Pain behind the eye socket: 7 causes of pain behind the eye
7 causes of pain behind the eye
Pain behind the eye can result from eyestrain, migraine, dental problems, glaucoma, giant cell arteritis, and other causes. Treatment will depend on the cause, but applying cool or warm compresses may help.
Pain behind the eye is a nonspecific symptom as it can be associated with many different health conditions.
Common types of pain behind the eye vary from dull aches to sharp and intense pains. Some people experience a sharp pain behind while others have a deeper pain inside the head. Symptoms can also include tearing, sensitivity to light, redness, vision changes, or pain during eye movement.
This article examines the possible causes of pain behind the eye, treatments, alternative therapies, and when to consult a doctor if the pain persists.
Reviewing the possible causes for pain behind the eye may provide people with a better sense of the signs of discomfort and when to seek medical help.
There are as many as 300 types of headaches, including those that may cause pain behind the eye.
The specific causes are known for only about 10% of headaches. Where a person feels pain does not necessarily correspond to what is causing it.
Many different health issues can cause pain behind the eye, including the following:
Straining the eyes can leave them feeling dry, tired, and blurry.
Research has shown that if a person stares at something for an extended time, they tend to blink less, so eyes become less moist. People should keep screens at a comfortable distance and take breaks from digital devices to reduce eyestrain.
The following may put people at risk of eyestrain:
- spending long hours staring at a screen
- being exposed to glare
- straining eyes in poor lighting
- driving long distances
- struggling to get by without glasses or an updated prescription when needed
- other underlying vision problems
Treatment
Giving the eyes a chance to rest and recover can do a lot to relieve pain behind the eye due to eye strain.
People can use the 20-20-20 rule, which involves looking away to a distance of at least 20 feet for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.
People may also try over-the-counter (OTC) artificial tears to help relieve dry, tired eyes.
Migraine is a common condition related to the brain that can often cause headaches along with extreme pain behind the eye. Migraine affects roughly 2 in 10 people, occurs in females more than males, and tends to run families.
Other symptoms
Migraine symptoms may also include visual disturbances, such as:
- shimmering lights
- zig-zag lines
- flashes of light
These disturbances may occur on only one side of the head and worsen with movement, exposure to sound, light, or strong smells.
Migraine headaches may also cause people to feel nauseated or experience vomiting.
Treatment
Doctors may recommend nonprescription medications, such as aspirin and ibuprofen.
However, people with migraine often need prescription medications.
These medications balance the chemical changes leading to a migraine and include:
- Imitrex
- Amerge
- Zomig
If migraine attacks are severe or happen frequently, a doctor may recommend taking daily medication like beta-blockers.
The best remedy to prevent migraine is to avoid triggers where possible. Common triggers include:
- certain foods, like aged cheeses and red wine
- food additives and artificial sweeteners
- hormonal imbalances, for example, during pregnancy or menstruation
- emotional stress or anxiety
- environmental factors, including smells, temperatures, sounds, or lights
- irregular sleep patterns
- poor posture
- dehydration
- certain medications, including sleeping pills or hormonal treatments
Doctors often misdiagnose sinus infection as migraine due to the overlap in symptoms and triggers such as weather changes. A person must consult a medical professional to determine the cause of any headache.
Other symptoms
Thick, discolored nasal discharge is a common symptom of a viral or bacterial infection in the sinuses.
Other symptoms may include:
- headaches
- facial pain
- a feeling of pressure
- an impaired sense of smell
- fever
Treatment
Doctors may prescribe antibiotics to treat this type of infection if it is bacterial.
In some cases, doctors will use a CT scan to determine whether sinus disease or migraine is causing the pain.
This rare condition occurs when a potentially life threatening or a septic blood clot develops in the cavernous sinus. The cavernous sinus is a vein running between the bottom of the brain to the back of the eye sockets. A bacterial infection often causes this condition.
