A sinus infection, or sinusitis, occurs when the air-filled spaces in your forehead, cheeks, and behind your nose become inflamed. This inflammation, often caused by viruses, bacteria, or allergies, leads to fluid buildup and pressure. Sinus infections can cause red eyes. This article explores the link between sinus infections and eye symptoms, other signs to recognize, when to seek medical help, and how to find relief.
How Sinus Infections Affect Your Eyes
The close proximity of the sinuses to the eyes creates a direct link for symptoms to manifest. When sinuses inflame, swelling can press on surrounding structures, including the eye sockets and tissues around the eyes. This pressure can lead to discomfort, pain, and a feeling of fullness. Inflammation can also trigger an immune response causing redness, irritation, and swelling of the eyelids and surrounding tissues.
In some instances, a sinus infection can lead to more serious eye complications. Periorbital cellulitis, or preseptal cellulitis, is an infection of the eyelid and skin around the eye, located in front of the orbital septum, a thin membrane. This condition, more common in children, can cause swelling and redness around the eye. A more severe, though less common, complication is orbital cellulitis, an infection of the soft tissues and fat within the eye socket, behind the orbital septum. Orbital cellulitis often originates from an untreated bacterial sinus infection and can lead to symptoms like eye pain, bulging, and impaired eye movement.
Recognizing Other Sinus Infection Signs
Red eyes often accompany other common sinus infection symptoms, providing a broader picture. Many symptoms feel similar to a common cold but persist longer or worsen. Facial pain and pressure are hallmark signs, frequently felt around the eyes, forehead, and cheeks, and may intensify when bending over.
Other indicators include nasal congestion, often with thick, discolored mucus that can be yellow or green. Post-nasal drip, where mucus runs down the back of the throat, can cause a cough and sore throat. Headaches, fatigue, and sometimes a low-grade fever can also be present.
Understanding When to Get Help
While many sinus infections resolve on their own, certain symptoms warrant prompt medical attention, especially those affecting the eyes. If symptoms worsen after initial improvement, or persist longer than 10 to 14 days, consult a healthcare provider. Severe pain, a high fever, or any vision changes like blurriness, double vision, or decreased sight, are concerning signs.
Immediate medical evaluation is necessary if there is swelling, redness, or a bulging appearance around the eye, or if eye movement becomes difficult or painful. These symptoms could indicate a spreading infection, such as orbital cellulitis, which requires prompt treatment to prevent complications like vision loss or the infection spreading to other areas, including the brain.
Relieving Sinus Infection Eye Symptoms
Managing sinus infection symptoms, including eye discomfort, often involves home care and, if necessary, medical interventions. Applying a warm compress over the eyes and nose can help alleviate pain and loosen mucus. Alternating with a cold compress might reduce swelling. Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids also helps thin mucus, making it easier to drain.
Using saline nasal sprays or nasal irrigation with a neti pot can help flush nasal passages, reducing congestion and pressure. Breathing in steam from a hot shower or a humidifier can moisten nasal passages and ease congestion. Over-the-counter pain relievers can help manage discomfort. A doctor may prescribe antibiotics for bacterial infections, or decongestants and corticosteroids to reduce inflammation.