Pressure Behind The Eye: Know causes, treatment (2024)

When you feel pressure behind your eye, it does not always arise from an issue within your eye.

It mainly starts from the other part of your head. Although eye conditions cause vision issues and eye pain, they cause pressure rarely.

The pressure behind the eye is also not caused by glaucoma that arises from the buildup of pressure in your eye.

Conditions of the eye like allergies, and pink eye cause pain in the eye but not any pressure.

The pain feels explicit, like stabbing, stinging, or a burning sensation.

Pressure behind the eyes appears like fullness or a stretching sensation within your eye.

Please continue to read to learn more about this pressure behind your eyes, its possible causes, and treatments.

 

Contents

What causes pressure behind the eye?

What causes pressure behind the eye

Below we share some Causes.

Eye Strain 

It is quite common to feel the pressure behind your eye, although the strain is no longer a medical condition.

It generally happens when your eyes are tired out of consistent use.

Reading the smaller prints, staring at the screen for most of the day, or driving for a longer period leads to eye strain.

A few of the other symptoms of these conditions include dry eyes, pressure in the socket, and blurry vision.

The effective treatment for eye strain is to take a break. It allows your eyes to rest away from the screen, book, or windshield.

Sooner, the pressure behind your eyes will vanish on its own.

 

Headache or Migraine

The pressure behind your eye can narrow down to a simple headache or a severe migraine issue.

Tension and cluster headaches are the two types of headaches.

Tension headaches are persistent, and they feel like you’re wearing a tightening headband.

Cluster headaches pulsate, and facial infections frequently accompany them.

This infection may produce pressure behind your eye.

Migraines come and go, yet they’re always there.

You might have pounding pressure in your head, light sensitivity, or even nausea.

Spotting lightning flashes before a headache can be a warning sign of an impending migraine.

The perfect manner of treating a headache is to consume over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin.

This will lessen the pain and help to relieve the pressure you are feeling behind your eye.

 

Sinus Infection 

One of the primary triggers of pressure behind the eyes is a sinus infection, sometimes known as sinusitis.

Above, beneath, behind, so between your eyes are your sinuses.

When an infection covers your sinuses with mucus, pressure builds up behind your eyes, nose, and cheeks.

Wheezing, a stuffy or watery nose, headache, blurry vision, and fever are other symptoms.

You might also feel tired, have a poor sense of smell, have toothache, or have terrible breath.

A sinus infection is simple to cure at home.

First, drink sufficient water and get the optimum level of rest.

A headache or eye pain might be relieved by taking over-the-counter pain relievers.

Flushing your nose with saltwater might also help to clear it out.

 

Allergies 

The feeling of pain behind your eyes while you experience allergic reactions happens for similar reasons, such as sinusitis.

The sinuses become inflamed with the pressure that builds up behind your face.

There are several over-the-counter allergy medications you can take to manage the symptoms.

But, if the allergies are consistent and severe, you should consult your doctor for further discussion about the possible treatment options.

 

Grave’s Disease 

An overactive thyroid gland causes grave Disease.

The pressure behind your eye can be a prominent warning, despite its characteristics all over your body; tissue, fat, and muscle swelling behind your eye.

It may swell as a result of this.

Irritation in the eyes, dryness, crying, blurry vision, double vision, and ulcers on the eye are all indications of Grave’s Disease.

The treatment plans for Grave’s Disease often include radioactive iodine therapy, beta-blockers, surgery, and anti-thyroid medications.

The main aim here is to reduce the production of the thyroid hormone. So turn to consult with your doctor immediately if you suspect a Grave’s Disease.

 

Optic Neuritis 

Optic neuritis is a health condition in which the nerves connecting your eyes to your brain become inflamed.

This can result in discomfort or stress in your eye.

Reduced or blurred vision, pain when moving the eyes, and even color blindness are some of the other symptoms.

Within a few days, the inflammation reaches its peak.

However, symptoms may take 4 to 12 weeks to improve.

Multiple sclerosis is frequently linked to optic neuritis (MS).

