By 2. Rubbing Your Eyes
You may rub your eyes when they itch, burn, or feel tired. This action puts direct pressure on the front of your eye, where the clear surface helps you see. That pressure can harm the surface cells and make small scratches. When you rub often or with force, you weaken the eye’s natural shield. The clear surface can break down and form an open sore called an eye ulcer. This risk rises if your eyes already feel dry or irritated.
Your hands can also carry dirt and germs. Rubbing moves these germs straight onto the eye surface. Once germs reach a scratched area, they can grow and cause an infection that slows healing. Rubbing can also worsen swelling of the eyelids. Swollen lids may not spread tears evenly across the eye. Tears protect the eye and wash away debris, so poor tear flow leaves the surface more open to damage.
3. Fusarium Fungal Infection
Fusarium is a type of fungus that lives in soil, plants, and water. You can develop an eye ulcer when this fungus enters your eye through a small scratch or injury. Plant matter, dust, or dirty water often play a role.
You face a higher risk if you work outdoors or live in warm, humid areas. Wearing contact lenses can also increase risk, especially if you clean or store them poorly. The fungus can stick to the lens and reach the surface of your eye.
This infection often affects the cornea, which is the clear front part of your eye. It can damage the tissue and form an open sore called an ulcer. The infection may worsen over days or weeks if not treated.
Common signs include ongoing eye pain, redness, swelling, blurred or cloudy vision, sensitivity to light, and excess tearing or discharge. An eye doctor usually confirms the cause by taking a small sample from your eye.
4. Acanthamoeba
Acanthamoeba is a rare cause of eye ulcers that affects the clear front surface of your eye. This tiny organism lives in water, soil, and dust. It can enter your eye and cause a serious infection that damages the cornea.
You face a higher risk if you wear contact lenses. Using lenses while swimming, showering, or sitting in a hot tub increases exposure. Poor cleaning habits also raise risk, but infections can still happen even when you follow care steps.
This infection often starts slowly. You may notice eye pain that feels worse than expected. Redness, blurry vision, light sensitivity, and heavy tearing can follow. Many people feel like something is stuck in the eye, even after rinsing. An eye ulcer can form as the infection grows. The sore can deepen and spread across the cornea.
5. Dry Eyes
Dry eyes happen when your eyes do not make enough tears or when tears dry too fast. Tears keep the eye surface smooth and clean. When they fail, the surface can crack or break down. You may notice burning, itching, redness, or a gritty feeling. Your vision may blur at times. Some people also notice watery eyes, which can seem confusing but still signals poor tear quality.
Dry eyes raise the risk of an eye ulcer because the cornea loses its natural shield. Small scratches heal slower without steady moisture. Germs can then enter more easily and damage the surface.
Several factors raise the risk of dry eyes. These include aging after midlife, long screen use without breaks, contact lens wear, and dry air from wind or indoor systems. Eyelid conditions that affect tear flow also contribute. Dry eyes often link with eyelid inflammation. This problem blocks oil glands that help tears stay in place. Tears then evaporate too fast and leave the cornea exposed.
6. Exposure to Sunlight
Long periods in strong sunlight can damage the surface of your eye. Sunlight gives off ultraviolet light, which you cannot see but can harm eye tissue. This light can irritate the clear front layer of your eye, called the cornea.
When your eyes take in too much ultraviolet light, the cornea can dry out and become inflamed. Small injuries may form on the surface. Over time, these injuries can turn into open sores, known as eye ulcers.
You may notice early signs after heavy sun exposure. These signs can include redness, pain, tearing, and trouble with bright light. Your vision may look blurry or cloudy, even for a short time.
Repeated exposure adds risk. Each time your cornea faces damage, it has less chance to fully heal. This makes it easier for infections or deeper sores to form later. Sunlight can also weaken the eye’s natural defenses. A weakened surface allows germs to enter more easily. This raises the chance that a small injury will become a serious ulcer.
7. Lack of Vitamin A
Vitamin A helps keep your eyes moist and healthy. When your body lacks this vitamin, the surface of your eye can dry out. Dryness makes the eye weak and easier to injure. Over time, severe dryness can damage the clear front part of your eye, called the cornea. Small cracks can form on the surface. These cracks raise your risk of infection and can turn into an eye ulcer.
You may first notice trouble seeing in low light, often called night vision problems. Your eyes may feel gritty, sore, or very dry. If the problem continues, white or cloudy spots can appear on the eye surface.
Children and people with poor nutrition face a higher risk. Digestive problems that limit nutrient absorption can also lower vitamin A levels. Diets low in fruits, vegetables, dairy, or fortified foods add to the risk.
8. Eye Injury
An eye injury can damage the cornea, the clear front surface of your eye. Even small injuries can lead to an eye ulcer, as germs may enter the damaged area and slow healing. Common causes include scratches, flying debris, and problems with contact lenses.
Scratches from fingernails, makeup tools, or plant matter often injure the eye. Flying dust, metal, or sand can also harm the eye, and sports injuries or work accidents raise the risk. Contact lens issues, such as a torn lens or rough handling, can scrape the eye surface, while wearing lenses for long hours can dry the eye and make it easier to injure.
Bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites can grow in a wound after an injury. This growth can deepen the ulcer. You may notice pain, redness, blurry vision, increased tearing, or sensitivity to light. A white or gray spot may appear on the front of the eye as the ulcer forms. Eye injuries vary in size and depth. Deeper damage increases the chance of scarring, which can affect vision if scars form in the center of the eye.
