This is a scratched cornea. Although most corneal abrasions are not serious, they can be very uncomfortable and cause light sensitivity and watery eyes.
Many superficial corneal scratches heal on their own within 24 hours, deeper abrasions can lead to a serious eye infection and even a corneal ulcer if left untreated.
As it's often impossible to tell if eye pain is due to a minor scratch, a deep abrasion or a corneal foreign body, it's a good idea to determine the underlying cause by seeing an optometrist for any sharp discomfort of the eye that does not resolve quickly.
This information is provided by allaboutvision.com.