Septic cavernous sinus thrombosis can occur due to the following conditions:
- sinusitis
- dental infections
- pharyngitis
- tonsillitis
- other ear, nose, or throat infections
People with uncontrolled diabetes or receiving treatment for cancer may be at risk of developing cavernous sinus thrombosis.
Other symptoms
Symptoms may include:
- a severe, sudden headache
- pain or swelling around the eyes
- vision changes
- high fever
Treatment
Doctors tend to treat this condition with antibiotics and antimicrobial therapies, typically for 3–4 weeks. They should monitor patients’ conditions closely even after the discontinuation of antibiotics.
Other experts recommend anticoagulants to thin blood and therefore prevent further blood clots. Doctors typically prescribe these for several weeks to several months.
Doctors consider this type of treatment effective in slowing down the progression of blood cots and reducing the mortality rate. However, there is also some controversy surrounding anticoagulants as they can result in hemorrhage or bleeding.
Another option that doctors often prescribe is corticosteroids, as there is a potential benefit of reducing inflammation. Doctors do not recommend surgical interventions for the cavernous sinuses themselves.
In cases where the blood clot is septic and potentially fatal, a person may require hospitalization, often in an intensive care unit.
Three nerve branches run through the jaw and eye areas, meaning that issues with the jaw could potentially lead to pain behind and around the eye.
Dental and bite problems that can cause pain behind the eye include tooth infections and temporomandibular (TMJ) disorder, which is dysfunction in the jaw joint.
Other symptoms
If TMJ causes orbital eye pain, people may also experience:
- eye strain
- watery eyes
- sensitivity to light
Treatment
If doctors have ruled out other medical conditions causing pain behind the eye, they may recommend consulting an orthodontist to check jaw joints and bite.
Realigning the bite with custom-made aligners for the teeth, through orthodontic treatment, can reduce the stress put on the muscles and joints in the head and neck. This treatment may alleviate nerve pain and pain behind the eye.
The two types of glaucoma are primary open-angle and angle-closure.
Risk factors include a family history of the condition and other eye-related injuries or surgeries.
Primary open-angle glaucoma is where eye fluid does not drain correctly, causing damage to the optic nerve. However, this type of glaucoma is painless.
Angle-closure glaucoma occurs when a person’s iris blocks the drainage angle where eye fluid leaves the eye. When this is blocked, pressure builds up quickly, and immediate medical attention is needed to protect the vision.
Other symptoms
Symptoms include:
- sudden, severe eye pain
- headache
- blurry vision
- nausea
- vomiting
- seeing halos around lights
Treatment
Medical treatment for angle-closure glaucoma may include eye drops or laser surgery.
A person must use daily eye drops to reduce eye pressure. While this treatment will help maintain the vision, there will be several side effects associated with this medication, including:
- a stinging sensation
- red eyes or inflamed skin around the eyes
- blurred vision
- eyelash growth
- breathing changes
- changes in energy levels
- changes in pulse and heartbeat
The type of surgery used for angle-closure glaucoma is an iridotomy.
An ophthalmologist will create a hole in the iris using a laser to help eye fluid flow through the drainage angle.
This condition is a type of vasculitis, a group of rare diseases causing inflammation of the blood vessels. Giant cell arteritis (GCA), which is also referred to temporal arteritis, may cause the arteries in the scalp, head, and temples to swell.
GCA can also occur alongside joint pain disorder known as polymyalgia rheumatica. This condition is a cause of widespread aches and stiffness in people over 50.
Other symptoms
Symptoms of GCA include:
- a new, persisting headache
- fever
- fatigue
- loss of appetite
- temporary loss of vision
Permanent loss of vision can occur in some cases, but appropriate treatment can prevent this.
Treatment
GCA requires immediate medical treatment to reduce the risk of loss of vision. The treatment usually involves high doses of corticosteroids, typically 40–60 milligrams (mg) per day of prednisone for a month.
In most cases, doctors reduce the dose to about 5–10 mg per day for a few months or up to a year. GCA rarely returns after treatment.