Optic neuritis affects 50 percent of MS patients. It’s frequently the initial sign of MS before a diagnosis is made.

Optic neuritis is treated following a complete medical examination.

A routine eye checkup, blood tests, ophthalmoscopy, or an MRI scan are all possible options.

A doctor can assess your optic neuritis and suggest treatment options.

 

Toothache 

Toothache can also cause pressure and pain in your eye.

There is even more dangerous than just the facial pressure when you are feeling a throbbing toothache from an infected area radiating the pain to your face.

The infections, when left untreated, spread throughout the tissue and muscles towards your eye region.

Red or swollen eyes would be the clear indicator here.

Heading out to your dentist can easily treat and alleviate your toothache, relieving the pressure behind your eye.

 

Face Injury

A facial injury can typically result in pressure or pain around the eye socket.

Fractures of the socket can result in tissue, muscle, and nerve injury.

A black eye, protruding eyes, unclear or double vision, and stiffness around the eye are all signs of a facial injury.

Most facial injuries can be treated at home using over-the-counter medications.

However, if you experience a fever, visual loss, recurrent headaches, or swelling, you should consult a doctor.

They can figure out what’s causing your new symptoms.

 

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When to go see the doctor? 

pressure behind the eye

Although pressure behind the eyes is also not a severe health concern in and of itself, it may signify the existence of a more serious problem.

Complaints such as loss of vision, wide eyes, fever, recurrent headaches, or skin eruptions should be addressed by a physician.

If the practitioner is unable to establish a diagnosis, they will send the patient to a specialist who can do a complete investigation.

The following are the treatments that can assist with the diagnosis:

  • Blood tests to determine the hormone levels. To diagnose Grave’s Disease, hormones produced by the thyroid are the main key.
  • CT scans can develop the best picture of the organs and brain.
  • The other method to map the body and brain is the MRI scans
  • Endoscopy involves the insertion of a camera into the nose to detect the health of the sinuses.

 

What are the treatment options? 

When you try to treat the pressure behind the eyes, it involves addressing the hidden causes.

The over-the-counter anti-inflammatory painkillers and drugs are quite safe to use.

They ease the feeling of pressure when it is not severe and do not appear as a side effect of a more grievous condition.

Consult your doctor if the pressure is severe and comes with other symptoms.

The following is the diagnosis where your doctor will prescribe the other treatments that are required:

  • Aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen for treating headaches
  • Steroid nasal sprays, antibiotics, or antihistamines for treating sinus infections.

(Consult with your doctor before taking any medication)

 

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Home remedies you can try 

Whatever the source, feeling pressure behind your eye is unpleasant.

There are a few simple ways to reduce pressure at home.

  • Anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen, are over-the-counter drugs that can help relieve pain and inflammation.
  • Eye drops: You will almost always require a prescription for eye drops. Inquire with your pharmacist about your alternatives. Eye drops that relieve swelling or irritation are available over the counter. To reduce pressure, do not put essential oils in your eyes.
  • If you’re experiencing heat and pain around your eye, applying a cool compress to it can be a welcome relief. It’s especially beneficial if you’ve had a facial injury.
  • Blindfold: A blindfold or an eye patch can be temporary relief if you experience sensitivity towards light.

You may need antiviral or antibiotic medications if you are feeling the pressure behind your eye due to an infection. You can get the prescription from your doctor.

 

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How to Avoid Pressure Behind the Eye in the Future? 

If migraines are causing the pressure behind your eyes, you can take precautions to prevent migraine triggers like flashing lights or particular foods.

If you suffer from tension headaches frequently, you can reduce the frequency of your attacks by minimizing eye strain and weariness.

If the pressure is caused by sinus irritation, you can use over-the-counter sinus medicine to relieve it.

At night, sleep with a humidifier to keep your sinuses moist and reduce swelling.

Take action to improve your overall health to reduce your chances of developing pressure behind your eyes in the future.

 

Get consistent sleep 

You should try sleeping for about 7 to 8 hours every night.

