The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your lower jaw to your skull, acting like a sliding hinge on each side of your head. Problems with these joints or surrounding muscles are called temporomandibular disorders (TMD). While jaw pain, clicking, and difficulty chewing are common TMD symptoms, discomfort can also extend to areas around or behind the eyes. This eye pain can be surprising, as the eye itself often appears healthy.
The Specific Feelings of TMJ-Related Eye Pain
TMJ-related eye pain often manifests as a dull, aching sensation behind or around the eye. Some describe it as pressure or fullness. Discomfort can also present as sharp, stabbing sensations that appear suddenly and then subside.
The pain might spread to nearby regions like the temple, forehead, or cheekbone, often on the same side as the affected TMJ. This pain can worsen with jaw movements such as chewing, talking, or yawning, or during stress. It is typically unilateral, affecting one eye on the side of the jaw issue. The eye itself usually looks normal, without redness, discharge, or vision changes, distinguishing it from primary eye conditions.
How TMJ Causes Eye Pain
Eye pain from a temporomandibular disorder arises from the intricate network of nerves and muscles in the head and face. The trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V) plays a significant role in this referred pain. Its branches innervate the TMJ, chewing muscles, and provide sensation to the eye and orbital area. When the TMJ or surrounding jaw muscles are dysfunctional or inflamed, pain signals can travel along these shared nerve pathways, causing the brain to interpret discomfort as originating in the eye.
Muscle tension in the jaw, particularly in the temporalis muscle near the temples, can also contribute to eye pain. This muscle can become tense or go into spasm, referring pain to the temple and eye region. Inflammation within the TMJ or its adjacent tissues can irritate these nerves, further contributing to eye pain.
Other Symptoms Associated with TMJ Eye Pain
When eye pain stems from a temporomandibular disorder, it frequently occurs alongside other common TMJ symptoms. Individuals may experience pain or tenderness in the jaw, often near the ear. Clicking, popping, or grating sounds in the jaw joint are also common when moving the jaw.
Other indications include limited jaw movement or a sensation of the jaw locking. Headaches, particularly tension headaches or migraines, often accompany TMJ-related eye pain. Ear symptoms such as earache, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), or a feeling of fullness in the ear can also be present, typically without an ear infection. Neck pain, shoulder pain, or generalized facial pain and tenderness may also be experienced.