In 2017, doctors approved tocilizumab (Actemra) as an effective treatment for GCA as more people are in remission. Medical professionals can administer this drug intravenously on a monthly basis, or patients can self-administer an injection every 1–2 weeks.
The following complementary practices may help people find relief for headaches, which could include pain behind the eye:
- acupuncture
- massaging pressure points
- biofeedback therapy
- relaxation therapy
Home remedies
There are also some common home remedies to prevent or help relieve pain behind the eye, including:
- applying cold or warm compresses
- staying well-hydrated, such as through drinking herbal teas
- exercising regularly
- getting plenty of rest
- limiting alcohol and caffeine use
- relaxing muscles in a hot bath or shower
- avoiding noisy and bright environments
- reducing screen time
- using OTC pain relievers
- reducing stress where appropriate
- magnesium supplements, particularly in the case of migraine attacks
While some conditions improve with home care and OTC medications, other symptoms require prompt medical attention.
Signs that it is time to see a doctor include pain that:
- is severe
- gets worse with time, coughing, or movement
- is accompanied by fever, numbness, a stiff neck, slurred speech, confusion, or visual disturbances
- develops quickly
- is accompanied by a sore, red eye or sore, tender temples
- develops in people with impaired immune systems or cancers
The outlook for pain behind the eye depends on the cause. Doctors can use several treatments to treat the cause of the pain.
Specific causes of pain behind the eye, such as migraine, may be more likely if people have a family history of the condition. It is important to have frequent check-ups with medical professionals to discuss the risk and the signs to look out for.
Other causes, such as eye strain, may resolve with home remedies, including adequate rest and drinking enough water. Doctors may also recommend nonprescription drugs, such as ibuprofen. Alternative therapies may improve the outlook for certain eye conditions.
Some causes of eye pain could require a course of prescription drugs, including steroids, and in some cases, medical treatment and long-term care.
The location of the eye pain may not be related to the cause. A person should keep track of triggers and other symptoms that accompany the pain. This information will help a doctor make an informed diagnosis and provide suitable recommendations for treatment.
7 causes of pain behind the eye
Pain behind the eye can result from eyestrain, migraine, dental problems, glaucoma, giant cell arteritis, and other causes. Treatment will depend on the cause, but applying cool or warm compresses may help.
Pain behind the eye is a nonspecific symptom as it can be associated with many different health conditions.
Common types of pain behind the eye vary from dull aches to sharp and intense pains. Some people experience a sharp pain behind while others have a deeper pain inside the head. Symptoms can also include tearing, sensitivity to light, redness, vision changes, or pain during eye movement.
This article examines the possible causes of pain behind the eye, treatments, alternative therapies, and when to consult a doctor if the pain persists.
Reviewing the possible causes for pain behind the eye may provide people with a better sense of the signs of discomfort and when to seek medical help.
There are as many as 300 types of headaches, including those that may cause pain behind the eye. The specific causes are known for only about 10% of headaches. Where a person feels pain does not necessarily correspond to what is causing it.
Many different health issues can cause pain behind the eye, including the following:
Straining the eyes can leave them feeling dry, tired, and blurry.
Research has shown that if a person stares at something for an extended time, they tend to blink less, so eyes become less moist. People should keep screens at a comfortable distance and take breaks from digital devices to reduce eyestrain.
The following may put people at risk of eyestrain:
- spending long hours staring at a screen
- being exposed to glare
- straining eyes in poor lighting
- driving long distances
- struggling to get by without glasses or an updated prescription when needed
- other underlying vision problems
Treatment
Giving the eyes a chance to rest and recover can do a lot to relieve pain behind the eye due to eye strain.
People can use the 20-20-20 rule, which involves looking away to a distance of at least 20 feet for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.
People may also try over-the-counter (OTC) artificial tears to help relieve dry, tired eyes.
Migraine is a common condition related to the brain that can often cause headaches along with extreme pain behind the eye. Migraine affects roughly 2 in 10 people, occurs in females more than males, and tends to run families.
