Pain Behind Eye: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
If you’ve ever experienced pain behind or around your eyes, you’re not alone. Eye discomfort or hurting eyeballs is a common issue, often causing people to wonder if it’s something serious or just a passing nuisance. In this article, we’ll explore some common reasons why you might experience pain behind the eye, the symptoms you should watch for, some helpful hints, and importantly, when it’s essential to consult your GP or optometrist.
What Causes Pain Behind the Eye?
Pain behind the eye can have many different causes, whether it feels like a sharp, aching or stabbing pain in or behind the eye, eye socket aches, or dull pain. It can be something minor like eye strain or more significant issues that require professional attention.
As there are a lot of possible causes with some of them with serious implications, you must always seek professional evaluation for persistent, severe or troubling eye pain.
Here’s a look at some common causes:
Eye Strain and Digital Eye Strain
Extended use of screens, poor lighting, or uncorrected vision problems can strain your eyes, causing symptoms such as soreness, burning sensations, blurred vision, and headaches.
Sinus Congestion
We have sinuses above, below, behind and between our eyes! This means that inflammation from sinus infections, allergies and blockages can cause pressure and discomfort behind or around our eyes. There are usually other signs of this, such as nasal congestion or a runny nose, itch, sneezing, fever, or facial pain.
Tension Headaches and Migraines
Tension headaches commonly cause dull, aching pain around both eyes, often associated with stress, poor posture, or prolonged screen use. A migraine behind the eye, on the other hand, typically involve throbbing pain, sensitivity to light, visual disturbances (auras), and sometimes nausea, affecting one or both eyes. These headaches are not generally of concern.
Uveitis
Uveitis is an inflammation of a pigmented layer of tissue inside your eye. It can cause noticeable pain around or within your eye, typically along with redness, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, or the appearance of floating spots called ‘floaters’. Symptoms can start suddenly or build gradually.
Uveitis might occur due to an infection, an injury, or an autoimmune condition, but in many cases, the exact cause isn’t known. If you suspect uveitis, it’s essential to seek prompt assessment and care from an optometrist or ophthalmologist, as untreated inflammation can lead to serious complications and permanent damage.
Cluster Headaches
Cluster headaches are intensely painful, usually affecting one side only and often accompanied by symptoms like watery eyes, redness, and restlessness. They tend to occur in clusters over a period of days or weeks.
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorders
Problems with the jaw joint (TMJ) can cause referred pain behind the eyes, often associated with jaw clicking, difficulty chewing, or headaches.
Glaucoma
Acute angle-closure glaucoma is where the pressure inside the eye rises rapidly. It can result in severe pain and vision issues such as fogginess and halos or even rainbows around lights. Sudden onset- or acute- glaucoma is an eye health emergency that needs quick treatment, but it is not common.
A routine eye examination with your optometrist involves assessing risk factors for future glaucoma, and there is preventative treatment for people who are at risk of acute glaucoma. Another good reason for having regular eye check-ups at The Optical Co.
Optic Neuritis
Optic neuritis is a rare condition, involving inflammation of the optic nerve. It typically causes pain when moving the eyes and it often affects vision including colour vision. Symptoms usually develop over hours or days and typically affect one eye at a time. While optic neuritis can sometimes resolve on its own, it’s frequently associated with underlying conditions like multiple sclerosis, infections, or autoimmune disorders.
Immediate assessment by an optometrist or ophthalmologist is crucial, as early diagnosis and treatment can help protect your vision and identify any underlying causes.
Eye Injury or Trauma
Physical injuries to the eye or surrounding area may cause pain, swelling, bruising, and vision changes. Some eye or head injuries can damage internal structures inside the eye which can lead to vision loss, so be sure to have an eye examination if you have injured your eye or have vision symptoms after a head injury.
