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Eye socket soreness: Optometrist vs Ophthalmologist vs Optician

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Optometrist vs Ophthalmologist vs Optician

There are two main types of eye doctors: ophthalmologists and optometrists. Confused about which is which and who does what? Here’s a look at how they’re different. Keep in mind that these professionals can work together and that a team approach can be the best option for eye care. 

Ophthalmologist: Medical and Surgical Eye Care

They went to medical school. After that, they had a 1-year internship and a residency of 3 years. That’s sometimes followed by a 1 to 2 years fellowship. 

They offer complete eye care services:

Optometrist (OD): Vision Care and Eye Care Services

Optometrists take care of primary health care for the eye. After college, they spent 4 years in a professional program and got a doctor of optometry degree. Some optometrists get additional clinical training or complete a specialty fellowship after optometry school. They focus on regular vision care and they:

Optometrists and ophthalmologists often work together to take care of you.

Optician: Eyeglasses and Contact Lenses

Opticians aren’t eye doctors and can’t give eye exams. They get a 1- or 2-year degree, certificate, or diploma. They fill the prescription your eye doctor gives you. They also:

  • Check lens prescriptions
  • Provide, adjust, and repair glasses, frames, and contact lenses
  • Take facial measurements
  • Help decide which type of lenses and frames will work best
  • Order and check products, including contacts and eyeglass lenses

How to Choose an Eye Doctor

One type isn’t automatically better than the other. The right choice depends on your needs. The best eye doctor for you should be:

  • Recommended by your doctor, friends, or family
  • Someone you like and trust

A good rule of thumb would be:

  • For primary eye care, you may wish to start with an Optometrist. From there, they may refer you to an Ophthalmologist if needed
  • If you think you need eye surgery for cataracts, glaucoma or another eye disease, an ophthalmologist with the appropriate specialty would be a good place to start

What Should You Do If You Have Pain in Your Eye Socket? | For Eyes


For Eyes

Do you ever experience sharp eye pain that just doesn’t seem to go away? Occasional eye irritation might not be a cause for concern, but consistent eye pain is.  

And whether you have pain behind your right eye, left eye, or somewhere else, your optometrist will want to know about it to ensure you the necessary treatment before your symptoms worsen. 

Let’s talk about what to do if you experience pain in your eye socket. 

What to Do If You Have Pain in Your Eye Socket

While eye pain doesn’t always signify a serious condition, such as an eye disease, it can. Fortunately, the first step toward getting the right care is awareness, and when it comes to keeping patients informed, For Eyes is second to none. 

 

If you have pain in your eye socket, here’s what to do: 

Step #1: Assess all of your symptoms.

Your symptoms are vital in helping you understand what’s going on with your eyes. Assess whether you remember getting anything in your eye, as that can lead to discomfort within and around the eye, such as beneath the eyelid. 

Also, think about how your eye pain is impacting your vision. If it feels like your eyesight is deteriorating, and your eyes hurt, those could be signs of an emergency.

Here are potential causes of pain in the eye socket, along with accompanying symptoms to keep track of:

  • Anterior Uveitis: Blurry vision and light sensitivity
  • Dry Eye Disease: A burning sensation within the eye, an increased tear flow, and itchiness
  • Glaucoma: A queasy feeling, eye Inflammation, and noticing bright circles around well-lit objects
  • Optic Neuritis: Discomfort when gazing around and shaded vision
  • Sinusitis: A cough and tension in the head

 

Step #2: Contact an eye doctor near you.

An optometrist can perform various eye tests to identify the cause of your discomfort. Whether you have pain in your eye socket or pain behind your right eye, a certified Independent Doctor of Optometry can assist you. 

 

Here are some questions they may ask when you call in:

 

  • Are you experiencing eye pain in other parts of your eye or around it? 
  • Do you have eye pain and a headache?
  • How would you rate your discomfort? 
  • What other symptoms do you have?

 

Depending on your symptoms, the eye doctor may have you come in for an eye exam, or they may have you treat your condition at home. Here’s how to prepare if they have you stop in for an appointment:

 

Summary: How to Approach Pain in Your Eye Socket

If you experience any achiness in either eye, we recommend watching for other symptoms. Sharp eye pain may or may not signify a serious condition, such as an eye disease, which is why understanding the full extent of your symptoms is paramount to your diagnosis.

After jotting down your symptoms, we recommend calling an optometrist in your area. The eye doctor may advise you to stop by for an eye examination, or they may recommend at-home treatment options. 

Whether you’ll need to come in or not depends on your symptoms. However, if your eye pain is concerning you at all, and you don’t seem to know the reason behind it, calling your eye doctor won’t hurt. Our team is available most days to help you out and answer your questions.

 

Book your eye exam at For Eyes

Have you had your annual comprehensive eye exam? Schedule an appointment with an Independent Doctor of Optometry at your local For Eyes.

 

 

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Pressure behind the eyes: 6 causes and treatment

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There are many types of eye pain, but a feeling of pressure behind the eyes is something else altogether. This unpleasant sensation may be caused by an issue affecting the eyes, but the cause is more likely a condition affecting the surrounding tissue of the face.

Here we look at the following conditions that can cause a feeling of pressure behind the eyes:

  1. migraines and other headaches
  2. sinus infection
  3. Graves’ disease
  4. optic neuritis
  5. toothache
  6. injury to the face

We also look at when someone should see a doctor, and what the treatment options are.

1. Migraines and other headaches

The American Migraine Foundation note that headaches and pain around the eyes often go together. However, they also point out that most headaches are classified as migraine- or tension-type, and have nothing to do with eye strain or related conditions.

Migraines are frequently associated with a feeling of pressure or pain behind the eyes.

Other symptoms of a migraine include:

  • pulsing pain in the head
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • sensitivity to sound
  • sensitivity to light
  • strange lights or sounds before the onset of a headache

Other types of headache include:

  • Tension headaches. There will be a sensation of tightening and pressing, rather than pulsing.
  • Cluster headaches. These will last for 15–180 minutes and frequently occur up to eight times a day. Infection, swelling, or pain in areas of the face, including the eyes, is common with cluster headaches.

2. Sinus infection

The sinuses are hollow spaces in the skull, positioned above, below, behind, and between the eyes.

Problems with the sinuses often include feelings of pain in and around the face.

One of the main symptoms of a sinus infection is throbbing pain and pressure around the eyeballs. At least one type of sinus infection — sphenoid sinusitis — is linked to an ache behind the eyes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), other symptoms of a sinus infection include:

3.

Graves’ disease

A result of an overactive thyroid gland, Graves’ disease can cause the tissues, muscles, and fat behind the eye to swell. This causes the eyeball to bulge from the socket and can lead to other issues, such as being unable to move the eyeball.

The swelling of the tissues behind the eye may result in a feeling of pressure.

Common eye-related symptoms of Graves’ disease include:

  • a feeling of irritation in the eyes
  • dry eyes
  • the eyes tearing up more than usual
  • the eye bulging from the socket
  • sensitivity to light
  • double vision
  • ulcers on the eye
  • loss of vision
  • swelling of the eyeball
  • being unable to move the eye

4. Optic neuritis

Share on PinterestOptic neuritis affects the optic nerves, which connect the eyes and the brain.

Optic neuritis is a condition in which the nerve that connects the eyes and brain becomes inflamed and swollen. Side effects can include pain and temporary loss of vision, which usually peaks within a few days and can take 4–12 weeks to improve.

Infections can trigger optic neuritis, and it is also commonly associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). Around 50 percent of all people with MS experience optic neuritis, which is often the first indication of MS.

Symptoms of optic neuritis include:

  • reduced vision
  • color blindness, or colors appearing less vibrant
  • blurry sight, especially after the body temperature has risen
  • loss of vision in one eye
  • pain in the eye, especially when moving it
  • the pupil reacting unusually to bright light

5. Toothache

A toothache, especially as a result of infection, may cause throbbing pain and feelings of pressure to spread to nearby parts of the face, as the surrounding nerves become affected.

For example, a 2007 case study published in the Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences concerned a person whose toothache led to a swelling of the left eye socket after 2 days. The vision in the swollen eye grew worse, and the pain increased along with the swelling.

6. Injury to the face

Injuries to the face, such as those sustained in car accidents or while playing sports, may lead to a feeling of pressure and pain behind and around the eyes.

Different types of fracture to the eye socket can cause damage to the eye muscles, nerves, and sinuses.

Some symptoms of eye socket fractures include:

  • the eye appearing to either bulge or sink into the socket
  • a black eye
  • double vision, blurry vision, or reduced eyesight
  • numbness in parts of the face around the injured eye
  • swelling near and around the eye
  • a flat-looking cheek, possibly with severe pain while opening the mouth

Share on PinterestSerious symptoms, such as loss of vision, should be assessed by a doctor.

Pressure behind the eyes is not a serious medical concern on its own, but it may indicate the presence of a more acute condition.

Anyone who notices symptoms such as loss of vision, bulging eyes, fever, frequent headaches, or facial swelling should see their doctor.

If the doctor is unable to make a diagnosis, they will refer the person to an appropriate expert who can investigate more thoroughly.

