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Eye pain care in Bellflower
Eye pain ranges from a mild ache to a true emergency. Here’s how to tell the difference and what to do next.
Severe eye pain with nausea, headache or halos, sudden vision loss, a chemical splash or a serious injury is an emergency. Call 911 or go to the nearest ER.
Pain on the eye vs. pain behind it
Pain on the surface (scratchy, burning, like something is in it) often comes from a scratch, debris, dryness or infection. Pain in or behind the eye (deep, aching, throbbing) can be linked to inflammation, a sudden rise in eye pressure, or sinus and headache problems.
Because some causes can threaten vision quickly, eye pain should be checked promptly. Call us at (562) 867-4716 and we’ll do our best to see you the same day.
Seen by Dr. Mai in Bellflower
Most symptom visits are billed to medical insurance, including Medicare and Medi-Cal plans. Call early in the day for the best chance at a same-day visit.
What can cause eye pain?
Most causes are very treatable. A proper eye exam tells you which one you’re dealing with.
Scratched cornea
Sharp pain, tearing and light sensitivity after a scratch or debris.
Contact lens infection
Pain and redness in a lens wearer needs same-day care.
Acute glaucoma
A sudden rise in eye pressure causes severe pain, headache and halos.
Inflammation (uveitis)
Deep aching pain with redness and light sensitivity.
Dry eye
Burning and stinging, usually milder and worse later in the day.
Stye or eyelid infection
A tender bump or swelling on the eyelid.
When should you see an eye doctor?
Book an eye exam if…
- Pain lasts more than a few hours
- Your eye is red, sensitive to light or watering
- You wear contacts and your eye hurts
- Something got in your eye and it still hurts
- You have a painful bump on your eyelid
Get emergency care if…
- Severe pain with headache, nausea, vomiting or halos around lights
- Sudden vision loss
- A chemical splash (rinse with water for 15 minutes first)
- A penetrating injury or something stuck in the eye; don’t try to remove it
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. If we’re open and it isn’t life-threatening, call us right away at (562) 867-4716.
How we find the cause and treat it
Your visit is with Dr. Loi Thanh Mai. Our team speaks English, Spanish and Vietnamese.
Call us
Tell us what happened. We’ll advise how soon to come in.
Focused exam
Magnified exam, eye pressure check and dye test as needed.
Treatment on the spot
Foreign body removal, prescription drops or other care.
Follow-up
A recheck to make sure the eye is healing well.
Simple steps that may help
These tips can ease mild symptoms, but they don’t replace an eye exam, especially if symptoms are new, getting worse, or affect your vision.
- Remove contact lenses right away
- Rinse with clean water or saline if something got in your eye
- Don’t rub or press on the eye
- Wear sunglasses if light hurts
- Don’t use leftover or someone else’s eye drops
Eye Pain: common questions
Have a question about your symptoms? Call (562) 867-4716.
When is eye pain an emergency?
Severe pain, especially with nausea, halos, sudden vision change, chemical exposure or injury, needs emergency care right away.
Can a headache cause eye pain?
Yes. Migraines, sinus problems and tension headaches can cause pain around or behind the eyes. An exam can rule out eye causes.
What should I do if I scratched my eye?
Remove contacts, rinse gently with clean water or saline, don’t rub, and call us. Scratches can become infected without proper care.
Do you see eye pain the same day?
We do our best to see urgent eye problems the same day when we’re open. Please call ahead.