Other symptoms
Migraine symptoms may also include visual disturbances, such as:
- shimmering lights
- zig-zag lines
- flashes of light
These disturbances may occur on only one side of the head and worsen with movement, exposure to sound, light, or strong smells.
Migraine headaches may also cause people to feel nauseated or experience vomiting.
Treatment
Doctors may recommend nonprescription medications, such as aspirin and ibuprofen.
However, people with migraine often need prescription medications.
These medications balance the chemical changes leading to a migraine and include:
- Imitrex
- Amerge
- Zomig
If migraine attacks are severe or happen frequently, a doctor may recommend taking daily medication like beta-blockers.
The best remedy to prevent migraine is to avoid triggers where possible. Common triggers include:
- certain foods, like aged cheeses and red wine
- food additives and artificial sweeteners
- hormonal imbalances, for example, during pregnancy or menstruation
- emotional stress or anxiety
- environmental factors, including smells, temperatures, sounds, or lights
- irregular sleep patterns
- poor posture
- dehydration
- certain medications, including sleeping pills or hormonal treatments
Doctors often misdiagnose sinus infection as migraine due to the overlap in symptoms and triggers such as weather changes. A person must consult a medical professional to determine the cause of any headache.
Other symptoms
Thick, discolored nasal discharge is a common symptom of a viral or bacterial infection in the sinuses.
Other symptoms may include:
- headaches
- facial pain
- a feeling of pressure
- an impaired sense of smell
- fever
Treatment
Doctors may prescribe antibiotics to treat this type of infection if it is bacterial.
In some cases, doctors will use a CT scan to determine whether sinus disease or migraine is causing the pain.
This rare condition occurs when a potentially life threatening or a septic blood clot develops in the cavernous sinus. The cavernous sinus is a vein running between the bottom of the brain to the back of the eye sockets. A bacterial infection often causes this condition.
Septic cavernous sinus thrombosis can occur due to the following conditions:
- sinusitis
- dental infections
- pharyngitis
- tonsillitis
- other ear, nose, or throat infections
People with uncontrolled diabetes or receiving treatment for cancer may be at risk of developing cavernous sinus thrombosis.
Other symptoms
Symptoms may include:
- a severe, sudden headache
- pain or swelling around the eyes
- vision changes
- high fever
Treatment
Doctors tend to treat this condition with antibiotics and antimicrobial therapies, typically for 3–4 weeks. They should monitor patients’ conditions closely even after the discontinuation of antibiotics.
Other experts recommend anticoagulants to thin blood and therefore prevent further blood clots. Doctors typically prescribe these for several weeks to several months.
Doctors consider this type of treatment effective in slowing down the progression of blood cots and reducing the mortality rate. However, there is also some controversy surrounding anticoagulants as they can result in hemorrhage or bleeding.
Another option that doctors often prescribe is corticosteroids, as there is a potential benefit of reducing inflammation. Doctors do not recommend surgical interventions for the cavernous sinuses themselves.
In cases where the blood clot is septic and potentially fatal, a person may require hospitalization, often in an intensive care unit.
Three nerve branches run through the jaw and eye areas, meaning that issues with the jaw could potentially lead to pain behind and around the eye.
Dental and bite problems that can cause pain behind the eye include tooth infections and temporomandibular (TMJ) disorder, which is dysfunction in the jaw joint.
Other symptoms
If TMJ causes orbital eye pain, people may also experience:
- eye strain
- watery eyes
- sensitivity to light
Treatment
If doctors have ruled out other medical conditions causing pain behind the eye, they may recommend consulting an orthodontist to check jaw joints and bite.
Realigning the bite with custom-made aligners for the teeth, through orthodontic treatment, can reduce the stress put on the muscles and joints in the head and neck. This treatment may alleviate nerve pain and pain behind the eye.
The two types of glaucoma are primary open-angle and angle-closure.
Risk factors include a family history of the condition and other eye-related injuries or surgeries.
