Foreign Body Sensation in the Throat or Eye

Foreign body sensation in the throat

Globus sensation

Most people who feel a lump in the throat have globus pharyngeus: a sensation of a lump, tightness or something stuck, felt at the level of the Adam's apple, with no actual blockage. Typical features:

• felt between meals and often eases when eating or drinking
• swallowing food is normal
• comes and goes, often worse with stress or tiredness
• frequent urge to swallow or clear the throat

It is very common, especially in middle age, and not dangerous. See lump in throat.

Common causes in the throat

• Reflux: acid or other stomach contents irritate the throat. Laryngopharyngeal reflux causes throat clearing, hoarseness and a lump feeling, often without heartburn. See GERD.
• Post-nasal drip: mucus collects at the back of the throat, leading to a lump feeling and coughing up phlegm. This explains many people who feel something stuck and keep clearing phlegm.
• Muscle tension: tight throat muscles, linked with stress, anxiety and voice strain.
• Tonsil enlargement or tonsil stones, and an elongated uvula.
• Thyroid enlargement (goiter) pressing on the throat.
• Cervical spine changes, such as bony spurs.

A real foreign body in the throat

A fish bone, chicken bone or piece of food can lodge in the tonsil, the base of the tongue or the esophagus. Clues are a clear start during a meal, a sharp pricking pain on one side, pain on swallowing and, if in the esophagus, drooling or regurgitation. These need an examination, sometimes with a scope. See foreign body in the throat.

Sore jaw and a throat foreign body sensation

A sore jaw with a throat lump feeling can come from teeth clenching and jaw joint problems, which tighten the muscles of the jaw and neck, or from tonsillitis or a dental infection causing swollen glands. An elongated styloid process (Eagle syndrome) is a rare cause of one-sided throat and jaw pain.

Warning signs in the throat

See a doctor promptly if the lump feeling comes with difficulty or pain swallowing, food sticking, weight loss, hoarseness for more than 3 weeks, a neck lump, coughing blood or pain in one ear. These are not features of globus and need examination to rule out other causes, including cancer.

Foreign body sensation in the eye

The cornea, the clear front of the eye, is one of the most sensitive tissues in the body. Any irritation of its surface is felt as grit or "something in my eye". See also foreign body sensation in the eye.

Common eye causes

• Dry eye: the most common cause of a gritty, sandy feeling in both eyes, worse with screens, wind, air conditioning and at the end of the day. Dry eye can paradoxically cause watering.
• Blepharitis and meibomian gland dysfunction: inflamed, crusty eyelid margins and poor oil secretion, often worst on waking. See blepharitis.
• Corneal abrasion: a scratch from a fingernail, branch, makeup brush or contact lens. Causes sharp pain, watering and light sensitivity in one eye. See corneal abrasion.
• A real foreign body: dust, sand, an eyelash, or metal fragments from grinding. Metal can leave a rust ring.
• Conjunctivitis: gritty, red, sticky or itchy eyes.
• Pterygium or pinguecula: fleshy growths on the white of the eye from sun exposure.
• Ingrowing eyelashes (trichiasis) rubbing the cornea.
• Contact lens problems: a torn or dirty lens, or overwear.

Itching and foreign body sensation during sleep

Gritty, itchy eyes at night or on waking are typical of dry eye and blepharitis. Some people's eyelids do not close fully during sleep (nocturnal lagophthalmos), which dries the cornea. Allergies to dust mites and pet dander can also cause itching at night.

Foreign body sensation in one eye

When only one eye feels gritty, a real foreign body, a corneal scratch, an ingrown lash or a pterygium is more likely than dry eye. A painful red eye with light sensitivity in a contact lens wearer may be a corneal ulcer and needs same-day care.

Throat vs eye: quick comparison

How the cause is found

Throat: a doctor examines the mouth, throat and neck and may look at the voice box with a thin camera through the nose (nasendoscopy). A swallow test or upper endoscopy is used if food sticks.

Eye: a clinician checks vision, everts the eyelid to look for trapped particles, and uses fluorescein dye under a blue light to show scratches. Tear film tests assess dry eye.

What to do

For the throat

• Sip water and swallow; avoid repeated throat clearing, which irritates further.
• Treat reflux: smaller meals, no food 3 hours before bed, raise the head of the bed, limit alcohol and caffeine; antacids or acid reducers following the label dose.
• Treat post-nasal drip with saline rinses and, for allergies, a steroid nasal spray.
• Manage stress; speech therapy exercises can relax throat muscles.
• Do not try to dislodge a bone with bread or fingers; see a doctor.

For the eye

• Do not rub the eye.
• Rinse with clean water or saline. Pull the upper lid over the lower lid to help dislodge particles.
• Remove contact lenses.
• Use preservative-free lubricating drops for dry eye, and warm compresses and lid cleaning for blepharitis.
• Wear safety glasses for grinding, hammering and gardening.

Frequently asked questions

What causes a foreign body sensation in the throat?

Most often it is globus: a harmless lump feeling linked with reflux, post-nasal drip, muscle tension and stress. Less often a real object, such as a fish bone, is stuck. Warning signs like difficulty swallowing, weight loss or hoarseness need a doctor's examination.

Why do my eyes feel like something is in them but nothing is there?

The usual causes are dry eye and blepharitis, which irritate the surface of the cornea and feel gritty. A small scratch can also feel like a persistent particle after the object has gone. Lubricating drops often help; see an eye doctor if there is pain or blurred vision.

Can dry eye cause a foreign body sensation?

Yes. Dry eye is the most common cause of a gritty, sandy or scratchy feeling in both eyes. It is often worse with screen use, air conditioning and wind, and later in the day. Preservative-free lubricating drops and blinking breaks help.

What should I do if I feel something in my throat and keep coughing up phlegm?

This usually points to post-nasal drip from a cold, sinusitis or allergies, or to reflux. Saline nasal rinses, treating allergies, drinking water and reflux measures often help. See a doctor if it lasts more than a few weeks or comes with blood, weight loss or swallowing trouble.

Can anxiety cause a lump in the throat feeling?

Yes. Anxiety and stress tighten the muscles around the throat and make people more aware of normal sensations, which is why globus often gets worse during stressful periods. It is not dangerous, but other causes should be considered if swallowing is affected.