18 common eye health questions answered

But when something feels off —dryness, blurry vision, or unexpected floaters — our first instinct is often to grab our phones and search the symptoms online.

While the internet can provide quick answers, but the accuracy of information can vary, and misinformation about eye health can often do more harm than good.

To help you separate fact from fiction, our certified optician tackled the most searched eye health questions. From “Why are my eyes twitching?” to “What causes astigmatism?”—we’ve got you covered with clear, expert-backed advice to keep your eyes in top shape.

We have also addressed some common problems that people face with the handling and fit of their contact lenses and glasses.

Scroll down for your one-stop source for frequent eye concerns or click the corresponding question in the table below to quickly get the answers you need.

Most searched eye conditions

Why are my eyes twitching? 14,800 monthly searches

Eye twitching and spasms are very common and, thankfully, rarely tend to be a result of something serious. While typically, it’s the lower lid that twitches, sometimes the upper lid or both lids can twitch at the same time.

There are various lifestyle causes for eye twitching, including stress, tiredness, caffeine, alcohol, eye strain, smoking, dry eyes, allergies, and some medications.

Most of the time, you don’t need to see a doctor for eye twitching and it’s advisable to change your routine and try reducing some of the stress factors mentioned above first.

However, if eye twitching lasts more than a few weeks, you should consult with an optician or a GP. Furthermore, you should seek medical assistance if your eye twitching is accompanied by:

• A red or swollen eye
• Unusual discharge from the eye
• A drooping upper eyelid
• The twitching lasts for several weeks
• Other parts of your face are being affected
• Full eyelid closure with every twitch

Why do my eyes keep watering? 5,400 monthly searches

There are two main reasons why your eyes could be watery:

1. Too many tears are being produced
2. Problems with the tear drainage system

The treatment will heavily depend on the cause.

For example, during colder, windier weather, it’s completely natural for your eyes to water. This is a reflection to compensate for the dry air, which dehydrates them by reducing the protective cushion of tears.

Sometimes, watery eyes could be a response to certain irritants, such as debris, make-up or a smoky environment. However, watery eyes could indicate more serious eye conditions as well, particularly if you experience:

• A change in vision
• Painful eyes
• Swollen eyes
• Lumps on the eye
• The eyelid turning inwards or outwards

Why do my eyes hurt? 4,400 monthly searches

It’s not unusual to experience eye pain from time to time. The good news is that it’s rarely something to be concerned about and usually goes away on its own.

Aching eyes is categorised as ocular pain, occurring on the surface, or orbital pain, which happens within the eye.

Ocular pain can have a range of causes including infection, injury, corneal abrasion, irritation through contact lens wear, or another foreign object in the eye.

Orbital pain on the other hand can indicate damage to the optic nerve, sinus infection or an inflammation inside the eye.

You can soothe eye pain at home, by trying warm compresses or giving your eyes a rest by switching to glasses if you frequently wear contact lenses.

Alternatively try flushing your eyes with saline solution to get rid of any foreign objects, or medicated eye drops if your pain is caused by certain conditions.

If the pain doesn’t stop, it’s important to see an eye care professional so they can find the root cause. Eye pain is an emergency if it’s accompanied by:

• Vision loss
• Severe eye pain
• Vision problems that occur suddenly
• Aching eyes caused by trauma

Why are my eyes bloodshot? 3,600 monthly searches

Red or bloodshot eyes are caused by the expansion of tiny blood vessels on the white part of your eyes. While symptoms can be mild, this can indicate other health issues.

More commonly, bloodshot eyes are simply the result of strained eyes from looking at screens or wearing your contact lenses for too long. Other times, this can happen if a blood vessel bursts. While this sounds dangerous, it usually isn’t cause for concern and should go away on its own.

Bloodshot eyes can also be caused by environmental factors such as smoking, alcohol consumptions and seasonal allergies. However, bloodshot eyes can also indicate more serious conditions such as eye infections or scratches to your cornea.

Soothing your eyes with a cool compress can help reduce the appearance of the redness. Likewise, avoid makeup and wearing contact lenses during this time should help your eyes regenerate. You can seek advice from a pharmacist and use over the counter medication or eye drops to provide extra relief.

If you’re experiencing pain alongside red eyes, you must consult your eye doctor as it could be a sign of something serious.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, seek medical attention immediately:

• Discomfort/pain while opening your eyes
• Photophobia (light sensitivity)
• Severe headache
• Swollen eyes/area around the eyes
• Nausea, fever or vomiting
• Blurry vision

Why are my eyes itching? 2,400 monthly searches

Having itchy eyes is very common but extremely uncomfortable. Usually, you don’t need to be concerned as this condition is the result of allergies and minor eyelid margin infections. However, it’s important to know the difference between allergies and an eye infection, so you can get the right treatment.

While it may be tempting to rub your eyes, we highly advise you not to do so. While it provides temporary relief, his could transfer harmful germs into your eyes, increasing the risk of infection. Eye rubbing can also break the tiny b