Primary open-angle glaucoma is where eye fluid does not drain correctly, causing damage to the optic nerve. However, this type of glaucoma is painless.
Angle-closure glaucoma occurs when a person’s iris blocks the drainage angle where eye fluid leaves the eye. When this is blocked, pressure builds up quickly, and immediate medical attention is needed to protect the vision.
Other symptoms
Symptoms include:
- sudden, severe eye pain
- headache
- blurry vision
- nausea
- vomiting
- seeing halos around lights
Treatment
Medical treatment for angle-closure glaucoma may include eye drops or laser surgery.
A person must use daily eye drops to reduce eye pressure. While this treatment will help maintain the vision, there will be several side effects associated with this medication, including:
- a stinging sensation
- red eyes or inflamed skin around the eyes
- blurred vision
- eyelash growth
- breathing changes
- changes in energy levels
- changes in pulse and heartbeat
The type of surgery used for angle-closure glaucoma is an iridotomy.
An ophthalmologist will create a hole in the iris using a laser to help eye fluid flow through the drainage angle.
This condition is a type of vasculitis, a group of rare diseases causing inflammation of the blood vessels. Giant cell arteritis (GCA), which is also referred to temporal arteritis, may cause the arteries in the scalp, head, and temples to swell.
GCA can also occur alongside joint pain disorder known as polymyalgia rheumatica. This condition is a cause of widespread aches and stiffness in people over 50.
Other symptoms
Symptoms of GCA include:
- a new, persisting headache
- fever
- fatigue
- loss of appetite
- temporary loss of vision
Permanent loss of vision can occur in some cases, but appropriate treatment can prevent this.
Treatment
GCA requires immediate medical treatment to reduce the risk of loss of vision. The treatment usually involves high doses of corticosteroids, typically 40–60 milligrams (mg) per day of prednisone for a month.
In most cases, doctors reduce the dose to about 5–10 mg per day for a few months or up to a year. GCA rarely returns after treatment.
In 2017, doctors approved tocilizumab (Actemra) as an effective treatment for GCA as more people are in remission. Medical professionals can administer this drug intravenously on a monthly basis, or patients can self-administer an injection every 1–2 weeks.
The following complementary practices may help people find relief for headaches, which could include pain behind the eye:
- acupuncture
- massaging pressure points
- biofeedback therapy
- relaxation therapy
Home remedies
There are also some common home remedies to prevent or help relieve pain behind the eye, including:
- applying cold or warm compresses
- staying well-hydrated, such as through drinking herbal teas
- exercising regularly
- getting plenty of rest
- limiting alcohol and caffeine use
- relaxing muscles in a hot bath or shower
- avoiding noisy and bright environments
- reducing screen time
- using OTC pain relievers
- reducing stress where appropriate
- magnesium supplements, particularly in the case of migraine attacks
While some conditions improve with home care and OTC medications, other symptoms require prompt medical attention.
Signs that it is time to see a doctor include pain that:
- is severe
- gets worse with time, coughing, or movement
- is accompanied by fever, numbness, a stiff neck, slurred speech, confusion, or visual disturbances
- develops quickly
- is accompanied by a sore, red eye or sore, tender temples
- develops in people with impaired immune systems or cancers
The outlook for pain behind the eye depends on the cause. Doctors can use several treatments to treat the cause of the pain.
Specific causes of pain behind the eye, such as migraine, may be more likely if people have a family history of the condition. It is important to have frequent check-ups with medical professionals to discuss the risk and the signs to look out for.
Other causes, such as eye strain, may resolve with home remedies, including adequate rest and drinking enough water. Doctors may also recommend nonprescription drugs, such as ibuprofen. Alternative therapies may improve the outlook for certain eye conditions.
Some causes of eye pain could require a course of prescription drugs, including steroids, and in some cases, medical treatment and long-term care.
The location of the eye pain may not be related to the cause. A person should keep track of triggers and other symptoms that accompany the pain. This information will help a doctor make an informed diagnosis and provide suitable recommendations for treatment.
