Pain Above or Behind Eyes

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:

• migraines and other headaches
• sinus infection
• Graves’ disease
• optic neuritis
• toothache
• injury to the face

Causes of pressure behind the eyes

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:

• runny or stuffy nose
• loss of sense of smell
• headache
• pain or pressure in the face
• mucus dripping from the nose down the throat
• sore throat
• fever
• cough
• tiredness
• bad breath

 

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

Optic 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

When to see a doctor

Serious 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 and optometrists, 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.

 

Treatment options

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

Outlook

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.

[2021 Guide] What Causes Pain Around Eye Sockets?

December 9, 2019 – 4 MIN READ

Pain around the eye sockets and eyes themselves is one of the top reasons that patients visit Eye Center of Texas. That’s because when you’re experiencing pain around your eye sockets, it’s very hard to concentrate on anything else. 

When someone comes to us and expresses concern about eye pain and/or pain around the eye sockets, it is our goal to relieve that patient as quickly and safely as possible.

Want to give yourself a head start? Learn about what causes pain around the eye sockets, then call Eye Center of Texas at 713-797-1010 or contact us online today.

What are the two different types of eye pain?

When discussing eye pain, eye doctors place different issues in two umbrella categories for eye pain: ocular eye pain and orbital eye pain.

Ocular eye pain is any kind of eye pain that originates on the surface of the eye. It includes sharp pain or the feeling of having something gritty in your eyes.

Types of ocular eye pain include:

• Pink eye
• Styes and chalazia
• Chemical burns
• Foreign bodies
• Corneal abrasions
• Keratoconus

However, when a patient complains of pain around the eye sockets, they are typically referring to pain that originates deeper within the eye. This type of eye pain—pain that originates from a source within tor behind the eye—is referred to as orbital eye pain.

Orbital eye pain and pain around the eye sockets

The eye is an extremely complex organ, leading to many potential causes of orbital eye pain. The following are the most common conditions and diseases that may cause pain around the eye sockets.

• Glaucoma: When people ask “What does pressure behind the eyes mean?” they are typically referencing glaucoma, a disease caused by increased intraocular pressure. While the most common type of glaucoma, open-angle glaucoma, is typically painless, a rarer, fast-acting and dangerous type of glaucoma called angle-closure glaucoma can cause redness, severe pain, and vision loss. (For more information, read our article on the types of glaucoma.)
• Iritis: Iritis is a rare condition in which the iris (the colored part of the eye) becomes inflamed. Side effects include deep orbital pain, reduced vision, redness, and light sensitivity.
• Migraines, tension headaches, cluster headaches: All three of these types of headaches can create the sensation of pain originating from behind the eye. Note that ocular migraines are different than having eye pain from a migraine; ocular migraines typically last for thirty minutes to an hour and can result in either temporary vision loss or blindness in one eye.
• Optic neuritis: Optic neuritis is the inflammation and/or infection of the nerve that connects your eye to your brain. Pain caused by optic neuritis often increases with eye movement. Patients may also experience temporary vision loss and headaches.
• Orbital cellulitis: Orbital cellulitis is an infection of the inside of your eye socket. It can occur after eye trauma, eye surgery, or as the result of infections spreading from other parts of your body (especially the teeth and sinuses). Orbital cellulitis creates redness, pain, and swelling, discharge, and fever, and can lead to permanent vision loss without immediate treatment.
• Sinusitis/Sinus infection: Yes, your sinuses can also cause pain around your eye sockets—or at least the sensation of eye pain. The congestion and inflammation associated with sinus infections can lead to increased pressure in the sinuses, which can then radiate to your eyes.
• Toothache: A toothache can cause both headaches and eye pain by pain referred via the nerves that run throughout your facial structure (especially the trigeminal nerve).

How do you relieve eye pain? See a trusted Ophthalmologist at Eye Center of Texas.

It’s impossible to know how to thoroughly treat eye pain and pain around the eye sockets without knowing what is causing that pain. The renowned ophthalmologist at Eye Center of Texas can help you identify the cause of your eye pain and put you on the road to recovery.