Some of these experts include:

  • ear, nose, and throat specialists
  • dental surgeons
  • neurologists, specializing in brain and nerve issues
  • ophthalmologists, specializing in eye issues

Some techniques that may help with a diagnosis include:

  • Blood tests to determine hormone levels. Hormones produced by the thyroid are key in diagnosing Graves’ disease.
  • CT scans to develop an accurate picture of the brain and organs.
  • MRI scans — another method of mapping the brain and body.
  • Endoscopy, which involves inserting a camera into the nose to investigate the health of the sinuses.

Successfully treating pressure behind the eyes involves addressing the underlying causes.

Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers are safe to use. They may ease the feeling of pressure if it is not severe and does not seem to be a side effect of a more serious condition.

If the pressure is severe or comes with other symptoms, see a doctor. Following diagnosis, the doctor will prescribe any treatments needed.

These could include:

  • ibuprofen, aspirin, or acetaminophen to treat headaches
  • antibiotics, steroid nasal sprays, or antihistamines to treat sinus infections

The outlook for pressure behind the eyes will depend on the underlying cause.

This pressure will often be due to simple headaches or sinus conditions, which are easy to deal with and unlikely to cause complications.

However, pressure behind the eyes may be a symptom of a more serious condition, such as optic neuritis or Graves’ disease. In these cases, seek further treatment.

SHOP FOR TREATMENT OPTIONS

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Pain In or Behind Eyes, Headaches with Eye Pain

Eye pain is a catch-all phrase to describe discomfort on, in, behind or around the eye.

The pain can be unilateral or bilateral — in other words, you can experience right eye pain, left eye pain, or the discomfort that affects both eyes. There’s no evidence that right eye pain occurs more frequently than left eye pain, or vice versa.

In some cases, such as an eye injury, the cause of eye pain is obvious. But often it’s difficult to know why your eye hurts.

To complicate matters, the severity of eye pain does not indicate how serious the underlying cause of the discomfort is. In other words, a relatively minor problem, such as a superficial corneal abrasion, can be very painful. But several very serious eye conditions — including cataracts, macular degeneration, the most common type of glaucoma, a detached retina, and diabetic eye disease — cause no eye pain whatsoever.

FIND A DOCTOR: Ready to have your eyes checked? Find an eye doctor near you.

A painful eye can produce various sensations and accompanying symptoms, which can help your eye doctor determine the cause of your discomfort and prescribe the correct eye pain treatment.

Eye pain symptoms include:

  • A sharp, stabbing sensation

  • Burning eyes

  • A dull ache

  • Feeling something is “in” your eye (foreign body sensation)

Eye pain also is frequently accompanied by blurred vision, redness (bloodshot eyes) and sensitivity to light.

Causes of eye pain: Surface of the eye

Here are several common causes of eye pain affecting the front surface of the eye:

Corneal foreign body. Not surprisingly, what often causes a foreign body sensation in the eye is an actual foreign body. Common foreign bodies that can adhere to and become embedded in the surface of the cornea include metal shavings, inorganic grit (sand, tiny stone particles), sawdust and other organic material.

The discomfort from a corneal foreign body can range from mild to severe, and typically it is most bothersome when you’re blinking (since the eyelid often is rubbing across it during blinks). Blurred vision and sensitivity to light also are common.

A corneal foreign body requires urgent attention from an eye doctor, because material embedded in the cornea can quickly cause a serious eye infection.

Most corneal foreign bodies can be removed easily in your eye doctor’s office. Antibacterial eye drops may be prescribed to prevent infection while the cornea heals.

Corneal abrasion. This is a scratched cornea. Although most corneal abrasions are not serious, they can be very uncomfortable and also cause light sensitivity and watery eyes.

Many superficial corneal scratches heal on their own within 24 hours. But deeper abrasions can lead to a serious eye infection and even a corneal ulcer if left untreated.

Because 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 see an eye doctor for any sharp discomfort of the eye that does not resolve very quickly, to determine the underlying cause.

Dry eyes. Another very common cause of eye discomfort is dry eyes. Usually dry eye discomfort begins more slowly and gradually than eye pain from a corneal foreign body or abrasion. Sometimes dry eyes can lead to a corneal abrasion, because there are not enough tears on the surface of the eye to keep the cornea moist and slippery.

If using lubricating eye drops significantly improves comfort, the cause of the pain is probably dry eyes. In most cases, dry eye does not require urgent attention; but your eye doctor can perform tests to determine the severity of the dryness and recommend the most effective treatment.

SEE ALSO: Proven Treatments for Painful Dry Eyes

Less common causes of anterior eye pain (pain on or “in” the eye) include:

A very serious cause of pain in the eye is a condition called endophthalmitis (en-dahf-thal-MITE-is), which is inflammation of the interior of the eye. It usually is caused by a bacterial infection from a penetrating eye injury or it can be a rare complication of cataract surgery or other eye surgery.

Endophthalmitis, in addition to causing eye pain, causes redness, swollen eyelids and decreased vision. If you have these symptoms after cataract surgery or other eye surgery, see an eye doctor immediately.

Causes of eye pain: Behind the eye

Common causes of pain behind the eyes are migraine headaches and sinus infections.

In the case of a migraine headache, the pain almost always is behind only one eye and often is accompanied by pain elsewhere on the same side of the head.

Pain behind the eye from a sinus infection usually is less severe than pain from a migraine, and both eyes may be affected.

Though pain behind the eyes from these causes typically is not an emergency, if you have chronic or recurring pain of this type, see an eye doctor or general physician for treatment and to see what can be done to prevent future episodes.

Causes of eye pain: Around the eyes

One of the most common causes of pain around the eyes is a stye (hordeolum) in the eyelid.

A stye doesn’t require urgent attention from an eye doctor and usually can be successfully treated at home by applying warm compresses to the eyelid several times a day for a few days.

SEE RELATED: Treatments for styes

Blepharitis is another common problem that can cause swollen eyelids and discomfort around the eyes.

Computer vision syndrome (also called digital eye strain) also can cause pain around the eyes. This is not an urgent problem, and there are simple steps you can take to relieve computer eye strain.

A much less common and much more serious cause of pain around the eyes is a condition called optic neuropathy, which can cause permanent vision loss. Accompanying symptoms are usually decreased visual acuity and reduced color vision, and the pain typically is worse with eye movements.

Eye pain that may be caused by optic neuropathy requires immediate attention by an ophthalmologist and a neurologist. Among people under 40, multiple sclerosis and other neurological conditions are the most common causes of optic neuritis.

My eye hurts! What’s the right eye pain treatment?

You should consider any eye pain an emergency. Almost always, the right eye pain treatment is to immediately schedule an eye exam with an eye doctor near you. Only an eye care professional can determine the exact cause of your eye pain and prescribe the correct treatment to prevent damage to the eye and possibly permanent vision loss.

In particular, see your eye doctor immediately if you have a painful eye and:

  • The pain occurred immediately after grinding metal, sawing wood, or other activities that might cause a foreign body injury (especially if you were not wearing safety glasses or protective eyewear).

  • The pain is due to an eye injury.

  • The pain is severe and is accompanied by blurred vision and/or sensitivity to light.

  • You have had recent eye surgery, including LASIK and cataract surgery.

  • You have redness and discharge from the eye.

  • The pain is severe, came on suddenly, and you have a history of glaucoma. This could signal an acute attack of a less common form of glaucoma called angle-closure glaucoma, which can cause rapid vision loss and is a medical emergency.

When it comes to eye pain, don’t take chances — see an eye doctor as soon as possible to determine the exact cause of the pain and receive the right eye pain treatment.

READ NEXT: Are sore eyes a symptom of COVID-19?

Page updated February 2021

Pain Behind the Eye: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Many people complain to their eye doctor about “pain behind the eyes.” or what may feel like a deep headache. Pain, headache, or achiness that occurs behind the eye is a common complaint and can be concerning. However, a proper diagnosis is not always easy. Your eye doctor will need to evaluate your eye health to determine a possible source of pain.

Illustration by JR Bee, Verywell  

Symptoms

Pain behind your eye can feel like a dull ache or sharp, intense pain. Some people complain of an explosive pain behind the eye or describe it as feeling like their eye is being stabbed with an ice pick. Some people describe eye pain as a deep headache.

Pain or headaches behind the eye may be accompanied by the following symptoms:

  • Redness
  • Tearing
  • Light sensitivity
  • Numbness
  • Weakness
  • Double vision
  • Fever
  • Pain on eye movement
  • Sinus pressure

If you experience persistent pain behind your eyes, it is best not to ignore it. While it will usually not be serious, it may be a sign of an associated condition which may be far more concerning.

Causes

Here are just a few of the possible causes.

Dry Eye Syndrome

When we think of dry eye syndrome, we imagine symptoms of pain, dryness, and redness affecting the front part of the eye. However, when dry eye persists, light sensitivity, pain, and general headaches can occur.

This pain can cause pressure to build up around and behind the eye. Although there are many different options for treating dry eye syndrome, sometimes all it takes is a good quality artificial tear applied several times daily to resolve the symptoms.

Vision Problems

Although this seems logical, sometimes we do not equate the cause of eye pain with vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, or presbyopia (the over-40 syndrome that causes blurred near vision).

The cause of pain associated with vision problems stems more from our eye and brain trying to compensate for the disorder rather than the deficit itself. Squinting and intense focusing can cause pain to build up inside and behind the eye.