General Symptoms to Watch For
If you experience any of the following symptoms along with your eye pain, you should monitor your condition closely:
- Neurological symptoms, such as confusion or difficulty speaking – see a professional immediately
- Blurred vision or vision changes including loss – see a professional immediately
- Sharp, stabbing, or persistent aching pain behind eye
- Eye redness, swelling, or discharge
- Headaches or dizziness
- Nausea or sensitivity to light
If you’d like to discuss any of these symptoms with one of our eye health professionals – book your appointment here.
How to Relieve Pain Behind the Eye at Home
While home remedies won’t solve all eye pain issues, here are some things that may offer temporary relief:
- Nasal Decongestants: If you suspect sinusitis, then the usual remedies of allergy tablets or nasal sprays, nasal rinsing or oral decongestants may help reduce the sinus inflammation that is causing eye pain.
- Rest: Give your eyes regular breaks from screens and close your eyes briefly to relax.
- Spectacles: If your eye pain is worsened by tasks such as screen work, then wearing your prescribed spectacles can ease the stress on your eyes.
- Compresses: Apply cold or warm compresses gently to your closed eyes to reduce discomfort.
- Hydration: Drink plenty of water, as dehydration can sometimes contribute to headaches and eye discomfort.
- Over-the-counter pain relievers: Ibuprofen or paracetamol can temporarily ease minor pains.
- Posture: Maintain good posture and use ergonomic furniture to reduce strain.
Medical Treatment Options
Most eye pain is temporary or of no concern and requires no specific treatment.
Depending on the underlying cause, treatment options may include prescription medications for migraines, antibiotics for sinus infections, special eye drops or even surgery for conditions like glaucoma.
As there are many eye pain causes, if you have concerns about what is causing your symptoms, be sure to consult a health care professional.
When to See a Doctor or Your Optometrist
While minor discomfort may resolve quickly, you should promptly seek professional care if you experience:
- Sudden, severe, sharp pain behind eye
- Vision changes or vision loss, including a difference in brightness or colour between your eyes
- Eye redness or swelling
- Persistent or worsening pain in and behind eye
- Changes in symptoms when moving your eyes
- Any associated general or neurological symptoms, such as confusion or difficulty speaking, fever, sleepiness, malaise, weakness or tender areas on the face, temples or scalp.
Schedule Your Eye Checkup Today
Regular optometric eye check-ups are crucial for maintaining good vision and eye health.
If you’re experiencing persistent pain behind your eye, or if it’s been a while since your last check-up, book an appointment with The Optical Co. Our experienced, professional optometrists can help you with your eye health and vision needs.
Book your eye check-up now to ensure that your eyes are in good hands.
FREQUENTLY
ASKED
QUESTIONS
ABOUT EYE PAIN
Can dehydration cause pain behind the eye?
Yes, dehydration can lead to headaches and eye discomfort due to reduced fluid around the brain and eyes. Drinking sufficient water daily can help alleviate this.
Is pain behind the eye related to blood pressure?
High blood pressure can sometimes contribute to eye pain, such as during a hypertensive crisis. Regular blood pressure monitoring and medical check-ups can help manage this risk. Seek urgent medical care if you believe that this might be the case.
Can allergies cause pain or pressure behind the eyes?
Absolutely. Allergies can cause sinus congestion and inflammation, leading to pressure and pain around or behind the eyes, commonly referred to as “hurting eyeballs.”
How does poor sleep affect pain behind the eye?
Poor sleep can trigger or worsen tension headaches and migraines, causing eye discomfort. Establishing a consistent sleep routine may help reduce these issues.
Are there any exercises that help relieve pain behind the eye?
Simple eye exercises, such as gently focusing on distant objects or doing slow eye rotations, along with posture improvement exercises, can help reduce tension and strain behind your eyes.
Remember, while self-care can provide temporary relief, professional advice is crucial for persistent or severe symptoms, or where you have other symptoms occurring somewhere in your body at the same time.
Schedule your eye check-up today for peace of mind, appropriate guidance and care.