Whether you’re experiencing pain behind your left eye, pain behind your right eye, pain in both of your eyes, orbital pain, or ocular pain, it’s time you found relief. Request an appointment at Eye Center of Texas by calling 713-797-1010 or contacting us online today.

 

Other Helpful Articles by Eye Center of Texas:

• How to Treat Excess Eyelid Skin 
• How Does Diabetes Affect the Eyes?
• Best Foods for Eye Health
• When to See an Eye Doctor
• The Difference Between an Optometrist and an Ophthalmologist

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“Pressing pain” inside the eye: possible causes

Pressing pain in the eyes is a complaint that worries some of our patients. Attributing such sensations to general fatigue and overload, many of them do not seek help from an ophthalmologist and do not even realize that eye pain can be the first symptom of the development of a dangerous disease.

Possible causes of pressing pain in the eyes

The cause of pressing pain in the eyes can be not only eye diseases, but also pathologies of other organs and body systems. First of all, these are diseases of the central nervous system, ENT pathologies and others.

Among the most common causes of pressing pain in the eyes are:

Optic neuritis – inflammation of the optic nerve, accompanied by decreased visual acuity, blurred vision, pain in the eyes, headache, changes in color perception, changes in the visual field.

Glaucoma is an ophthalmic disease usually accompanied by increased intraocular pressure. This condition provokes the development of degenerative and atrophic changes in the optic nerve, which progress and lead to a gradual decrease in vision, and sometimes even its complete loss. Some forms of glaucoma can also be accompanied by symptoms such as pressing pain inside the eye, a sharp decrease in visual acuity, fog before the eyes.

Migraine is a neurological disease characterized by recurrent headaches or eye pain lasting from 4 to 72 hours without interruption. The pain is usually throbbing in nature and is accompanied by additional symptoms: nausea, vomiting, increased sensitivity to light and sounds.

Cluster headaches is a bodily condition characterized by numerous and frequent attacks of headache. Such pain occurs abruptly and lasts from 30 minutes to 3 hours. The pain can radiate (give) to various parts of the face, including the eyes. In addition, cluster pain may be accompanied by redness of the eyes, the appearance of lacrimation and swelling around the eyes.

Sinus infections can also cause headaches that radiate to the eye area. Usually the cause of pain is an inflammatory process in the nasal sinus (maxillary, frontal). Treatment is carried out by an otolaryngologist and includes the appointment of drugs to eliminate the cause of inflammation, as well as decongestants.

Computer syndrome is a complex of symptoms that occur when you work excessively at the monitor. Patients usually complain of a feeling of fatigue, accompanied by a decrease in visual acuity, eye pain, headache, redness of the eyes.

How to understand what is the reason?

Given the variety of diseases accompanied by pressing pain inside the eye, it is impossible to establish the exact cause of the pain on your own.

Therefore, if you feel a pressing pain in your eyes, we recommend that you immediately contact an ophthalmologist at Expert Ophthalmology, Doctor of Medical Sciences Maria Znamenskaya. Our doctors will conduct all the necessary examinations, establish the possible cause of the pain and choose the best method of treatment.

Pain in the eyes

Blepharitis

Conjunctivitis

Allergy

Foreign body

27029

04 July

Pain in the eyes – the causes of occurrence, in which diseases it occurs, diagnosis and methods of treatment.

The human organ of vision has a very complex structure.

Damage to any of the parts can cause pain.

Varieties of pain

When describing eye pain, various conditions are mentioned, ranging from discomfort to unbearable pain.

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, watery eyes, or purulent discharge.

Possible causes

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

First of all, foreign bodies can damage the eye (chips in the production of metal processing, sand, small insects). At the same time, in addition to pain, there is a feeling of pain, 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. Sometimes there is a narrowing of the pupil and blurred vision. There are frequent cases of damage (scratches) to the cornea with sharp objects (pencil, animal claws). Such an injury is accompanied by severe pain, reflex compression of the eyelids, narrowing of the palpebral fissure, redness. If an infection occurs, a corneal ulcer may develop.

One of the significant causes of pain in the eyes are infectious diseases. 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 area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe eyelashes.

