Douleur ou rougeur à l’œil (ou aux yeux)
Eye Pain or Redness
What it is
Eye pain may feel like aching, burning, stinging or irritation in one or both eyes. The eye may also be red. Possible causes include tiredness, an infection, an allergy, irritation or a foreign object in the eye (e.g., a grain of sand, an eyelash or an insect).
What you can do at home
What to do
- Wash your hands before and after touching your eyes.
- Wear glasses instead of contact lenses.
- Spend less time looking at screens (television, tablet, computer or cellphone).
- Blink more often.
- Use moisturizing eye drops (preservative-free artificial tears) as advised by a pharmacist.
To relieve pain
- Apply a cold compress for 10 minutes.
- Use a cold compress or a clean washcloth soaked in cold water.
- Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil). When in doubt, ask a pharmacist for advice.
Important: Do not give ibuprofen to children under 6 months old.
Important: Ibuprofen is contraindicated for children under 6 months of age.
Exposure to a chemical
Call the Centre antipoison du Québec immediately at 1-800-463-5060 if a chemical gets into the eye.
What to avoid
- Rubbing your eyes.
- Wearing contact lenses while symptoms are present.
- Wearing makeup on or around the eyes while symptoms are present.
- Putting a patch over or covering your eye.
When to seek medical attention
Eye pain that does not go away
Pain every time you blink
A swollen eye
Pus (yellow discharge) coming from the eye
Feeling that something is stuck under your eyelid
Redness in the white area of your eye that does not go away after removing your contact lenses
Feeling that your vision is worse or blurred vision
Vision that gradually gets worse or increasing difficulty seeing up close or at a distance
Seeing floaters in your field of vision
Need help?
Call Info-Santé at 811, Option 1, to speak with a nurse at any time.
Go to the pharmacy for advice on medications or treatment.
Make an appointment at your medical clinic or CLSC.
If you do not have a family doctor, go to gap.soinsvirtuels or call 811, Option 3.
When to go to the hospital right away
Severe eye pain
A severe, sudden headache
Fever in people at higher risk:
- people with weakened immune systems (immunocompromised)
- people who are pregnant
- infants younger than 3 months
Severe sensitivity to light
A large blood spot in the white part of the eye after an injury to the eye
A sudden decrease in vision or vision that suddenly becomes blurred
A swollen eye (edema) and difficulty moving the eye in all directions
Unable to open the eye