Cluster headaches – treatment, symptoms, causes, diagnosis
Cluster headaches are characterized by pain that occurs on one side of the head. This headache is often described as pain that is localized around, behind or above the eye and along the temporal region, in cyclic patterns or clusters.
The pain associated with this type of headache is intense; many patients describe the pain as “boring”. To be classified as a true cluster headache, there are specific autonomic manifestations such as lacrimation, redness of the conjunctiva, rhinorrhea or nasal congestion, droopy eyelids, sweating on one side of the face, or changes in pupil size (compared to the healthy side, the pupil on the affected side becomes narrower) .
Headache lasts from 15 minutes to a maximum of 3 hours; however, the headache may recur up to eight times a day. Cluster headaches were originally described in the 17th century, but it was not until the mid-20th century that they were given this name.
Men are two to four times more likely to develop cluster headaches than women. However, the overall incidence is quite low, with a prevalence rate of about 1 in 1000. Due to the rarity of these types of headache, information on this type of headache is limited.
Although the vast majority of patients are adults, cluster headache occasionally occurs in children as young as 6 years of age.
Symptoms
Cluster headaches are always unilateral. However, some patients may experience some sensation on the opposite side of the affected part. Most patients describe pain around or behind the eye; the pain is also described as extending into the forehead, into the jaw, or along the line of the gums and teeth, or down the cheek on the affected side.
Sometimes, the pain may radiate to the ear, neck, or shoulder. Although tearing is a characteristic feature of cluster headaches, some patients may only have conjunctival redness. Eyelid drooping or swelling and a runny nose are also often associated with cluster headache. The symptoms are often migraine-like, including sensitivity to light, sounds, or smells. However, unlike migraines, movement does not make cluster headaches worse. Also, many patients (more than 90%) describe feelings of anxiety during a cluster headache attack.
Cluster headaches occur in groups of attacks. While the duration of a headache is short (15 minutes on average), headaches can recur up to eight times in a 24 hour period. Headaches can sometimes last up to 3 hours. Cyclic group attacks can last for only one day or last for many weeks.
Cause of cluster headaches
The specific cause and morphological nature of cluster headaches is not known. MRI data suggest that the ophthalmic artery dilates during a cluster headache attack, while PET scans show activity in the cavernous sinus.
At the same time, many patients with other types of headache also showed abnormalities in similar regions, so the results of PET and MRI are not conclusive. There is some evidence that the hypothalamus may be involved in headache cycling. Activation of the trigeminal ganglion can induce many of the autonomic changes associated with cluster headache, but there is as yet no evidence that this triggers the activation of a pain attack.
Triggers
Many patients report having headaches while they sleep. In addition, alcohol can cause headaches in patients who have already begun pain cycles. Histamines and nitroglycerin can also cause headaches in patients. There was also some seasonal variability, but this was not observed in all patients. In some patients, cluster headache attacks were due to changes in the environment, the level of stress, or the level of physical activity. Hormonal factors or menstruation do not appear to cause cluster headaches. Other risk factors include: smoking and hereditary determinism.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of headache is usually made on the basis of history, clinical findings and physical examination. Cluster headaches are symptomatic and often only the history and symptoms are sufficient. While no imaging modality can confirm the diagnosis of cluster headache, an MRI or CT scan of the brain may be needed to rule out other possible conditions that may mimic cluster headache symptoms. In some cases, an eye examination is needed to rule out problems within the eye itself that may be causing the symptoms.
