strange eye bubble

I was walking home tonight and all of a sudden my eye began to hurt, I rubbed it a little but just thought I had an eyelash stuck in my contact. I got home and noticed my eye was EXTREMELY red and watery looking. My eye looked smaller than normal and I felt like I had red eye but when I looked closely it seemed like I had a clear bubble on the outside white area of my eye. Please Please tell me what this is and if I should be alarmed. I have been wearing contacts for years and this has never happened to me before.

What should I do?

[Forum-OD-MP]

the 'clear bubble' is likely swollen/inflamed conjunctiva.  you most likely have a contact lens-associated inflammatory corneal problem.  this needs medical management from an EYE doctor (not a 'regular' family physician or primary care doctor).  go to the eye doctor.  you shouldnt be 'alarmed', as this is most likely treatable, but you should be concerned enough to go have an eye examination soon.

[aimee37]

Yesterday I was putting on eyeliner and one my eyes started to hurt as though i had something in it. When I looked at my eye I noticed a small cresent shaped clear bubble on the white part of my eye. When my eyes are open the bubble on the white part of my eye rests almost on my eyelid and is on the side of my eye closer to my ears. My eyes are not itchy or red. This eye is a little dry and I sometimes get the feeling like there is something in my eye but it hasn't hurt since i noticed it. I don't wear contacts or glasses and i have never had any serious eye problems in the past. Should i be worried? Will this go away on its own?