10 Horrifying Things That Can Happen to Your Eyeballs

The eyes are often called the windows to the soul, a poetic and delicate description for one of the most complex and fragile organs in the human body. We rely on them from the moment we wake up to the moment we close them to sleep.

But what happens when these delicate windows are shattered, not by heartbreak, but by horrifyingly painful and sometimes bizarre medical conditions and injuries? What happens when the very organs that allow us to perceive the world become the source of unimaginable agony? From microscopic invaders to catastrophic injuries, the things that can go wrong with our eyeballs are the stuff of nightmares.

Keep reading to discover more facts about the 10 horrifyingly painful things that can happen to an eyeball or two…

Related: 10 Cases Where Minor Injuries Developed into Horrific Outcomes

10 Open Globe Injury

Imagine an object hitting your eye with such force that the wall of your eyeball, the sclera, tears open. That’s an open globe injury, and it’s as horrifying a thing as it sounds. This isn’t just a simple cut—it’s a full-thickness laceration of the eye’s outer membrane. Think of your eye like a water balloon, and an open globe injury is that balloon bursting. The causes are usually what you’d expect—blunt force trauma from a fist, an ice pick, or a car accident. The result is a catastrophic loss of the eye’s structural integrity. The pain is immediate and severe, often described as a deep, sickening ache. But the pain is just the beginning of the horror.

When the globe ruptures, the contents of the eye can spill out. The iris, the colored part of the eye, can be pushed out of the wound, and the lens can be dislodged. The vitreous, the gel-like substance that fills the eye, can also leak out, causing the eye to collapse. The appearance of a ruptured globe is gruesome—the eye may look misshapen, and the pupil may be peaked or teardrop-shaped instead of round. The vision in the affected eye is often severely compromised, if not completely lost, from the moment of impact. The initial trauma can also cause bleeding inside the eye, a condition called a hyphema, which can further increase the pressure and pain.^[1]

9 Chemical Burns

We use chemicals every day, from cleaning supplies to car batteries, often without a second thought. But what happens when those chemicals end up in our eyes? A chemical burn to the eye is a terrifying and excruciatingly painful injury that can cause permanent damage in a matter of seconds. The severity of the burn depends on the type of chemical, its concentration, and how long it’s in contact with the eye. Alkali burns, from substances like lye, ammonia, and drain cleaners, are particularly dangerous. They can penetrate the eye’s tissues more deeply and cause more severe damage than acid burns. Acids, like those found in car batteries and some industrial cleaners, are no walk in the park either, but they tend to cause more superficial damage because they coagulate proteins, which creates a barrier that can limit their penetration.

The pain of a chemical burn is immediate and intense, often described as a severe burning or stinging sensation. The eye becomes red and watery, and the eyelids may swell shut. The cornea, the clear front part of the eye, can become cloudy or opaque, leading to blurred vision or even blindness. In severe cases, the chemical can destroy the eye’s surface, leading to scarring and chronic pain. The healing process can be long and arduous, often requiring multiple surgeries. Even with the best medical care, some people who suffer chemical burns to their eyes are left with permanent vision loss and disfigurement.^[2]

8 Scleritis

Most people have heard of pink eye, or conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the thin membrane that covers the white of the eye. But what if the inflammation goes deeper, affecting the tough, white, outer layer of the eyeball itself? That’s scleritis, and it’s a whole different level of pain. Scleritis is a severe, deep, boring pain that can be so intense it wakes you up at night. It’s often described as a pain that feels like it’s “in the bone” of the eye. The pain can radiate to the forehead, jaw, and sinuses, and it’s often made worse by eye movement. The white of the eye becomes red and swollen, and in some cases, it can develop a bluish hue.

What makes scleritis so terrifying is that it’s often a sign of a more serious underlying autoimmune disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or granulomatosis with polyangiitis. In about half of all cases, scleritis is associated with a systemic condition. The body’s own immune system mistakenly attacks the sclera, causing inflammation and pain. If left untreated, scleritis can lead to serious complications, including vision loss. The inflammation can thin the sclera, making it more susceptible to rupture. It can also spread to other parts of the eye, causing uveitis, glaucoma, or cataracts.^[3]

7 Acanthamoeba Keratitis

Imagine a microscopic, free-living amoeba that’s commonly found in water and soil. Now imagine that amoeba getting into your eye and burrowing into your cornea. That’s the stuff of nightmares, and it’s a reality for people who develop Acanthamoeba keratitis. This rare but serious eye infection is most common in contact lens wearers, especially those who don’t follow proper hygiene practices, like swimming or showering with their lenses in, or using tap water to clean them. The Acanthamoeba organism can contaminate contact lenses and lens cases, and then transfer to the eye.

Once in the eye, the amoeba begins to feed on the cornea, causing excruciating pain that is often described as being out of proportion to the clinical signs. The pain can be so severe that it’s debilitating. Other symptoms include redness, blurred vision, light sensitivity, and the sensation of having something in the eye. In the early stages, Acanthamoeba keratitis can be misdiagnosed as a more common eye infection, like a corneal ulcer or herpes keratitis. This delay in diagnosis can have devastating consequences, as the amoeba continues to destroy the cornea.^[4]

6 Endophthalmitis

An infection inside the eye is a terrifying prospect. Endophthalmitis is a severe inflammation of the interior of the eye, caused by a bacterial or fungal infection. It’s a rare but devastating condition that can lead to blindness if not treated quickly. The most common cause of endophthalmitis is eye surgery, particularly cataract surgery. Bacteria from the skin or the environment can enter the eye during the procedure and cause an infection. Endophthalmitis can also occur after an eye injury, or it can spread from an infection elsewhere in the body through the bloodstream.

