3. Feeling of a foreign object.
When something foreign enters your eye, you immediately notice it, as it distinctively feels as if something is trapped within it. You might experience a mild twinge of pain or a sharp burning sensation. Shortly after experiencing the sensation, you’ll likely notice that your eyes are tearing as your body’s natural defenses work to push the irritant out. It’s not unusual for things to become lodged within the eye; eyelashes, dust, pollen, dander, hair, and a variety other elements can easily make their way into the eye.
Sometimes, however, the feeling that something is trapped in the eye isn’t actually caused by a foreign object, but rather by a medical condition; conjunctivitis and corneal abrasions can feel like something is trapped in the eye, for example. Keratitis can also make it feel as if a foreign object has become lodged within the affected eye.