Common Causes Of Eye Strain And Eye Pain

Dry Eyes

Eye strain and eye pain are common complications that can occur in individuals affected by dry eyes. Eye pain due to dry eyes can be described as a gritty feeling, constant stinging, sharp pains, or a dull ache. Nociceptors are the specialized sensory receptors present on the ends of the nerves that send signals to the brain in response to damaging or painful stimuli. Nociceptors are present in almost all of the body tissues, including an individual's cornea. However, the cornea is known to have one of the highest nociceptor concentrations in the body, with between three to six hundred times the amount of nociceptors in the skin. Specific components in the eye produce a fluid that keeps the eyes moist and lubricates the area between the outer layer of the eye and inside of the eyelids. The function of blinking helps stimulate the production of this fluid and helps distribute it evenly on the corneal surface. However, individuals who have dry eyes do not produce enough of this lubricating fluid, which leaves the nociceptor filled cornea vulnerable to the painful effects of drying and friction.

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