS syndrome
  54. Whooping cough
  55. Whooping cough
  56. Xylazine