Lack of sleep triggers headaches and also reduces your immunity leading to sinus inflammations and related issues causing pressure behind your eyes.

 

Stay hydrated 

Headaches and other issues can also happen due to dehydration.

Take fluids frequently to alleviate these issues.

 

Elevate your head 

Try to raise your head with a few pillows as you are sleeping if you continuously feel the pressure behind your eyes.

This reduces your swollen face.

 

Consult your doctor 

Your doctor can make personalized recommendations to aid you in avoiding the pain and pressure behind your eyes in the future.

For example, they may even prescribe medication for sinus issues.

 

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FAQs 

Below we share some FAQs related to the “Pressure Behind The Eye”

1〉 What does it mean to have pressure behind your eyeball?

Simple headaches or sinus problems, which are straightforward to treat and unlikely to create consequences, frequently cause this pressure.

On the other hand, pressure behind the eyes could be a sign of something more serious, such as optic neuritis or Graves’ Disease.

In these circumstances, you should seek additional treatment.

 

2〉 How severe is the pressure behind the eyes?

A problem inside your eye isn’t always the cause of a sense of heaviness behind your eyes.

It usually begins in another portion of your head or face. Eye pressure symptoms should be taken carefully and discussed with your doctor.

 

3〉 Is eyeball pain a COVID symptom?

Conjunctivitis, episcleritis, scleritis, or optic neuritis can all be symptoms of COVID-19.

These talks help to fill in the gaps in our understanding of SARS-CoV-2 viral transmission and host infection mechanisms.

 

4〉 How does optic neuritis make you feel?

Rapid eye pain can be caused by several reasons, such as acute optic neuritis experienced in the eye.

The pain can sometimes feel like a dull aching behind the eye.

One eye has lost its vision.

The majority of persons experience some temporary vision loss. However, the severity of the loss varies.

 

5〉 What causes the pain behind my eyes?

Great pressure in the sinus cavities that dwell surrounding the eye’s bony orbit, sinus inflammation, and infections can produce pain around the eyes.

Optic Neuritis is a condition that affects the eyes.

This illness is an inflammatory disease of the optic nerve that causes pain behind the eye or anytime the eye moves.

 

6〉 Is it possible for anxiety to induce pressure behind the eyes?

When you’re under a lot of stress or anxiety, your body produces a lot of adrenaline.

This can cause eye pressure, resulting in hazy vision.

Long-term anxiety sufferers may have everyday eye strain, which can lead to muscle tension and headaches.

 

7〉 Is it possible for stress to induce pressure behind the eyes?

High levels of adrenaline in the body can induce strain on the eyes, resulting in impaired vision when we are stressed and concerned.

People who suffer from long-term anxiety may experience eye strain daily.

This is because anxiety makes the body extremely sensitive to even the tiniest action.

 

8〉 Is it true that stress raises ocular pressure?

According to a study published in Ophthalmology Glaucoma, psychological stress can considerably raise intraocular pressure (IOP) in healthy people.

 

9〉 Is it possible for stress to produce pain behind another eye?

Regardless of where the muscular tension arises, it can occasionally result in excruciating pain that radiates around one or both eyes.

 

10〉 Is there a link between anger and increased ocular pressure?

Psychological stress has been linked to increased ocular pressure in several studies.

The cause of the link is unknown, although these hormones and compounds generated during stressful situations may impact eye receptors.

 

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Outlook

  • The pressure behind the eye is massively dependent on the underlying causes.
  • The pressure often happens due to simple headaches and sinus conditions that are easy to deal with and unlikely to be the other causes of complications.
  • But, the pressure behind the eye can be a symptom of a more severe condition, including optic neuritis or Grave’s Disease. Consult for further treatments in the cases.
  • The pressure behind the eyes is not a severe medical condition, and the over-the-counter solutions can help in easing the discomfort and pain.
  • A few symptoms involved here are the loss of vision, swelling, and frequent headaches that a physician should analyze after a proper diagnosis.

 

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