Sinusitis

Sinusitis (inflammation of the sinuses) and sinus infection can cause facial pain around the eyes. Because there are sinus cavities around the bony orbit that houses the eyeball, pain can develop in and around the eye. This pressure behind the eye is usually accompanied by facial headaches as well.

Scleritis

The sclera is the tough outer coating of the eyeball. Scleritis is the inflammation that develops inside the sclera. Scleritis produces pain behind the eye or upon eye movement. There can also be redness and light sensitivity.

Depending on the cause, scleritis may be treated with oral and topical steroid medications or immunosuppressive drugs.

Optic Neuritis

Optic neuritis often causes pain behind the eye or pain upon eye movement.  Optic neuritis is an inflammatory condition of the optic nerve, the cable that connects the eye to the brain. It inserts into the back of the eye and can be tugged slightly from side to side when the eye moves back and forth. When inflamed, pain occurs behind the eye.

Although not entirely proven, optic neuritis is strongly linked to the development of multiple sclerosis.

Migraines

People who experience migraines often complain about throbbing pain behind one eye. Hormones can play a role in migraines but certain triggers can cause a migraine to develop. These triggers can be stress, certain smells, flashing strobe lights or even eating something you are allergic to.

Some people with migraines will experience strange visual auras that restrict their peripheral vision. These visual obscurations are generally short-lived, lasting for less than 20 minutes.

Cluster Headaches

Cluster headaches are extremely painful headaches that cause pain behind the eyes. Cluster headaches can come on suddenly and reoccur almost on a clockwise basis within a 24-hour period.

Scientists believe that the hypothalamus in the brain may be involved because of the reoccurrence and seasonal patterns of cluster headaches. Cluster headaches affect men more often than women.

When to See a Doctor

Call your doctor or seek emergency medical attention if you have these symptoms:

  • If the eye pain is severe and/or persistent
  • If the eye pain is accompanied by a headache or fever
  • If you extreme light sensitivity or see halos around light
  • If your vision changes suddenly
  • If you experience swelling in and around the eyes
  • If you have trouble moving the eyes or keeping them open
  • If there is blood or pus coming from your eyes

Pressure or Pain Behind the Eye: Causes & Best Treatments

Pressure or pain behind the eye is often temporary, linked to a headache or sinus pressure. However, there may be a more serious underlying cause, like an infection, inflammation, or tissue damage that needs treatment. (Learn More)

There are many different conditions with pressure or pain behind the eyes as a symptom, along with blurry vision, itching, redness, or bulging. The conditions range greatly in severity. If the problem persists more than a day or worsens, work with a doctor to get a diagnosis and treat the problem. (Learn More)

Primarily, take prescription medication as directed after you get an appropriate diagnosis. You can also alleviate some of the pressure or pain with home treatments, like cold compresses, over-the-counter eye drops, or over-the-counter painkillers. (Learn More)

Pressure or Pain Behind the Eyes: A Symptom Indicating Several Problems

Many people experience eye pain or pressure at some point because of an infection, headache, allergies, or a similar cause. Often, temporary pain does not mean anything serious.

If you experience frequent or constant pressure or pain behind your eyes, there may be a bigger health issue. Visiting an optometrist or ophthalmologist can help, but you may also need to see a physician or a specialist to determine the underlying cause.

Eye strain is a common problem in the modern world. This is because more workers than ever before use computers and other screens. Chronic and untreated allergies, viruses and bacteria, corneal damage, inflammation of various parts of the eye, and even tumors can be underlying causes of pain or pressure behind the eyes, which need different approaches to treatment.

Reviewing information on symptoms and treatments can help you understand a little of what is happening with your eyes, but it is best to work with medical professionals if you are concerned.

Potential Causes of Pressure or Pain Behind the Eyes

Eye pressure and eye pain go together in many conditions, but they are different sensations. Pressure will feel like something is pushing on your eye from the back. In contrast, pain can be described as gritty, dull, a shooting sensation, or feeling like something is stuck in your eye.

There are many common causes of pressure or pain behind the eyes.

  • Eye strain: Often, feeling mild pressure or pain behind the eyes canbe attributed to eye strain. This condition is not a specific medical problem, but a vague group of symptoms associated with your eyes becoming tired from consistent use.

    Driving for several hours, reading small print, or working at a computer without looking up for a long time can lead to temporarily blurry vision, dry eyes, and feelings of pressure behind your eyes. Dryness from not blinking enough might contribute to feeling itchiness or pain in or behind the eyes.

  • Headaches and migraines: Pain and pressure around or behind the eyes are common symptoms of headaches and migraines. Other symptoms may include pulsing pain in the head, nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to stimuli like light and sound, or seeing flashes of light before the onset of the migraine.

    Headaches are often tension-related, which can make feelings of eye strain worse. Migraines may be cluster-based or tension-based. They may or may not make the eyes and other parts of the face hurt.

  • Sinus infections or allergies: The sinuses are positioned above, below, behind, and between the eyes. When a condition causes them to fill with mucus, they can put pressure on the surrounding area, leading to pain in the eyes, nose, and around the cheeks.

    Sphenoid sinusitis specifically is linked to aching behind the eyes. However, other symptoms of sinusitis include runny or stuffy nose, loss of smell, headaches, mucus dripping out of the sinuses and down the throat, fever, coughing, tiredness, and bad breath.

  • Grave’s disease: An overactive thyroid gland has several consequences on your health, and eye pressure and pain can be some of them. Tissues, fat, and muscles all over the body, but especially around the eyes, can swell, leading to eyes that appear to bulge. This may feel like irritation around the eyes, sensitivity to light, eyes tearing up or watering more than usual, dry eyes, double vision, ulcers in the eye, swelling of the eye, being unable to move the eyes, and loss of vision.
  • Optic neuritis: This condition is caused by inflammation and swelling around the optic nerve, which can cause pain or pressure behind the eye. It may also cause reduced vision, color blindness, blurry sight, pain while moving the eye, and pupils that react unusually to bright light. Optic neuritis usually peaks within a few days. It can take 4 to 12 weeks to improve.
  • Toothache: The throbbing pain of a toothache, especially when it is caused by infection, can radiate up to the face. As aresult, it can add pressure or pain around the eye. If the infection from the tooth spreads through muscle or bone and moves up the face, it can cause the eye to swell, appear pink or red, or feel more painful.
  • Corneal damage: Abrasions and ulcerations on the cornea can cause pain in or behind the eye. The cornea is on the surface of the eye, and it has pain-sensitive nerve endings.

    Scratches on the surface of the cornea from trauma, getting something in your eye, or even overusing contact lenses can hurt. If these become infected, the resulting ulcer can hurt and take longer to heal.

  • Face injury: Damage to the face from an injury can cause pressure or pain behind the eyes. Eye socket fractures can damage the muscles, nerves, and sinuses, which can make the eye hurt or feel pressured in turn.

    You may have a black eye, double or blurry vision, reduced eyesight, numbness around the eye, and swelling in the area that leads to feeling pressure behind the eye. The eye could potentially bulge from the socket.

  • Chemicals or objects in the eye: Getting something in your eye, from a piece of dust to acid, can cause serious, acute pain. This can also damage your eye, which may lead to ongoing pain as the eye heals or feelings of pressure if the eye has swollen.
  • Blepharitis: Oil glands can get plugged or infected around the edges of the eyelids. This can lead to pain in or behind the eye. Blepharitis can often be linked to certain skin conditions or allergies.
  • Conjunctivitis: This is eye redness, itching, swelling, or infection that has several potential causes. Allergies or chemicals can cause inflammation, which is diagnosed as conjunctivitis and commonly referred to as pink eye.

    If you have a bacterial or viral infection in your eye, this can also be conjunctivitis. You need prescription medications to treat the problem. Pressure behind the eye may be a symptom of conjunctivitis, but this eye problem typically does not hurt.

  • Chalazion or stye: Local irritation from a lump in or around your eyelid, usually due to a blocked gland in the eyelid, can cause pressure or pain that radiates from that area. It can be painful to the touch too. Styes more frequently cause pain and sensitivity, whereas chalazions are often (though not always) painless.
  • Iritis: Inflammation of the iris, or the colored part of the eye, can lead to pain deep inside the eye, which might feel like it comes from behind the eye. You may also have sensitivity to light, redness, floating spots in the visual field, and blurry vision.
  • Keratitis: Painful inflammation of the eye might be caused by too much exposure to the sun, bacteria, or the herpes simplex virus. Pain in or behind the eye is the main symptom of keratitis, but sensitivity to light may also indicate you have inflammation.
  • Scleritis: Inflammation of the white part of the eye, or sclera, is diagnosed as scleritis. Anterior scleritis is the most common form, but posterior scleritis (affecting the back of the eye) may cause pressure or pain behind the eyes. Pain and tenderness are more common symptoms of posterior scleritis, with less redness. This could be related to other conditions, including retinal detachment and acute angle-closure glaucoma.
  • Uveitis: This is a term covering a group of inflammatory diseases that produce swelling and can destroy eye tissues. The uvea is the part of the eye composed of the iris, the ciliary body behind the iris, and the choroid, or tissue surrounding the eye. These diseases can spread to other parts of the eye, including the retina and optic nerve.
  • Acute angle-closure glaucoma: This is one of the most serious causes of eye pain and pressure. Severe orbital pain that sets in quickly and a rapid rise in internal eye pressure are signs of this medical emergency. In addition, you may experience blurry vision and headaches.