Treatment
Treatment of cluster headache can be divided into two categories – relief of acute headache and prevention of future headache attacks. Inhalation of oxygen through a mask effectively helps 70% of patients and relieves an attack in a short time. However, this method of relief is cumbersome and most patients are unable or unwilling to carry an oxygen tank with them, especially if they plan to travel. Injectable sumatriptan is also effective in 75% of patients with cluster headache.:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/pain-behind-the-eye-3422050-5c773a09c9e77c00011c82f3.png)
But the injectable use of sumatriptan is contraindicated in patients with heart disease or hypertension. The nasal spray or tablets of this drug are less effective than the injections. IV dihydroergotamine can be very effective in relieving cluster headache, but it is not always possible to give it immediately after an attack and cannot be used if the patient has already received sumatriptan within the previous 24 hours. Nasal lidocaine can be a treatment option for a pain attack, but must be given in a specific order and is ineffective unless used incorrectly.
Steroids can be very effective in reducing the headache cycle; they can be used sporadically, as long-term use can lead to significant complications. Verapamil, lithium, valproic acid, topiramate, and melatonin may also be used to reduce the frequency and severity of cluster headache cycles. In severe cases of cluster headaches, surgical treatment may be indicated. Radiofrequency destruction of the trigeminal ganglion may reduce the frequency of headache clusters, but is associated with significant side effects and nerve damage; techniques such as Gamma Knife disruption and deep brain stimulation are currently in clinical trials.
Treatments such as acupuncture and physiotherapy can also be used for prevention.
Prevention
Once diagnosed, long-term treatment may be helpful in reducing or preventing future cycles. However, due to the fact that the exact pathogenesis of the development of cluster headaches is not known, further research is required in order for the treatment to be truly effective.
Prognosis
Generally, cluster headache tends to decrease in frequency over time, but stabilization may take many years. Cluster headaches can have persistent periods of remission and then worsen. Cluster headaches are not associated with other neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, or multiple sclerosis; although in multiple sclerosis headaches can be somewhat similar to cluster headaches.
If your eye hurts – all about the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
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Why eyes can hurt
The most common causes of eye pain are various types of injuries:
- thermal and chemical burns;
- mechanical damage.
Less common sources of pain are infections of the eye and conjunctiva, optic nerve and choroid, as well as ophthalmic hypertension, pathology of the facial trigeminal nerve, and head trauma. Let’s talk about how the mentioned pathologies manifest themselves and how much they threaten eye health.
Eye burns
Thermal and chemical lesions are characterized by an instantaneous acute reaction:
- increased photosensitivity;
- burning and cutting;
- profuse lachrymation;
- swelling of the eyelids and mucous membranes of the eye.
The cornea with any type of burn can become cloudy. Painful sensations intensify over time, it becomes difficult to open the eye. Hyperemic tissues become pale, indicating a violation of blood circulation.
Mechanical injuries of the eye
Most often, the cornea of the eyes is subjected to mechanical damage. The nature of pain in such pathologies is acute, burning, does not increase with time. When foreign bodies enter, they can be seen on the surface of the cornea or conjunctiva. With penetrating wounds, through defects are visible on the eye.
Signs of injury:
- uncontrolled closing of the eyelids (blepharospasm), which can only be opened manually;
- increased lacrimation;
- hyperemia of the conjunctiva, manifestation of a vascular pattern on the cornea;
- Blurred vision in the injured eye.
If left untreated, injuries and burns can be complicated by infection, corneal perforation and the penetration of pathogenic flora into the eyeball. This, in turn, can lead to an irreversible decrease in visual acuity or complete blindness, and in some cases to loss of an eye.
Conjunctivitis
Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye is accompanied by swelling and redness of the conjunctiva, pain is moderate, combined with itching, burning, lacrimation.
In the bacterial form, a yellowish or green purulent mass is released from the eyes. At night, it dries up on the eyelashes, making it difficult to open the eyelids in the morning. With allergic and adenovirus forms, there is no pus, but the discomfort in the eyes is usually more intense.
Conjunctivitis is dangerous for the eyes with the risk of inflammation spreading to the cornea. In the absence of therapy, atrophic processes may begin, in advanced cases, corneal perforation and irreversible loss of vision.
Keratitis
Inflammation of the cornea with external manifestations is similar to conjunctivitis, but the eyes hurt many times more. The intensity of the symptom is so high that blepharospasm occurs – reactive closing of the eyelids, which cannot be opened without the help of a doctor.
