Eye pain is a symptom that can arise from many different causes. Factors causing eye pain may include conditions such as infections, fatigue, increased intraocular pressure, and dry eye syndrome. Some neurological conditions like migraines and headaches radiating to the eyes may also cause pain around the eye. If left eye pain, right eye pain, and pain behind the eye are experienced unilaterally and persistently, the underlying disease should be investigated.
What Causes Eye Pain?
Factors such as migraines, cluster headaches, sinusitis, and screen usage can cause eye pain. These types of pains can be felt on one side or in both eyes and are often confused with eye diseases. Particularly during migraine attacks, throbbing pain around the eye, sensitivity to light, and visual changes may occur.
Eye Fatigue and Digital Screen Use
Intense exposure to digital screens can lead to eye muscle fatigue due to the constant effort to focus. Additionally, the number of blinks decreases while in front of the screen. We blink approximately 15-20 times a minute; however, this number can drop to 7-8 while at the computer. As a result, dryness, stinging sensations, and pain may be experienced on the eye surface.
Eye Dryness and Allergies
Decreased tear production or deterioration in tear quality can lead to dry eye syndrome. Dryness presents with burning, stinging, a foreign body sensation, and pain. Environments with air conditioning, long-term contact lens use, and inadequate fluid intake can particularly increase eye dryness.
Allergies are also a common cause of eye pain. When exposed to allergens like pollen, dust, and animal dander, itching, watering, redness in the eyes may occur, along with pain.
Infections
Infections developing in eye tissues are important causes of pain.
-
Conjunctivitis: Inflammation of the eye membrane results in redness, burning, and pain.
-
Stye: Small swellings that occur with the inflammation of oil glands on the eyelid, causing redness and pain.
-
Keratitis: Inflammation of the cornea layer can cause severe pain, sensitivity to light, and blurred vision.
Eye Pressure (Glaucoma)
When there is a sudden increase in intraocular pressure, severe eye pain, blurred vision, flashes of light, and headache symptoms may appear. This condition requires urgent treatment and poses a risk to eye health.
Migraines and Headaches Radiating to the Eye
Among the types of headaches, migraines and cluster headaches can manifest with pain radiating around the eye. During a migraine, one-sided throbbing eye pain, sensitivity to light, nausea, and visual disorders may be seen. Cluster headaches are shorter but very intense; they usually cause severe pain around one eye, redness, and watering in the eye.
Pain Behind the Eye and Sinusitis Relationship
Sinusitis is the inflammation of the sinus cavities within the facial bones and can cause pressure and pain around the eye. The pain felt behind the eye often increases when bending forward or with sudden movements. Pain behind the eye due to sinusitis generally accompanies nasal congestion, headache, fever, and fatigue.
What Causes a Headache Radiating to the Eye?
Conditions that can be felt in the eyes include migraines, cluster headaches, and sinusitis. Headache radiating to the eye can be felt on one side or in both eyes and may sometimes be confused with eye diseases.
Migraine and Eye Pain
Migraine, appearing in attacks and lasting for hours or even days, is a severe headache. During a migraine, throbbing pain around one eye, sensitivity to light and sound, blurred vision, and nausea can accompany. Some people experience visual disturbances or flashes of light known as aura before a migraine.
Cluster Headache
Cluster headache is a rare but severe type of headache. It is unilateral and often concentrates around the eye. The pain can be accompanied by redness in the eye, tearing, swelling of the eyelid, and nasal discharge.
Sinusitis and Pain Reflected to the Eye
Sinusitis, which develops with inflammation of the sinus cavities, can cause a sense of pressure, especially behind and around the eye. Nasal congestion, increased pain when bending forward, and facial tenderness are typical symptoms of sinusitis. This condition is often confused with eye pain as the pressure in the sinuses directly reflects around the eye.
What Causes Unilateral Eye Pain?
Unilateral eye pain may be a symptom of different health issues. Causes of pain occurring in the right or left eye include migraine, eye infections, dry eye syndrome, eye pressure (glaucoma), sinusitis, trauma, and muscle fatigue.
-
Left Eye Pain
Eye pain can be due to various reasons such as dry eye, eye injuries, and migraines. Additionally, pressure or inflammation in the optic nerves can also cause pain.
-
Right Eye Pain
Right eye pain is due to sinusitis, dry eye, or infection. However, if it is accompanied by vision disorders and severe headaches, it requires specialist examination.
How Does Eye Pain Go Away?
Eye pain can be caused by various reasons and may be uncomfortable. Resting, allowing your eyes to rest, and taking regular breaks can help reduce eye pain. Moisturizing and relief can also be provided by using eye drops.
-
Rest and screen breaks: Regularly resting the eyes helps reduce pain.
-
Artificial tear drops: They can provide relief in pain due to dry eye.
-
Cold or warm compress: May be supportive in pain caused by infections or fatigue.
-
Medication treatment with doctor recommendation: Antibiotic drops, glaucoma medications, or allergy treatment should be applied under specialist control.
In cases of eye pain that do not go away on their own, become increasingly severe, and are accompanied by vision loss, a visit to an eye diseases specialist is mandatory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What diseases can pain behind the eye indicate?
Pain behind the eye can be due to sinusitis, eye pressure (glaucoma), and migraines. Although rare, it can also be indicative of serious conditions such as tumors.
How many times do we blink approximately in a day?
Under normal conditions, we blink about 15–20 times a minute. This means approximately 14,000–20,000 blinks in a day. However, as screen time increases, the blink rate may decrease.
Can left eye pain be heart or brain-related?
Yes. Sudden onset and unilateral eye pain can indicate vascular blockages or brain-related issues. In such cases, immediate medical assessment is necessary.
What should be done at home for eye pain?
Efforts should be made not to look at digital screens for extended periods, eyes should be rested, and artificial tear drops can be used. However, home treatment is not sufficient for severe and persistent pains.
What is the difference between a headache radiating to the eye and a migraine?
Migraine causes a throbbing pain with sensitivity to light and nausea, while cluster headache is more short-lived, unilateral, and associated with redness in the eye.
