What Could Cause Pain Behind The Eye?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

Also referred to as sinusitis, sinus inflammation causes pressure and pain behind your eyes and tenderness in the front of your face. Throbbing pain from a migraine headache almost always includes pain behind the eyes. This condition is caused by the buildup of intraocular pressure.

When should I be concerned about eye pain?

Call 911 or your local emergency number for eye pain if: It is

unusually severe or accompanied by headache

, fever or unusual sensitivity to light. Your vision changes suddenly. You also experience nausea or vomiting.

What does it mean when you have pain behind your eyeball?

Many conditions can cause pain behind your right eye. We recommend watching for symptoms of an increase in sinus pressure (or an infection), migraines, and

optic neuritis

. All of these issues can affect the areas around your eye if left untreated.

What causes sudden pain behind the eye?

Sharp or sudden pain in the eye is usually due to

debris in or around the eye

. It’s commonly described as an aching, stabbing, or burning feeling within the eye itself. Sharp pain can also be caused by more serious conditions such as uveitis or glaucoma.

What do you do when the back of your eye hurts?

  1. Home care. The best way to treat many of the conditions that cause eye pain is to allow your eyes to rest. …
  2. Glasses. If you frequently wear contact lenses, give your corneas time to heal by wearing your glasses.
  3. Warm compress. …
  4. Flushing. …
  5. Antibiotics. …
  6. Antihistamines. …
  7. Eye drops. …
  8. Corticosteroids.

How do you relieve pain behind your right eye?

Medication for headache behind the eye

Over-the-counter pain medicine can ease occasional headaches. It may even help with migraines if you take it early enough. Doctors often recommend

acetaminophen (Tylenol)

or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve).

Is pressure behind the eyes serious?

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.

What is an eye stroke?

An eye stroke, or anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, is

a dangerous and potentially debilitating condition

that occurs from a lack of sufficient blood flow to the tissues located in the front part of the optic nerve.

What kind of headache is behind one eye?


Cluster headaches

are a series of three or four short but painful headaches. They’re not as common as tension headaches. Cluster headaches can last as short as 15 minutes to over an hour. They’re described as a searing or piercing painful sensation usually located behind one eye.

Can eye pain be caused by stress?

Symptoms of stress


Stress literally can make our eyes sore

. Digital eye strain, for example, can cause the muscles around the eyes to become strained and trigger headaches. Fortunately, most stress-related eye problems are temporary, especially once the stressor contributing to them is addressed.

What can be mistaken for pink eye?

Don’t assume that all red, irritated, or swollen eyes are pinkeye (viral

conjunctivitis

). Your symptoms could also be caused by seasonal allergies, a sty, iritis, chalazion (an inflammation of the gland along the eyelid), or blepharitis (an inflammation or infection of the skin along the eyelid).

Can dental problems cause eye pain?

People who grind their teeth in most cases do it during sleep.

Teeth grinding can irritate the jaws

and thus resulting in a migraine and eye pain. Tooth decay is another dental problem that can result in a headache or eye pain.

Why do I feel pain behind my ears?

Pain behind the ear can have many possible causes. These include

ear infections, impacted earwax, dental problems, jaw problems, and nerve problems

. A healthcare professional can get to the bottom of your pain with a focused history and examination.

Can BP cause eye pain?

Persistent, untreated high blood pressure can cause

damage

to the retina, the tissues at the back of the eye responsible for receiving the images we need to see. The condition can lead to symptoms including double or dim vision, loss of vision and headaches.

Is pressure behind the eyes a symptom of coronavirus?

“Sore Eyes” Reported as

Most Significant Ocular Symptom

of COVID-19. The most significant ocular symptom experienced by those suffering from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was sore eyes, according to new research published in BMJ Open Ophthalmology.

Can anxiety cause pressure behind eyes?

Stress impacts us mentally and physically, but did you know it can affect our vision? When we are severely stressed and anxious,

high levels of adrenaline in the body can cause pressure on the eyes

, resulting in blurred vision. People with long-term anxiety can suffer from eye strain during the day on a regular basis.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.