    Immediate medical attention is required. If acute angle-closure glaucoma is not promptly treated, permanent vision loss can occur.

Home Remedies Ease Symptoms, but a Diagnosis Is Crucial

You will need a specific approach to treatment that depends on the cause of the pressure or pain behind the eye.

Conditions caused by bacteria and viruses require prescription medication. Eye drops are often prescribed, but you may need to take antibiotic pills or antiviral medicines too. These reduce symptoms or eliminate the disease altogether, depending on your diagnosis.

Bacterial infections usually take about one to two weeks to clear up. Some viral infections, like herpes simplex, are chronic and will not go away, but symptoms can be managed. Outbreaks can be reduced with the right antiviral prescription.

You can lessen pain by taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. If you take other prescription medicines, confirm with your doctor that you can mix over-the-counter painkillers with your medication. Some of these over-the-counter options also help to reduce swelling, which eases the sensation of pressure behind the eye.

If you have an infection, you may apply a cold compress to relieve pain and the feeling of being hot. You can also put a blindfold over your eyes to reduce sensitivity to light.

Do not put oil-based drops, like essential oils, into your eyes. You may use over-the-counter eye drops to reduce redness, but avoid anything that is not saline-based unless your doctor prescribes it. If your doctor prescribes eye drops, confirm that it is safe to use over-the-counter eye drops as well. Generally, your doctor will recommend you stick to the prescription drops, but sometimes, over-the-counter drops can be combined with them to relieve itchiness or other symptoms.

Some milder causes of pressure or pain behind the eye can go away on their own, but if the condition persists or gets worse, work with your doctor to get a diagnosis and start treatment. Some conditions that cause pain or pressure behind the eye can be serious, so it’s important to have the situation assessed. With severe cases, prompt treatment can mitigate long-term harm.

 

References

What Causes a Build-Up of Pressure Behind the Eyes? (January 2020). Medical News Today.

What Facts Should You Know About Eye Pain? (October 2019). eMedicineHealth.

Eye Strain. (November 2019). MedicineNet.

What Is a Black Eye? (May 2019). American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).

What Is Keratitis? (December 2017). Medical News Today.

What Is Scleritis? (November 2019). American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).

Uveitis. (July 2019). National Eye Institute (NEI).

What Are the Symptoms of Glaucoma? (September 2019). Glaucoma Research Foundation.

What Is Blepharitis? (August 2019). American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).

What Are Chalazia and Styes? (August 2019). American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).

Persistent Iritis, With a Few Twists. (November 2008). American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).

Pain around Eye socket | IrisTech

 

Eyes are one of the most sensitive parts of the body and that is why it is important to keep them protected.

We are not asking you to wear glasses all the time and don’t expose your eyes ever to light but there are some cautions that we all can take in order to keep our eyes in good health.

Pain in the eyes has become more usual than ever since the percentage of pollution has increased.

But pollution is not the only cause of the pain.

Exposure of eyes to extreme light or sitting in front of the bright computer screen can also cause some kind of pain around the eyes.

Pain around the eye socket is one of the common pains that people often experience.

The eye socket is basically the skull in which the human eye is placed and pain occurs at the edge of the eye in this case.

More often it is a minor irritation that goes away with the time as you give your eyes some rest.

But in some cases, the pain becomes severe and can lead to the serious chronic condition.

In such cases, it is advised to visit your doctor for the assistance.

In most of the cases, the pain is not that extreme which makes it hard for the people to actually know what is happening with their eyes.

But there are some symptoms that can help you figure out the actual cause.

The eyes become sensitive to extreme light, sometimes tears start to appear from the eyes and in some cases, people started to get a double vision as well.

Eye pain can also lead to a severe head pain and sometimes the redness appears in the white portion of the eye.

Usually, this happens when the eyes are exposed to the extreme light.

Even the exposure of the eyes to the light for a longer period of time also results in pain around the eye socket.

People tend to use their vision more than its capacity and when it reaches the peak it tends to lose the strength.

There can be different remedies for different eye pains because there can be different reasons for the pain. If the pain is because of some disease then you have to seek medical help on the immediate basis.

But if you don’t get diagnosed with any eye disease then all you have to do is to clean your eyes with some eyes drops recommended by your doctor and to give your eyes rest.

Flush your eyes with water and don’t rub your eyes as you will make the condition even worse.

You can also take pain relievers if it is very uncomfortable for you.

Try to avoid bright lights in such cases.

We know that computers and smartphones have now become the important parts of the daily life and it is impossible to ignore them all the time.

If your work demands you to be in front of the computer screen all the time then Iris can certainly help you to protect your eyes.

Iris is basically an eye protection software with which you can control the light, color temperature and brightness of your computer screen.

By default, it automatically detects the day and night time and adjusts the light accordingly but you can also decrease the ratio of blue light that usually strains your eyes.

This will certainly help you to reduce the strain on your eyes and you will hardly experience any pain around the eye socket.

90,000 Eye pains and headaches 9,0001

Is eye pain always associated with eye disease?

No, other diseases can cause pain in or around the eyes.

In what cases the causes of eye pain can be hidden in other areas of the body?

The eye is an organ richly equipped with nerves, the sensitivity of which is provided by the trigeminal nerve, which provides sensitivity in the scalp, upper eyelid, lacrimal gland, cornea and mucous membrane of the eye, in the root of the nose, frontal sinuses, as well as in part of the lining of the brain – in its outer layer and in blood vessels.One of the manifestations of the disease of this nerve can also be pain in the eyes, although the eye, as an organ, is healthy.

Trigeminal (V) nerve and its branches

One of the nuclei of the trigeminal nerve is located in the cervical region, where its sensory fibers interact with the cerebral XI or accessory nerve, as well as with the nerve pathways in the upper part of the neck, thus bringing the pain that appeared in the neck region to the head, including and up to the eyes.

Nucleus of the trigeminal V-shaped nerve in the cervical region

Eye pain can also be caused by optic neuritis, as well as occipital neuralgia or nerve disease that occurs in the region of the first and second cervical vertebrae.

Anatomy of the optic nerve

What diseases cause eye pain and headache?

Migraine or a disease characterized by severe headache. The manifestations of the disease can also be increased sensitivity to light and sound, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, pain in the eyes or behind the eyes, blurred vision, changes in the field of vision (floating blurry points, flashes of light), etc.

Migraine is divided into two types – migraine with or without aura.In the case of migraine with aura, symptoms are felt before the migraine attack, which indicates the approach of the attack. A migraine attack can last from several hours to several days and usually occurs in several stages. Despite this, each patient has an individual attack.

There is also an ocular migraine, when, in the event of an attack, the main complaints are associated with changes in vision, blurring.

Migraine and cluster headaches

Cluster (beam) headache – one of the most severe headaches.It usually begins suddenly, without warning symptoms, and continues as episodic pains that recur periodically. Attacks usually last 6 to 12 weeks and can be seasonal. During an attack, pain usually occurs daily, and sometimes several times a day. The duration of one attack of pain can last from 15 to 180 minutes, moreover, the pain each time occurs at the same time of day, most often at night, 2-3 hours after falling asleep. The pain is usually excruciating, in most cases localized around the eyes, but it can also radiate to the face, head, and even to the neck and shoulders.The pain is one-sided, it can also be accompanied by redness of the eye, watery eyes, swelling, and sometimes even drooping of the upper eyelid.

Occipital neuralgia (occipital neuralgia) is a common type of headache. These headaches are caused by damage to the greater or lesser occipital nerves that begin in the neck, near the second and third occipital vertebrae. Pain can be caused by tumors, trauma, infections, hemorrhages, or systemic diseases such as osteoarthritis, degenerative changes in the cervical spine, diabetes, and gout.Occipital neuralgia can also be triggered by prolonged head bent position. Typically, pain begins in the neck, then spreads upward and is reflected in the eye orbits, occiput, forehead and temples. The pain is sharp, pulsating, like an electric shock.

Trochleitis – inflammation of the oblique muscle of the eye, which causes pain above the eyeball or in the inner corner. Trochleitis can be caused by autoimmune inflammatory diseases of the connective tissue, such as Behcet’s disease, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, lymphoma, Tolosa-Hunt syndrome, and rheumatic diseases – rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus or sinus inflammation, tumors.In the case of trochleitis, the pain is long lasting, in intensity it can vary from dull to severe. Various studies also suggest that trochleitis can exacerbate migraine attacks in patients who already have migraines.

Anatomy of the trochlear nerve

LASH is a very rare type of headache that is expressed in two ways. In the first case, the manifestations of the disease are episodic, and they are characterized by short-term and frequent attacks of headache, accompanied by symptoms such as conjunctivitis, lacrimation, drooping of the upper eyelid, nasal discharge.One attack lasts 2 to 45 minutes. In the second case, LASH manifests itself as a mild to moderate, prolonged, one-sided headache, during which migraine-like attacks appear with even more severe pain syndrome. In both cases, the localization of pain can also be behind the eyeball.

Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic condition that affects the trigeminal nerve, in which case even the slightest irritation to the face can cause an attack of acute pain.Pain can be caused by smiling, talking, touching your face, drinking cold or hot drinks, shaving your beard, brushing your teeth, etc. Seizures may initially be short and mild, gradually progressing in both duration and intensity. The pain of a cutting nature and is similar to an electrical discharge, the cause of their occurrence is completely unknown.

Optic neuritis is a demyelinating inflammation of the optic nerve, in which the optic nerve loses myelin fiber, which leads to disturbances in the transmission of visual information to and from the brain.This inflammation is characterized by blurred vision and pain that is aggravated by eye movement. Changes in color perception are also common. Pain is often the first manifestation of optic neuritis. This inflammation is often caused by systemic diseases such as multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis.

Postherpetic neuralgia occurs in 7% of patients with herpes zoster, in whom the course of the disease also affected the eyes. After recovery, the patient may have episodic or even persistent pain for months or even years, including the area around the eyes.The greatest chance of developing postherpetic neuralgia is found in the elderly, as well as in people whose herpes began with a prodrome – symptoms similar to the common cold.

Paranasal sinus disease is inflammation or swelling of the sinuses that can result from exposure to various viruses, bacteria, fungi or allergens. The inflammation creates a blockage of these sinuses, which is characterized by symptoms such as nasal discharge, pain in the face and around the eyes, headache, fever, weakness, neck pain, and coughing.

Nasal sinuses

Reflective pain. Eye pain also occurs with pain in the frontal lobe, reflecting pain from the frontal lobe to the eye, with damage to the posterior part of the brain, and also with cervicalgia or pain in the neck.

The well-known philosopher Socrates, who lived before our era, said: “Just as you cannot start treating the eye without thinking about the head, or treating the head without thinking about the whole organism, so you cannot heal the body without treating the soul… “Although modern medicine is extremely highly specialized in different medical fields, it is always worth remembering that the human body is a holistic entity that must be looked at on a larger scale.

90,000 Pressing pain in the eyes – causes and possible consequences

Pressing pain in the eyes is not a pleasant sensation. Especially, pain manifests itself fully when trying to look up, to the sides, as well as when opening and closing the eyes. Because of such pain, the patient may begin to feel that he is experiencing a headache, which is felt especially strongly in the area of ​​the frontal and temporal lobes, and sometimes the feeling of pressure is accompanied by an increase in temperature, double vision, photophobia, and a general decrease in the quality of vision.What to do with pressing pain in the eyes and is frequent pain a sign of the disease?

An increase in blood pressure is a common cause of pressing pain. In this case, our eyes act as a kind of indicator, taking part of the problem onto ourselves. With an increase in pressure, a person feels that the eye hurts “from the inside”, often the symptom is accompanied by dizziness and blurred vision. When the pressure is brought back to normal, as a rule, the eye pain goes away.

Infectious diseases of the eye, brain and general intoxication of the body should not be ruled out. The feeling of pressure here is due to the fact that the optic nerve and eye muscles can be involved in the inflammatory process. Speaking of intoxication, one should not think only about the ingress of poison into the body. Intoxication is a broad concept that can also occur in the presence of viruses and fungi, for example, with influenza and SARS. Inflammation of the sinuses with a runny nose or sinusitis will also directly affect the condition of the eyes.With complicated forms of infectious diseases, pus can even penetrate into the orbit area.

We often underestimate our psycho-emotional state, therefore we neglect caring for it and the ecology of the inner world. However, the presence of depression periods or a psychological disorder can cause pain in the eyes, especially if, as a result of nervous tension, we cry and constantly three eyes. The colossal stress experienced by the eyes can cause endless migraines and visual impairment.

Injuries to the eyeball, head and facial bones of the skull can cause pain in the eye sockets. The reason is the direct mechanical effect on a rather delicate and sensitive organ. If you have a concussion or have recently experienced it, eye pain is a result of this interaction and, as a result, a side effect.

Our body is an integral system in which everything is interconnected. Thus, pain in osteochondrosis of the cervical part can be felt in the eyes as well.However, the symptoms of osteochondrosis are often accompanied by headache and curvature of the spine.

Of course, eye diseases cannot be ruled out. In this case, the symptom of pressure is inherent in humans in the presence or maturation of barley and in the development of conjunctivitis. Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye is a common cause of pain when blinking and at rest, accompanied by a feeling of dryness and the desire to rub the eyes. Often, with conjunctivitis, due to infection, the eyes turn red and watery.

Vision correction methods, lenses or glasses that are not fitted correctly can also aggravate the condition of the eye and the discomfort in it. The tendency to pain is easy to track, watch yourself while wearing glasses, if they have unpleasant sensations, then perhaps the product was selected without taking into account your characteristics and needs to be changed.

What if you are having this unpleasant feeling? First, try to visit a doctor in the near future in order to surely rule out a bad scenario for the development of diseases and accurately determine your symptoms.At home, you can take pain relievers from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. If, in addition to the feeling of pressure in the eyes, there are signs of infectious diseases, influenza or SARS, it is necessary to take a sick leave and work hard to strengthen immunity and treatment, not forgetting to call a therapist at home. If the cause of pain in the eyes is the ingress of a foreign object, in no case should you try to solve the problem yourself and pull it out. This is fraught with infection in the eye, since our hands are not sterile clean, and often such manipulations are carried out in far from suitable conditions.In addition, there is a huge risk of driving a speck or splinter deep into the eye, from where it can be pulled out only by surgical methods. The only thing you can do is rinse your eyes with clean water. If this does not work, and something foreign is still felt in the eyes, you should contact the emergency room.

What examinations do you need to undergo to exclude diseases? When visiting a doctor, it is necessary to measure the eye pressure. The acceptable range is from 9 to 22 mm Hg.Art. If there is a deviation from the norm, additional studies may be prescribed. Equally important is CT and MRI to rule out swelling and inflammation in the brain. It is necessary to sign up for an ultrasound of the vessels of the brain in order to determine the presence of blood clots in the vessels and the general speed of blood circulation.

Eye pain

IMPORTANT!

The information in this section cannot be used for self-diagnosis and self-medication. In case of pain or other exacerbation of the disease, only the attending physician should prescribe diagnostic tests.For a diagnosis and correct treatment, you should contact your doctor.

Pain in the eyes – the causes of the appearance, with what diseases it occurs, the diagnosis and methods of treatment.

The human organ of vision has a very complex structure.

Damage to any part can cause pain.

Types of pain

When describing eye pain, various conditions are mentioned, ranging from a feeling of discomfort to unbearable cramps.

In some cases, a person feels dryness in the eyes, burning, “feeling of sand”, in others – pain, which can be so severe that it causes nausea, dizziness, vomiting, migraine. Sometimes eye pain is accompanied by itching, tearing, or purulent discharge.

Possible causes

The most common causes of eye pain include traumatic damage to the structures of the eye (cornea, sclera, vitreous humor, lens, retina) and auxiliary apparatus (eyelids, conjunctiva).

First of all, foreign bodies can damage the eye (shavings in production related to metal processing, sand, small insects). In this case, in addition to pain, there is a feeling of cramps, lacrimation, photophobia, redness of the conjunctiva.

Almost half of the cases of eye injuries are burns from steam, flame, chemicals (mainly acids and alkalis). These injuries are accompanied by the same symptoms as when a foreign body enters.Pupil constriction and visual impairment are sometimes noted. There are frequent cases of damage (scratching) of the cornea with sharp objects (pencil, animal claws). Such an injury is accompanied by severe pain, reflexive compression of the eyelids, narrowing of the palpebral fissure, and redness. Corneal ulcers may develop if an infection enters.

Infectious diseases are one of the most significant causes of pain in the eyes. The causative agents are more often viruses (herpes virus, adeno- and picornaviruses), but infection with bacteria (in particular, chlamydia) is possible, which leads to conjunctivitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye) and blepharitis (inflammation of the edges of the eyelids).Viral and allergic conjunctivitis is accompanied by intense itching, redness, swelling of the eyelids, and clear discharge from the eyes. With bacterial conjunctivitis, the discharge becomes purulent. Blepharitis gives a similar picture, but eye discharge accumulates in the eyelash area.

In recent years, the share of allergic diseases has significantly increased, the first sign of which is lacrimation, pain and pain in the eyes (allergic conjunctivitis). An autoimmune disease – pemphigoid, or pemphigus, which is accompanied by scarring of the conjunctiva, and in severe cases – corneal opacity and possible blindness, leads to severe complications.

Pain in the eyes also occurs when the inflammatory process extends to the auxiliary apparatus of the organ of vision – the lacrimal sac (dacryocystitis), the lacrimal gland (dacryoadenitis) or eyelids (blepharitis, chalazion, barley). If the inflammatory process affects the eyeball and the surrounding tissue, scleritis or episcleritis develops. This inflammation can be caused by an autoimmune disease or infection. With the progression of the inflammatory process, the cornea is affected, which is accompanied by the proliferation of blood vessels in it and a violation of its transparency (sclerokeratitis).

Inflammation can affect the choroid (uveitis) and the iris (iritis). Iritis can be a manifestation of a systemic disease (ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter’s disease), develop after an injury, an infectious process (tuberculosis, syphilis, toxoplasmosis) or occur due to metabolic disorders (diabetes, hypothyroidism). At an early stage, the disease is asymptomatic. The first manifestation of iritis occurs after hypothermia, stress, with the progression of systemic diseases. Symptoms are increased lacrimation, pain, photophobia, redness of the conjunctiva, hemorrhage in the eye. The pain increases when you press on the eyeball.

