What to know about a headache behind the eyes
Headaches behind the eyes are common, and they may result from underlying health issues ranging from eye strain to migraine.
Eyestrain
Focusing and refocusing on a screen for long periods can cause eye strain, which can also result from problems with vision.
Fatigue from eye strain can cause pain behind one or both eyes. A person may also experience pain in their eyes or blurry vision.
Causes
Some underlying health issues that cause eye strain include:
optic neuritis, which is inflammation of the optic nerve.
scleritis, which is severe inflammation of the white part of the eye
glaucoma, a disease that affects the optic nerve
Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder
Staring at a computer, TV, or phone screen for long periods can also cause eye strain.
Migraine
In addition to a migraine headache, a person may experience:
- eye pain
- dizziness
- weakness
- nausea
- sensitivity to light and sound
- mood changes
- vomiting
- impaired vision
Causes
While doctors are unsure what, precisely, causes migraine, they recognize several common triggers. These are not the same for everyone.
Migraine triggers may be:
emotional, such as stress or anxiety
dietary, such as chocolate or alcohol
physicals, such as a lack of sleep or poor posture
hormonal, such as menstruation
environmental, such as strong smells, smoke, or flickering lights
medication-related, involving sleeping pills or hormone therapies, for example
And More Problems Like
Sinusitis
Cluster headaches
Tension headaches
Treatment
Avoiding the various factors below can often help relieve or prevent pain behind the eyes:
- loud noises
- strong perfume and other odors
- infections
- alcohol use
- hunger
- stress
- changes in hormones
- fatigue
- bright lights
- a lack of sleep
Over-the-counter pain medication can often relieve mild or moderate headaches, but when the pain is severe, prescription medication may be necessary.
Utsav Eye Clinic
Dr. Anand Kumar
Kharghar Navi Mumbai
Utsav Eye Clinic: Eye Clinic in Kharghar | Eye Specialist Doctor