Pain behind your eyes—common causes and potential treatments

Whether it’s from a hangover, sinus pressure, or something else, when you feel pain behind your eyes, you just want it to go away. Learn common causes your doctor may identify and potential treatments they might recommend.

What could be causing pain behind your eyes?

Pain behind the eyes can be annoying, debilitating, and everything in between, especially because it can be an indication of a variety of issues. Even seemingly minor pain behind the eyes can make it difficult to do everyday things like work, drive or read. If you’re experiencing concerning, persistent or severe pain behind your eyes, it’s time to see a doctor. Here are some things they may test you for:

1. Eye strain

Spend a lot of time staring at screens? Pain behind your eyes could be associated with eye strain. This can happen when your eyes become tired from intense focus on one thing for a long period of time. Reading, driving long distances, gaming and scrolling social media can all contribute to eye strain.

Ways to help prevent eye strain

Remember to take breaks. Try the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, take a break to look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.

2. Migraines

People who get migraines often experience a throbbing pain behind one eye. Migraines can be triggered by many things like stress, specific foods, or hormonal changes. While having a migraine, you may also get visual disturbances, nausea, or sensitivity to light and sound.

Potential treatments and prevention

Your doctor may recommend certain over-the-counter medications, or even prescribe you medication specifically for migraines. They may also help you identify your triggers—like specific foods or stress—and advise you to avoid them when possible.

3. Tension Headaches

This is one of the most common types of headaches. They’re often triggered by stress, poor posture, or prolonged activity that requires focus. Pain from tension headaches typically feels like a tight band around the head and can affect the forehead, temples, and areas behind the eyes.

Potential treatments for tension headaches

If your tension headaches are concerning to you, see your doctor. They may recommend things like pain relievers, or lifestyle changes. Being aware of your posture, managing stress, and taking breaks during things like working or reading may also help prevent tension headaches.

4. Sinusitis

Sinusitis, or a sinus infection, occurs when the lining of the sinus cavities becomes inflamed, which can cause pressure, pain or discomfort behind your eyes. Other symptoms may include facial pain, headaches, nasal congestion, and a thick nasal discharge.

Potential treatments for sinusitis

When your doctor treats sinusitis, they may prescribe a combination of decongestants, pain relievers, and antibiotics if the cause is bacterial. In some cases, saline nasal sprays and warm compresses can be useful for alleviating nasal congestion and facial pressure.

5. Dental or jaw problems

Dental issues can also be felt as pain behind the eyes. If this happens, it’s known as “referred pain.” Tooth infections or problems related to the jaw (like temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders) may also come with pain when biting down, jaw clicking, and headaches. If your doctor determines the source of your pain is your teeth or jaw, they may refer you to a dentist for a treatment plan.

Less common causes of eye pain behind the eye

Optic Neuritis

Optic neuritis is inflammation of the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain. Symptoms usually happen in one eye only and may include vision loss or blurriness, along with pain that worsens when moving the eye. This condition is commonly associated with multiple sclerosis but may happen for other reasons too. This is a condition that it’s crucial to be under the care of an eye care professional for, as early intervention can help prevent potential vision loss. Treatment for optic neuritis may include the use of steroids to reduce inflammation and swelling.

Graves’ Disease

Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder that can lead to increased pressure behind the eyes. It affects the thyroid gland and may cause the eyes to bulge. People with Graves’ disease may also have redness, dry eyes, and inflammation of the eye muscles, which may further exacerbate the feeling of pressure or pain. Once diagnosed, managing Graves’ disease often involves medication to help regulate thyroid function. In some cases, it may be necessary to use eye drops or even undergo surgery.

Home remedies for pain behind the eyes to ask your doctor about

Over-the-counter pain relievers

Medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can often help with mild pain behind the eyes. Be sure to follow dosing instructions carefully.

Lifestyle changes

Staying hydrated, taking regular breaks when working on screens, and keeping a good sleep schedule can help you keep your eyes healthy and pain-free.

Warm or cold compresses

Warm compresses can relax the surrounding muscles, while cold compresses may reduce swelling and soothe discomfort. A clean cloth soaked in warm or cold water gently applied to the eyes may help provide some relief.

Regular eye exams

An eye doctor can offer personalized recommendations based on your individual needs and symptoms. They may suggest corrective lenses or additional treatments if necessary.

See an eye doctor with any concerning changes to your eye health

If the pain behind your eyes is concerning, persistent, or severe, and/or occurs with other concerning symptoms like sudden vision changes, it's important to see a medical professional as soon as possible. Early diagnosis and treatment can help you protect your eyes and your vision.

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FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Is pain behind the eyes a serious condition?

It depends on the source of the pain behind your eyes. Persistent or severe pain could signify a serious condition, but only your eye doctor can diagnose your pain and prescribe treatment.

Can stress lead to pain behind my eyes?

Yes, stress is a common trigger for tension headaches, which can cause discomfort behind the eyes.

Are there home remedies for pain behind my eyes?

Your first step when you have worrying pain behind your eyes is to reach out to your doctor. They may recommend home remedies like warm or cold compresses, proper hydration, and regular breaks from screens to help relieve discomfort. In some instances, medication or other treatments may be necessary.

What should I do if I have blurry vision along with the pain?

If you have symptoms like blurry vision that accompany the pain behind your eyes, see an eye care professional. They’ll help identify the underlying cause and give you a personalized treatment plan.

Can exercises help reduce eyestrain?

There are things that you can do to help relieve or reduce eye strain. This could include extra blinking, rolling your eyes, and following the 20-20-20 rule, where every 20 minutes you look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.