The symptoms of endophthalmitis usually appear within a few days of the surgery or injury. They include severe eye pain, redness, decreased vision, and a pus-like discharge from the eye. The pain can be so intense that it’s difficult to even open the eye. The inside of the eye becomes filled with inflammatory cells, which can cloud the vision and damage the delicate structures of the eye, like the retina. If left untreated, the infection can destroy the eye, leading to permanent blindness and even the need to remove the eye.^[5]

5 Uveitis

The uvea is the middle layer of the eye, located between the sclera and the retina. It’s made up of the iris, the ciliary body, and the choroid. When this layer becomes inflamed, it’s called uveitis. Like scleritis, uveitis is often a sign of an underlying autoimmune disease, such as ankylosing spondylitis, sarcoidosis, or inflammatory bowel disease. It can also be caused by an infection, like herpes or toxoplasmosis, or by an eye injury. The pain of uveitis can range from a dull ache to a severe, throbbing pain. It’s often accompanied by redness, blurred vision, light sensitivity, and floaters.

There are different types of uveitis, depending on which part of the uvea is affected. Anterior uveitis, also known as iritis, is the most common type and affects the front of the eye. It’s often the most painful type of uveitis, as the iris becomes inflamed and can stick to the lens of the eye. This can cause the pupil to become irregular in shape and can lead to a sudden increase in eye pressure, a condition called secondary glaucoma. Intermediate uveitis affects the middle part of the eye and is often associated with floaters and blurred vision. Posterior uveitis affects the back of the eye and can cause vision loss if it damages the retina or optic nerve.^[6]

4 Optic Neuritis

The optic nerve is the cable that connects the eye to the brain. It’s responsible for transmitting visual information from the retina to the brain, where it’s interpreted as images. When the optic nerve becomes inflamed, it’s called optic neuritis. This condition can cause a sudden, painful loss of vision in one eye. The pain is often described as a dull ache behind the eye that’s made worse by eye movement. The vision loss can range from a slight blurring to complete blindness. Some people also experience flashes of light or a loss of color vision.

The exact cause of optic neuritis is unknown, but it’s strongly associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. In fact, optic neuritis is often the first symptom of MS. In people with MS, the immune system attacks the myelin sheath, the protective covering of the nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord. When the immune system attacks the myelin sheath of the optic nerve, it causes inflammation and disrupts the transmission of visual information. Optic neuritis can also be caused by other conditions, such as infections, autoimmune diseases, and certain medications.^[7]

3 Corneal Ulcer

The cornea is the clear, dome-shaped window at the front of the eye. It’s a delicate structure that’s essential for clear vision. When the cornea becomes infected, it can develop an open sore, called a corneal ulcer. A corneal ulcer is a serious and painful condition that can lead to permanent vision loss if not treated promptly. The most common cause of a corneal ulcer is a bacterial infection, often in people who wear contact lenses. Bacteria can get trapped under the contact lens and infect the cornea, especially if the lenses are not cleaned properly or are worn for too long. Other causes of corneal ulcers include fungal infections, viral infections (like herpes), and eye injuries.

The pain of a corneal ulcer is often severe and constant. It’s often described as a foreign body sensation, as if there’s something in the eye. Other symptoms include redness, tearing, blurred vision, light sensitivity, and a pus-like discharge. The cornea may appear cloudy or white, and you may be able to see the ulcer as a white spot on the cornea. A corneal ulcer is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment. An ophthalmologist will take a scraping of the ulcer to identify the cause of the infection.^[8]

2 Cluster Headaches

While not a condition of the eyeball itself, cluster headaches are so excruciatingly painful and so localized to the eye that they deserve a spot on this list. Often described as the most painful condition known to medicine, cluster headaches cause severe, one-sided pain centered around the eye. The pain is frequently likened to a hot poker being driven into the eye and is so unbearable that it can lead to suicidal thoughts.

Cluster headaches occur in cyclical patterns, or clusters, which is how they get their name. A person may experience one to eight headaches a day for weeks or months, followed by remission lasting months or even years. The headaches usually occur at the same time each day, often waking the person from sleep. Other symptoms, always on the same side as the pain, include a red, watery eye, drooping eyelid, runny nose, and facial sweating.^[9]

1 Eye Puncture

A penetrating eye injury is a nightmare scenario where a sharp object, like a piece of metal, a shard of glass, or a nail, pierces the eyeball. Unlike a ruptured globe, which is caused by blunt force, a penetrating eye injury is a clean cut, but that doesn’t make it any less horrifying. The object may be small enough to be barely visible, or it may be large and protruding from the eye. In either case, it’s a medical emergency that requires immediate attention. The pain can be severe, but sometimes, surprisingly, there is little pain at first, which can lead to a delay in seeking treatment.

The damage from a penetrating eye injury depends on the size and location of the object, as well as the depth of penetration. The object can damage any part of the eye, from the cornea at the front to the retina at the back. It can also introduce bacteria into the eye, leading to a serious infection like endophthalmitis. If the object is left in the eye, it can cause chronic inflammation and damage to the eye’s tissues. The vision in the affected eye is often severely compromised, and there is a high risk of permanent vision loss.^[10]