Several conditions could cause you to wake up with eye pain. Here are a few of them, and how they are treated. Any excruciating eye pain with blindness should be considered a medical emergency and you should seek immediate help.

What is dry eye?

This is a common condition that often causes severe pain. It is caused by a lack of lubrication and moisture on the eye's surface. You may also experience persistent dryness, grittiness, a burning sensation and red eyes. It may be hard to open your eyes in the morning. If this only affects you in the morning it could be because your eyelids aren't closing properly when you go to sleep. A solution is to use a lubricating eye drop before you go to bed. If this doesn't help, visit your optometrist for more specialised advice.Those who spend a lot of time on the computer are more likely to experience eye pain as people tend to blink less when using this kind of technology.

What are the symptoms of angle-closure glaucoma?

This condition is caused by a blockage in the drainage canals in your eye, creating a rise in intraocular pressure. If you have hazy or blurred vision alongside severe eye and head pain, nausea and vomiting, it could mean that you have acute-closure glaucoma.This requires immediate medical attention, particularly if you also experience sudden loss of sight.

What is a corneal abrasion?

A corneal abrasion is a scratch on the cornea or clear protective layer over the iris (coloured part of the eye) and pupil (black part).If something gets trapped under your eyelid it can cause your cornea to become scratched, which can result in severe pain and discomfort. If something gets caught in your eye, try to flush it out with water or seek help from your optometrist rather than trying to rub it out.You may tear up or notice red eyes. If your vision changes or you become sensitive to light then it is important to seek emergency care.