Severe eye pain is caused by optic neuritis, which develops as a result of infectious and inflammatory processes that affect the optic nerve along its entire length. Inflammatory diseases of the brain and its membranes (meningitis, encephalitis), sinuses, dental diseases, acute infections (flu, tonsillitis, erysipelas) and metabolic disorders (diabetes mellitus, gout) can lead to neuritis.

Tumors of the eye and auxiliary apparatus give pain syndrome due to tissue compression and impaired blood supply.

A dangerous disease that can cause blindness is angle-closure glaucoma. It is quite rare, compared with open-angle, rapidly progresses and is accompanied by loss of vision.

Against the background of an acute attack, there is a sharp and persistent increase in intraocular pressure, which causes severe pain in the eye area with a return to the temples and the brow region.The eyeball becomes hard, there is a sharp decrease in visual function.

Diagnostics and examinations

First of all, the traumatic nature of eye pains should be excluded. As a rule, diagnosis in these cases is not difficult. Pain in the eye occurs suddenly, its appearance is preceded by either a blow, or a foreign body, or thermal or chemical damage.

Contact lens wear also sometimes leads to eye injuries.

The appearance of hemorrhage, a change in the shape and size of the pupil, the presence of blood in the anterior chamber (between the cornea and the iris) should be especially alarming. To diagnose the disease, biomicroscopy of the lens and vitreous body and examination of the fundus (ophthalmobiomicroscopy) are performed. In some cases, CT and MRI studies are indicated.

90,000 Eye diseases in humans list, symptoms – Center for Eye Microsurgery “Oculus”

Eye diseases are very widespread these days.

This is due to many factors. For example, the rapid development of computer technology and the deterioration of the ecological situation every year. Next, we will consider the most common diseases, and also highlight their characteristic symptoms.

Optic nerve pathology

Glaucoma is a chronic disease.Due to the increased pressure inside the eyes, the optic nerve dysfunction. As a result, vision falls, which in the future may be lost. The disease proceeds very quickly, so the patient runs the risk of completely losing his vision if he delays the trip to the doctor. Signs: impaired lateral vision, black spots, “foggy” images, inability to distinguish objects in the dark, in bright light, colored rings appear.

Ischemic neuropathy of the optic nerve – circulatory disorders in the intraocular or intraocular region.Symptoms: decreased visual acuity, the appearance in some areas of “blind” spots. Decrease the viewing angle.


Ischemic neuropathy

Neuritis is an infectious disease. An inflammatory process in the optic nerve is characteristic. Signs: loss of sensitivity in the area around the eye, pain, weakening of the muscles associated with the optic nerve.

Nerve atrophy – a disease characterized by dysfunction of arousal.Color perception and viewing angle are impaired. Vision is impaired and a person can become completely blind.


Nerve atrophy

Pathology of the eye orbit, eyelids, lacrimal canals

Blepharitis – inflammation that occurs along the edges of the eyelids. Symptoms: swelling of the tissue, accompanied by burning and redness. It seems to the patient that a speck has got into the eye. There is itching, characteristic discharge. Bright light is difficult to perceive, tearing, pain.Dry eyes and peeling of the edges of the eyelids may appear. After sleep, purulent scabs form on the eyelashes.


Blepharitis

Cryptophthalmus is an uncommon disease in which the edges of the eyelids are fused. This becomes the reason for the narrowing of the palpebral fissure or even its disappearance.

Lagophthalmus – a pathology characterized by a violation of the closure of the upper and lower eyelids. As a result, some areas remain open all the time, including during sleep.

Curvature of the eyelid – the place of eyelash growth is turned towards the orbit. This creates severe discomfort due to rubbing and irritation of the eyeball. Small ulcers may form on the cornea.


Involution of the eyelid

Coloboma of the century – a violation in the structure of the eyelids. Usually occurs along with other morphological defects. For example, a cleft palate or cleft lip.

Edema of the eyelid – localized accumulation of excess fluid in the tissues around the eyelid.Symptoms: local redness of the skin, discomfort. The soreness of the eyes increases at the moment of touch.


Eyelid edema

Blepharospasm – looks like a convulsive contraction of the facial muscles, as if a person is quickly squinting. Not controlled by the will of the patient.

Ptosis – drooping of the upper eyelid down. Pathology is classified into several subtypes. In some cases, the eyelid drops so much that it completely covers the eyeball.


Ptosis

Barley is an infectious disease of an inflammatory nature, which proceeds with discharge of pus. Signs: puffiness of the edges of the eyelids, redness and peeling. Pressing is accompanied by severe pain. Discomfort (sensation of a foreign object in the eye) and lacrimation are common. The acute form is characterized by signs of intoxication – loss of strength, fever, headache.


Barley

Trichiasis – incorrect growth of eyelashes.The danger is that pathogens can easily enter the eyes. This provokes inflammation, conjunctivitis, and other problems.

Dacryocystitis – infection of the lacrimal canal, causing inflammation. There are several types of pathology: acute, chronic, acquired, congenital. Symptoms: painful sensations, the lacrimal sac is red and swollen, suppuration of the canals and constant tearing.


Dacryocystitis

Pathology of the lacrimal system

Dacryodenitis – damage to the lacrimal glands.It occurs due to chronic pathologies, or in connection with the ingestion of an infection. If there is a disturbance in the work of the circulatory system, then the disease can take on a chronic form. Symptoms: the upper eyelid becomes red, swollen. The apple of the eye protrudes in some cases. If dacryodenitis is not treated, inflammation spreads, abscesses form, fever rises, and general malaise appears.


Dacryoadenitis

Cancer of the lacrimal gland – develops as a result of abnormal activity of the cells of the gland.Tumors can be both benign and malignant. The second group includes, for example, sarcoma. Signs: pain in the eyes and head. It is associated with an increase in education, which presses on the nervous tissue. In some cases, the pressure is so strong that it causes delocalization of the eyeball, making it difficult for them to move. Additional symptoms include edema, blurred vision.

Pathology of the connective membrane of the eye

Xerophthalmia – eye disease, during which tears are produced less than normal.There are several reasons for this: chronic inflammatory processes, various injuries, swelling, long-term use of a course of drugs. The elderly are at risk.

Conjunctivitis – inflammation that occurs in the mucous membrane of the conjunctiva. It can be allergic, infectious, and fungal. All of these varieties are contagious. Infection occurs both through physical contact and with the help of everyday objects.

Tumors of the conjunctiva – appearing in the corner on the inner side of the mucous membrane (pterygium) and forming in the area of ​​connection with the cornea (pinguecula).

Lens pathology

Cataract – gradual opacity of the eye lens. The disease develops very quickly. Can affect one eye or both. In this case, either the entire lens is damaged, or some one part. The main category of patients is the elderly. It is this ailment that can reduce vision in a very short time, up to blindness. In young people, cataracts are possible due to injuries, diseases of the somatic type. Symptoms: rapid loss of vision (this forces you to change lenses very often), inability to distinguish objects in the dark (“night blindness”), disturbance in the perception of colors, eyes get tired quickly, in rare cases – double vision.


Cataract

Lens anomalies – cataract, bifaf, spherophakia, dislocation of the lens, coloboma developing from birth.

Retinal pathology

Retinitis (retinal pigmentary degeneration) – a disease manifested by the occurrence of inflammation in various parts of the retina. The causes are injury to the organs of vision, prolonged exposure to sunlight.Symptoms: the normal field of vision is narrowed, the view is reduced, the image is double, insufficient visibility at dusk, characteristic colored spots appear before the eyes.

Detachment of the retina – a pathology in which destruction of the retina is observed. Its inner layers begin to descend from the nearby epithelial tissues and blood vessels. It is treated in most cases in an operative way. Lack of treatment leads to loss of vision. Signs: “fog” in front of the eyes, distortion of the geometric shape of objects, sometimes flashes of light and bright sparks slip through.


Retinal detachment

Retinal angiopathy – destruction of the structure of the choroid in the eyes. This disease is caused by physical injury, high intraocular pressure, impaired functioning of the central nervous system, diseases of the circulatory system (arterial hypertension), poisoning, pathological defects in the morphology of blood vessels. Symptoms: a noticeable decline in vision, blurred eyes, foreign flickering, image distortion.In the most severe cases, loss of vision.

Retinal dystrophy is an extremely dangerous disease that can have a wide variety of causes. The tissue of the retina of the eye dies off or decreases. This can happen if qualified assistance of specialists is not provided on time.

Corneal pathology

Keratitis is an inflammatory process that affects the cornea of ​​the eye. As a result, corneal opacity and infiltrates appear.The cause may be an infection: viral, bacterial. Injuries can also trigger the development of the disease. Symptoms: lacrimation, redness of the mucous membrane of the eye, atypical sensitivity to bright light, the cornea loses its normal properties – shine, smoothness. If treatment is neglected, the infection spreads to other parts of the visual system.

Keratitis

Belmo – formation of scar tissue on the cornea, its persistent opacity.The cause is prolonged inflammatory processes in the body or injury.


Belmo

Corneal astigmatism (keratoconus) – corneal degeneration resulting from increased pressure inside the eye. This leads to a change in the shape of the cornea. Symptoms: light border around the bulbs, instant loss of vision in one of the eyes, myopia.


Keratoconus

Change in refraction of the eye

Nearsightedness (myopia) – violation of refraction of the eye, in which a person does not see distant objects poorly. With myopia, the image is fixed in front of the retina. Signs: actually a poor distinction of distant objects, discomfort, rapid eye fatigue, pressing pain in the temples or forehead.


Myopia

Farsightedness (hyperopia) – A refractive disorder in which the image is read behind the retina is the opposite of myopia. In this case, the patient sees poorly both near and distant objects.Symptoms: very often, fogginess before the eyes is determined, sometimes the patient develops a squint.


Hyperopia

Astigmatism – the disease is characterized by the inability to focus light rays on the retina. Usually appears in people with physiological disorders of the organs of vision: the cornea, the lens. Symptoms: a blurred and indistinct image, a person gets tired quickly, often complains of a headache, in order to see something, you have to strain your eye muscles.


Astigmatism

Other eye diseases

Nystagmus – uncontrollable oscillatory movements of the eyeballs.

Lazy eye syndrome or amblyopia – a pathology in which the eye, due to damage to its muscles, stops working and makes movements.

Anisocoria – the difference in the size of the pupils. Basically, it appears with all kinds of eye injuries.It entails acute sensitivity to light, decreased vision. Sometimes this pathology indicates a violation in the functioning of one of the brain regions – the cerebellum.


Anisocoria

Episcleritis – inflammation that forms in episcleral tissue. First, redness appears near the cornea, then this area swells. Signs: a feeling of discomfort, eyes hurt from bright light. There is a discharge from the connective membrane.In most cases, episcleritis goes away on its own.


Episclerite

Aniridia – complete absence of the iris of the eye.


Aniridium

Policoria – an eye defect when a person has multiple pupils.


Polycoria

Ophthalmoplegia – a disease when the nerves of the eye that are responsible for its movement cease to function properly.This causes paralysis and inability to rotate the eyeballs. Symptoms: the eyes are turned towards the nose, do not change this position.

Exophthalmos – pathological exit of the eyeball beyond the orbit, arises from the edema of its tissue. In addition to the main symptoms, redness of the eyelids and pain during touching the inflamed area are distinguished.

Diplopia – a disorder of the visual system, consisting in constant double vision of visible objects.

Causes of pain in the eyes

Eye pain can be a symptom of a serious medical condition

Eye pain is a symptom that can indicate both simple overwork and serious illness. Sometimes the pain goes away quickly, and sometimes it doesn’t go away for a long time. In any case, it is necessary to recognize the cause of the pain in time so that you can take action and avoid vision problems.

So, let’s look at the most common causes of eye pain:

  1. Eye strain . If you are in front of a monitor or driving a car for a long time, your eyes get a lot of stress. There may be a cutting pain, a burning sensation in the eyes. To avoid this, it is necessary to do exercises for the eyes. This will help relieve tension and tone the eye muscles.

How to do eye exercises read here

  1. Incorrectly fitted lenses or glasses .In this case, cutting, burning and pressing pain in the eyes may occur. If you feel unpleasant sensations of this nature, contact your ophthalmologist to replace the correction means. This must be done immediately, otherwise you risk further impairing your vision.
  1. General diseases . Pain in the eyes and head at the same time can occur with diseases of the flu, ARVI, VSD, neurosis, etc. In this case, pain can be concentrated in the temples, in the forehead, eyebrows, and also be accompanied by nausea.When the first symptoms appear, it is necessary to consult a general practitioner to prescribe treatment.
  1. Early stage barley . Inflammation of the eyelid skin causes pain in the eyes, and then leads to swelling of the eyelids and the appearance of swelling. The reasons for the appearance of barley on the eye: violation of hygiene rules, the use of someone else’s cosmetics, lack of vitamins, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, diabetes mellitus, etc. There are many alternative treatments on the Internet, but not everyone may be right for you.Therefore, it is best to immediately contact a specialist.

Ait Ahmed Khaled, a leading ophthalmologist and head of the microsurgical department, Ait Ahmed Khaled, spoke about why it is impossible to self-medicate with the help of traditional medicine

  1. Conjunctivitis – inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye. Most often, conjunctivitis appears in children due to the introduction of a bacterial and viral infection. The disease is accompanied by eye redness, discharge, and mild eye pain.Again, the Internet offers many alternative treatments, but it is best to see an ophthalmologist right away.
  1. Chalazion (or hailstone) – the formation of a benign eyelid due to blockage of the lacrimal outflow. The disease is often confused with barley due to similar symptoms. With chalazion, swelling, redness of the eyelid also appears, and then a dense formation forms on it. This mass causes pain in the eye when blinking. Chalazion can be cured at home using drops and ointments as directed by your doctor.The operation to remove the chalazion can only be prescribed in extreme cases.
  1. Myositis of the eye muscles . In this case, a person experiences unpleasant sensations in the depth of the orbit and intensifying pain when moving the eyeball. The disease is accompanied by limited mobility of the organs of vision and even complete absence. Usually, myositis manifests itself in one eye, people of young and middle age suffer from the disease. Treatment is carried out on a stationary basis with the use of physiotherapy, anti-inflammatory drugs, medications, etc.
  1. Increased intraocular pressure . In most cases, a person feels pain inside the eye, sometimes a headache in the eye area. Increased intraocular pressure can be the cause of the development of glaucoma. In the absence of timely treatment, glaucoma can lead to irreversible blindness. Therefore, patients with increased intraocular pressure need to undergo an ophthalmological examination every 6 months.

Read more about glaucoma disease here

  1. Cosmetic procedures .Often, clients of beauty salons experience pain in the eyes after eyelash extensions. The reason may be in the master’s non-compliance with sanitary standards, the presence of an inflammatory process at the initial stage in the client, and receiving microtraumas during the procedure. Most often, pain in the eyes after building up appears due to an allergy to glue evaporation. To avoid this, it is imperative to check the reaction to the glue before the procedure. To do this, you need to apply glue to a small area of ​​skin on your hand and wait about 30 minutes. If during this time there are no manifestations in the form of redness or burning, you can proceed to the procedure.
  1. Foreign body . It can be a grain of sand, a small insect, shavings and other small objects. In this case, a person experiences cutting pains in the eye. If you cannot remove foreign matter with frequent blinking, you need to rinse your eyes with water and drip antibacterial eye drops.

In some cases, you can solve the problem of eye pain on your own.But it is best to contact an ophthalmologist in order to avoid the harmful effects of .

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90,000 Headache and eye pain: causes, treatment. How dangerous is it?

A headache behind the eyeballs is what most people experience at some point in their lives.Symptoms include pain in the sinuses or in the back of the eye that may or may not be throbbing.

When you have a headache behind your eyeballs, you want to feel relief immediately. You also want answers.

What causes the headache behind the eyeballs? What can be done to relieve pain? Could a headache behind the eyeballs be caused by vision problems?

Let’s deal with the last question first.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) defines “pain behind the eyeballs” as “physical discomfort caused by eye disease or other medical conditions.” However, the AAO also notes that “the location where you feel pain does not necessarily indicate the cause of the pain.”

In most cases, a headache behind the eyeballs is a type of so-called radiating pain, that is, pain that is localized in a place remote from the pathological focus in which it arose. Irradiating pain is common because there is a network of interconnected sensory nerves in the body that innervate many different tissues.

“Pain that occurs in almost all sensitive structures of the head is redirected to the eye area,” says Dr. Mark W. Green, MD, professor of neurology at the Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. “Just because the pain is felt in the eye area does not mean that the focus of its occurrence is in the same place.In fact, pain and where it occurs rarely coincide. ”

Dr. Green notes one useful rule to remember: if the white part of the eye (the sclera) is not red and there are no visual complaints such as blurry or distorted vision, then it is unlikely that the headache is due to a malfunction of the eyes.

WHAT CAUSES EYEBALL HEADACHES? Ask an expert. Find an optometrist nearby and make an in-person or virtual appointment.

Common causes of headache behind the eyeballs

Migraine

Migraine headache is the most common type of disabling headache. This is an intermittent headache that lasts up to 72 hours and often causes severe throbbing pains on one side of the head and behind the eye. Migraine headaches can also spread to the back of the head.

Other typical migraine symptoms include nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, smells and sounds.

‘The term’ migraine ‘comes from the word megrim, which means’ headache accompanied by nausea’. During a migraine attack, people feel nauseous, ”notes Green. “Speaking of migraine, it should be borne in mind that this form of headache has many varieties. They differ in sensations, but still fall within the range of its manifestations. ”

Visual disturbances, such as flashing flashes or halos around light sources, called migraine aura, may precede the headache, but most migraine sufferers do not develop a migraine aura.

There are many factors that trigger a migraine attack. These include fatigue, emotional stress, lack or excess of sleep, skipping meals, bright or flickering lights, strong odors, loud noises, certain foods, and changes in temperature and humidity.

The development of migraine also appears to depend on genetic factors, as 70% of migraine sufferers report at least one close relative with a history of migraine.

Early-stage migraines can be successfully treated without prescription pain relievers, but some available prescription medications can be used both to prevent and reduce attacks and to relieve acute migraine headaches.

Daily medication may be required to treat chronic migraines and prevent headaches behind the eyeballs.

Cluster headaches

Cluster headache is characterized by multiple, frequent, short, and extremely painful headache attacks.These periods of cluster pain can last for weeks or months, followed by a period of remission when no headache occurs for months or years.

This type of headache usually appears rather quickly, sometimes with an aura, and can last up to three hours. Symptoms include excruciating pain (often a headache behind one eyeball) that can spread to other parts of the face, head and neck, redness and swelling of the eyes, and excessive tearing.

It is believed that the cause of cluster headaches can be disorders in the hypothalamus (the part of the brain that controls many vital functions of the body).To date, there are no established mechanisms of occurrence and methods of permanent elimination of cluster pain behind the eyeballs.

Treatment of this type of pain focuses on reducing the severity of pain, shortening the period of pain and preventing future attacks. Some of the most popular treatments are oxygen therapy, triptan injections, and local anesthetics.

Sinus infections

Sinuses are air-filled cavities in the facial bones.They are located at the back of the nose, inside the forehead and cheeks, and behind the eyeballs. A sinus infection (sinusitis) is a common cause of pain, including headaches behind the eyeballs.

Migraine headaches are often misdiagnosed as headaches caused by sinusitis. Treatment for headache caused by sinusitis is to treat the underlying infection with prescription antibiotics and decongestants.

Eye diseases that cause headache in the area behind the eyes

In conclusion, it is necessary to note a number of eye diseases and other problems that can cause headaches behind the eyeballs.These include:

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is an eye disease that affects the optic nerve and causes peripheral vision loss, blurred vision, difficulty adapting to darkness, and halos around light sources.

A specific type of glaucoma called acute angle-closure glaucoma can cause nausea and severe headache behind the eyes. If you experience these symptoms, you should see your ophthalmologist immediately.

Scleritis

Scleritis is an acute inflammation of the sclera of the eye or the outer covering of the eyeball.

Symptoms most commonly caused by autoimmune disorders include headache behind the eyeballs, redness of the eyes, conjunctivitis, watery eyes and blurred vision, and sensitivity to light.

Optic neuritis

Optic neuritis or inflammation of the optic nerve, accompanied by eye pain or headache behind the eyeballs, blurred vision, loss of color vision, floating flies, nausea and loss of vision.

Graves ‘disease

Graves’ disease is an autoimmune eye disease associated with a malfunction of the thyroid gland.It is characterized by bulging eyes, eyelid retraction, limited ability to move the eyes, redness of the eyes or conjunctivitis, double vision, and loss of vision.

In some cases, Graves’ disease can also cause a headache behind the eyeballs.

When to see an ophthalmologist

If you experience unusual headaches behind the eyeballs, take no risk: see an ophthalmologist immediately.

Why?

If the whites of your eyes are discolored or you have nausea or vision problems with headaches, these are signs and symptoms of an acute attack of glaucoma that can lead to permanent vision loss.

MIGRAINE, CLUSTER HEADACHES OR SOMETHING WORSE? Find out what causes the headache behind the eyeballs. Find an optometrist nearby and make an in-person or virtual appointment.

Page updated April 2021

90,000 Pain in the eyes when moving or from bright light: causes and treatment. Are you ready to have your eyesight tested?

Eye pain is a commonly used term to describe discomfort on the surface, inside, behind, and around the eyes.

Pain can be unilateral or bilateral. In other words, you may only experience pain in the right eye, only in the left eye, or discomfort in both eyes. There is no evidence that pain in the right eye is more common than pain in the left, and vice versa.

In some cases, such as eye injury , the cause of the pain is obvious. But it is often difficult to understand exactly why the eye hurts.

To complicate matters, the intensity of the pain does not indicate the severity of the underlying cause of the discomfort.In other words, a relatively minor problem, such as superficial damage to the cornea, can cause unbearable pain.

And some very serious eye diseases – cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinal detachment and diabetic retinopathy – are absolutely painless.

ARE YOU READY TO TEST YOUR VISION? Find an optometrist nearby .

Pain in the eyes can be accompanied by various sensations and symptoms that will help the optometrist determine the cause of the discomfort and prescribe the correct effective treatment for eye pain.For example:

  • A sharp, stabbing sensation

  • Burning in the eyes

  • Dull aching pain

  • Feeling as if something got “in” the eye (sensation of a foreign body)

    905 Eye pain is often accompanied by blurry vision, redness ( bloodshot eyes ) and light sensitivity .

    Causes of eye pain

    Below are the most common causes of eye pain, based on the location of the discomfort.

    Pain on the surface of or inside the eye

    Often eye pain that feels like something has entered the eye is caused by irritation or inflammation of the outer part of the eyeball, particularly the cornea.

    The main causes of pain emanating from the outer or inner part of the eyeball:

    Foreign body in the cornea

    It is not surprising that in most cases the foreign body sensation is caused by the foreign body itself. Metal shavings, inorganic abrasive particles (sand, fine stone chips), sawdust and other organic materials are examples of the most common foreign bodies that enter and enter the surface of the cornea.

    Foreign body discomfort in the cornea may be minor or severe. Usually, blinking causes the most unbearable pain (because at this time the eyelid rubs against a foreign body). Blurred vision and sensitivity to light also often accompany eye pain.

    A foreign body in the cornea requires immediate attention to an optometrist, since a foreign body that has penetrated the cornea may soon lead to a serious eye infection.

    In most cases, the optometrist easily removes a foreign body from the eye using special tools.He also prescribes antibacterial eye drops to prevent infection during corneal repair.

    Corneal abrasion

    This is a scratched cornea. While corneal abrasion is usually harmless, it can cause severe discomfort as well as sensitivity to light and watery eyes.

    Most superficial corneal scratches heal on their own within 24 hours. But deeper scratches, if left untreated, can lead to serious eye infections and even corneal ulcers.

    Since it is often impossible to tell exactly if the pain is caused by a small scratch, deep wound or foreign body in the cornea, you should consult an optometrist to determine the root cause of the pain if you experience acute eye discomfort that does not go away quickly.

    Dry eye

    Dry eye is another common cause of discomfort. If we compare the discomfort associated with dry eyes with the pain of a foreign body or a scratch on the cornea, then it develops much more slowly.Sometimes dry eyes can cause corneal abrasion because there is not enough tear fluid on the surface of the eye to hydrate the cornea.

    If the use of moisturizing eye drops significantly improves the condition, dry eyes are likely to be the cause of the pain. In most cases, dry eyes do not require immediate action; however, an optometrist can do some tests to determine the degree of dryness and recommend the most effective treatment.

    Other (rarer) causes of pain in the anterior chamber or “inside” the eye:

    • Conjunctivitis (pink eye)

    • Eye infections (including fungal eye infections and acanthamoebic keratitis)

    • Iritis (anterior uveitis), t.ie, inflammation of the iris

    • Discomfort caused by contact lenses

    Endophthalmitis is a disease that causes very severe pain in the eyes. This is an inflammation of the inside of the eyeball caused by a bacterial infection. It also occurs in rare cases as a complication after cataract surgery.

    Endophthalmitis causes not only eye pain, but also redness, swelling of the eyelids and blurred vision. If you experience these symptoms after cataract surgery or other eye surgery, see your optometrist immediately.

    Stitching pain in the eyes

    The main causes of pain behind the eyeballs are migraines and sinus infections.

    In the case of a migraine, pain is almost always felt behind one eye and is often accompanied by pain elsewhere on the same side of the head.

    The pain associated with a sinus infection is usually less severe than migraine pain, and both eyes may hurt.

    Although pain behind the eyeballs caused by migraines or sinus infections is not an emergency, you should see an optometrist or physician if you have chronic or recurring pain of this type and get the treatment you need to prevent these attacks in future.

    Pain in the eye socket

    Perhaps the most common pain around the eyes is inflammation of the eyelid, namely stye (or hordeolum). The primary sign of barley is a very painful lump on one eyelid.

    Barley does not require an urgent visit to the ophthalmologist. It is easily treated at home with a warm compress applied to the eyelid several times a day for several days.

    OTHER RELATED MATERIALS: 2 Easy Ways to Cure Stye

    Blepharitis is another common (and usually harmless) condition that causes eyelid swelling and discomfort around the eyes.

    Prolonged use of the computer can also cause pain around the eyes and pain in the eye muscles. This problem does not require urgent action. There are simple steps you can take to relieve eye strain.

    A less common and more serious cause of pain around the eyes is optic neuropathy, which can lead to permanent loss of vision. Usually this disease is accompanied by a decrease in visual acuity and a deterioration in color perception, as well as an increase in pain when moving the eyes.

    Eye pain caused by optic neuropathy requires immediate attention to an ophthalmologist or neurologist. In people under the age of 40, the main causes of optic neuritis are multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases.

    Eye pain treatment

    Eye pain is an emergency. In almost all cases, choosing the right treatment for eye pain begins with an eye exam near you. Only an ophthalmologist can determine the exact cause of eye pain and prescribe the correct treatment that will prevent eye damage and possible permanent vision loss.

    In particular, contact your optometrist immediately if your eyes are ill and:

    • Pain occurred suddenly during metalworking, woodworking or other work in which a foreign body could enter the eye (especially if goggles or shields).

    • Pain caused by eye injury.