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

Pain in the eyes also occurs when the inflammatory process spreads to the auxiliary apparatus of the organ of vision – the lacrimal sac (dacryocystitis), the lacrimal gland (dacryoadenitis) or the eyelids (blepharitis, chalazion, barley). If the inflammatory process affects the eyeball and its surrounding tissue, scleritis or episcleritis develops. This inflammation can be caused by an autoimmune disease or an infection. With the progression of the inflammatory process, the cornea is affected, which is accompanied by the growth 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 (Bekhterev’s disease, 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, hemorrhages in the eye. The pain is aggravated by pressing 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 throughout its entire length. Inflammatory diseases of the brain and its membranes (meningitis, encephalitis), paranasal 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 due to tissue compression and impaired blood supply.

A dangerous disease that can cause blindness is angle-closure glaucoma. It is quite rare compared to open-angle, it progresses rapidly 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 superciliary region. The eyeball becomes hard, there is a sharp decrease in visual function.

Diagnostics and examinations

First of all, the traumatic nature of eye pain should be excluded. As a rule, the 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 a thermal or chemical lesion.

Wearing contact lenses also sometimes leads to eye injuries.

The appearance of a 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 (ophthalmic biomicroscopy) are performed. In some cases, studies using CT and MRI are shown.

In the presence of symptoms of dacryocystitis, a West color test is performed (assessment of the patency of the lacrimal ducts), and to clarify the extent of the lesion, probing of the lacrimal canals. The diagnosis of dacryocystitis is also confirmed by a negative result of a passive tear-nasal test.

In inflammatory diseases, the eyes check visual acuity, intraocular pressure, determine the refraction of the eye (the refractive power of the optical system of the eye).

In some cases, computerized perimetry is prescribed to study the structures of the eyeball. Conjunctivitis is detected by slit lamp examination. To confirm the diagnosis, take a scraping from the conjunctiva.

for microscopy

and culture to identify the pathogen. If a viral nature of the disease is suspected, immunofluorescence and enzyme immunoassays are necessary. If other diseases are suspected that can provoke damage to the structures of the eye, blood tests are performed for rheumatoid factor,

sexually transmitted infections,

antinuclear antibodies.

Ultrasound examination reveals morphological changes in the eyes. Diagnosis of optic neuritis and glaucoma requires measurement of intraocular pressure, morphometric examination of the optic nerve head, examination of the fundus. It is also recommended to perform perimetry (examination of the boundaries of vision), since peripheral vision suffers in glaucoma.

Which doctors should I contact?

The appearance of pain in the eyes always requires the consultation of an ophthalmologist.

If the cause of the disease is autoimmune diseases, a therapist, rheumatologist, immunologist can be involved in the treatment.

What should be done if there is pain in the eyes?

Any eye pain requires immediate contact with an optometrist. If the eye injury is caused by a chemical burn, rinse the eye with water and immediately take the patient to a doctor. In case of flame burns, ice should be applied to the closed eye as soon as possible, wrapping it with a dry cloth. If a foreign body enters, do not independently remove small particles that can further damage the cornea. If an immediate visit to the doctor is not possible, it is necessary to drip disinfectant eye drops (0.25% solution of chloramphenicol, 20% solution of sodium sulfacyl) and try to get to the doctor as soon as possible. In this case, the movement of the eyeballs should be limited by applying sterile wipes to both eyes.

If the pain in the eyes radiates to the temple, the occipital region and is accompanied by dizziness and nausea, urgent hospitalization is necessary. These signs may indicate a decompensated form (acute attack) of glaucoma, which requires surgical intervention.

Treatment

In no case should you treat eye diseases yourself.

Only proper diagnosis and specialized care can prevent serious complications.

In inflammatory diseases, in most cases, conservative therapy is carried out using antibacterial drugs or antiviral agents. If necessary, the doctor may prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamins A, C and P. In cases of eye injury, treatment is determined by the depth of the wound channel. For non-penetrating wounds, the use of antiseptic and antibacterial drugs is recommended. With penetrating wounds, treatment is prescribed by an ophthalmologist after a thorough examination of the eye. With corneal erosion, therapy depends on the cause of the disease (dry eye syndrome, allergies, infection). With dacryocystitis and dacryoadenitis, treatment is aimed at stopping the inflammatory process and surgically draining the lacrimal canal.