Other signs of keratitis:
- petechial hemorrhages and increased capillary pattern in the eyes;
- decreased visual acuity;
- visible defects on the cornea are possible – cloudy spots, defects in the form of branching foci.
Since the cornea is the natural shell of the eyes, its damage during inflammation is fraught with infection of the vitreous body, retina and optic nerve. All these pathologies can lead to partial or complete loss of vision in one or both eyes.
Uveitis
Inflammation of the choroid in the eyes is accompanied by diffuse redness of the eyeball, dull pains extending to the orbit, tearing and decreased visual acuity in the form of blurring.
Uveitis can provoke persistent malnutrition of the eyes, retinal atrophy, and irreversible vision loss.
Increased intraocular pressure
With ophthalmohypertension, not only the eyes hurt, but also the head in the forehead, crown, and bridge of the nose. Discomfort is most noticeable in the morning, sometimes aggravated by bending over. Pathology is accompanied by petechial hemorrhages, iridescent stains when looking at bright light, nausea, vomiting, deterioration in visual acuity.
An increase in intraocular pressure without treatment can lead to the development of angle-closure glaucoma and its complications: lens luxation and blindness, corneal perforation, and total blindness.
Neurological eye pain
Neuralgia may be accompanied by irradiation to the eyes. Most often they are the result of increased intracranial pressure, supraorbital or trigeminal neuralgia against the background of inflammation of the corresponding nerves, migraine. Signs of these pathologies are:
- intense pain syndrome, localized on one side, mainly in the forehead, face, superciliary arches;
- unilateral lacrimation – on the side of the affected eye;
- violations of oculomotor functions, eye paresis or forced immobility of the eyeballs due to a reactive increase in discomfort;
- double vision;
- blurred vision.
Neurological pathologies do not pose a direct threat to vision, however, they can lead to a violation of the innervation of the muscles in the eyes.
This can lead to strabismus, myopia and hyperopia, spasm of accommodation and blepharospasm.
Diagnostics
Finding out the causes of discomfort in the eyeballs begins with the use of local analgesics. They help relieve the symptom and avoid reactive blepharospasm. After the drug works, diagnostic procedures are carried out:
- visiometry, which helps to assess the degree of visual acuity impairment;
- non-contact tonometry for measuring intraocular pressure;
- biomicroscopy, which reveals even minor defects of the cornea and conjunctiva;
- ophthalmoscopy, which reveals violations of the capillary blood supply to the eyes, which determines the state of the retina and the optical environment;
- Ultrasound, which allows you to determine the internal damage to the body, to detect foreign bodies in injuries;
- X-ray that shows radiopaque foreign bodies, orbital lesions, etc.
If there are signs of infections, an analysis of the material taken from the surface of the conjunctiva and cornea is carried out to determine the flora.
Based on the information received, a diagnosis is made and appropriate treatment is prescribed for the disease.
How to relieve eye pain
As a first aid for injuries and inflammations of the eyes, the cornea and conjunctiva are washed with antiseptics or clean water. This will help remove foreign particles, exudate residues, chemicals and allergens.
Important! It is strictly forbidden to remove foreign bodies on your own, especially if they penetrate the inside of the eyeball.
You can contact an ophthalmologist or an ophthalmic surgeon with a problem. If there is no such specialist, you can make an appointment with a surgeon, but in most cases, the doctor will refer the patient to a specialist in the field of ophthalmology.
In most cases, conservative therapy can be dispensed with. Drugs are selected taking into account the origin of the symptom:
- analgesics in the form of drops or tablets for oral administration – for neurological and hypertensive disorders;
- local and systemic antibiotics that are effective against the detected microflora – for inflammation of various structures of the eye;
- antiseptic solutions – for injuries and burns, inflammations and infections;
- local remedies – in the presence of erosions, other types of defects on the cornea and conjunctiva;
- local antihistamines – for allergic forms of conjunctivitis.
