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What Causes Pain In Eye After Closing It Tight?

Posted on Mon, 15 Jun 2015

Question: Dear Doctor, for some reasons, two days ago, i closed my eyes very tight ( like really really tight) for 3-4 seconds. then my right eyes suddenly felt a pain, it felt like someone poked the top left part of my eye ( or eyelid) with a needle for a second. The pain came on and off for one day. Now the pain stopped. My eyes don't feel any sickness but i am very worried that shutting my eyes too tight has already damaged my eyes. Does that damage my retina by pulling it off? Or does it cause astigmatism? I am 23 years old, short-sighted and with astigmatism. Thanks.

Answered by Dr. Dadapeer K (44 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
closing the eyes tight will not damage retina.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to Health care Magic

I am Dr. Dadapeer K, an ophthalmologist and I will be answering your question.

I reviewed your history.
Closing the eyes tight will not cause any problem to retina or it will not cause astigmatism.

The pain when closing the eyes is unlikely but it can occur because of strain of muscles of eye.
No need to worry about pain.

You need to worry if there are flashes of light or floaters while having short sightedness. Otherwise no need to be worried.

Hope this answers your question and the information is helpful to you.
Do write back to me for further questions.

Thank you
With regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dadapeer K (26 minutes later)

Thanks for your reply Doctor. I feel much better now. But I'm a very stubborn person. (I'm sorry about that) could you explain why closing eyes so tight is not going to hurt the eyes? Thanks.

Answered by Dr. Dadapeer K (16 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
No problem I will explain it.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thank you for the follow up question.

Closing the eyes tight or squeezing the eye will not cause any problem to retina as a layer called as vitreous lies infront of retina and vitreous being a gel like structure will prevent cushion like protection to retina.

Moreover the effects of sequeezing can reach up to anterior segment only and will not affect structures in the posterior segment like retina.

Hope this answers your question and the information is helpful to you.
Do write back to me for further questions.

Thank you
With regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dadapeer K (58 minutes later)

Thanks doctor. How about astigmatism? Why does it not cause astigmatism? So I need to worry nothing, right? Thanks.

Answered by Dr. Dadapeer K (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Yes there is no need to worry.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thank you for follow up question.

Astigmatism is caused by causes which cause permanent change in corneal shape like corneal scar, corneal thinning...
Since squeezing will not cause any permanent change in corneal shape, this will not cause astigmatism.

Hence there is no need to worry.

Hope this answers your question and the information is helpful to you.
Do write back to me for further questions.

Thank you
With regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dadapeer K (6 hours later)

What about Glaucoma? Does closing my eyes tight increase and eye pressure and cause glaucoma? Thanks doctor.

Answered by Dr. Dadapeer K (4 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Squeezing of eyes will not cause glaucoma.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thank you for the follow up question.

This will not cause glaucoma also.
Glaucoma occurs when there is constant obstruction to the flow of aqueous humour.
Transient variations in intraocular pressure are normal and will not harm the eye or cause glaucoma.

Hence no need to be worried as squeezing is a normal physiological event.

Hope this answers your question and the information is helpful to you.
Do write back to me for further questions.

Thank you
With regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar