Feeling pressure behind the left eye can be unsettling. This sensation, often described as a dull ache, fullness, or tightness, is a common symptom. While it can sometimes indicate serious conditions, it often stems from benign issues. Understanding its potential origins helps determine when medical attention is needed. This article explores common causes of eye pressure.
Everyday Reasons for Eye Pressure
Many instances of pressure behind the eye relate to daily activities and typically resolve with simple adjustments. Prolonged screen time, extensive reading, or inadequate lighting can lead to eye strain. This fatigues the eye muscles, causing a sensation of pressure around or behind the eyes.
Dry eyes are another common cause, where insufficient tear production or poor tear quality irritates the eye’s surface. This irritation can manifest as pressure or discomfort. Tension headaches also frequently present as a band-like tightness around the head, often extending to cause pressure or a dull ache behind the eyes. These headaches arise from muscle contractions in the head and neck, referring pain to the eye area.
Eye-Specific Conditions
Some conditions directly impacting the eye or its surrounding structures can cause pressure. Glaucoma, a group of eye diseases, often involves increased intraocular pressure. This elevated pressure can damage the optic nerve, which transmits visual information to the brain. While chronic glaucoma may not always cause noticeable pressure, acute forms can lead to intense eye pain and pressure.
Optic neuritis involves inflammation of the optic nerve, causing pain or pressure behind the eye, particularly with eye movement, and potential vision changes. Other inflammatory conditions, such as scleritis and uveitis, can also contribute to deep eye pain and pressure due to inflammation of the eye’s outer white layer or middle layer.
Other Medical Conditions
Pressure behind the eye can also originate from conditions seemingly unrelated to the eye itself. Sinusitis, an inflammation or infection of the sinuses, especially those behind the eyes, can cause throbbing pain and pressure around the eyeballs. Swelling and mucus buildup in these air-filled cavities exert pressure on surrounding structures, including the eye socket.
Migraine headaches often present with severe, pulsing pain, frequently localized behind one eye. These headaches can also include sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, or visual disturbances. Cluster headaches, a distinct and severe type, are characterized by intense, unilateral pain often felt behind or around one eye, accompanied by symptoms such as tearing, nasal congestion, and eyelid drooping on the affected side.
Dental issues, particularly problems with upper teeth, can also refer pain to the eye area. The trigeminal nerve, which supplies sensation to the face, has branches connecting both the teeth and the area around the eyes. An infected tooth or issues like teeth grinding can therefore cause referred pain or pressure behind the eye. While rare, severe conditions such as aneurysms or tumors can sometimes cause eye pressure, though these are typically accompanied by other pronounced neurological symptoms.
When to See a Doctor
While many causes of pressure behind the eye are not serious, certain symptoms warrant prompt medical evaluation. Seek immediate attention if the pressure is sudden and severe, or if it is accompanied by vision changes such as blurriness, loss of vision, or seeing halos around lights. Other concerning indicators include fever, nausea, vomiting, a severe headache unlike any experienced before, or neurological symptoms like weakness, numbness, or facial drooping. Any eye redness, swelling, or discharge along with the pressure also suggests a need for medical assessment. If the pressure worsens or does not improve with self-care measures, consulting a healthcare professional is advisable.
Getting a Diagnosis and Treatment
When experiencing pressure behind the eye, a healthcare professional will typically begin by taking a detailed medical history and conducting a physical examination. This often includes a comprehensive eye exam to assess vision, eye movement, and the health of the eye’s internal structures. Depending on the suspected cause, various diagnostic tests may be performed.
Eye pressure measurement, known as tonometry, is a common test used to check for conditions like glaucoma. Imaging tests, such as CT scans or MRIs, might be ordered if a neurological origin or sinus issue is suspected. Blood tests could also be conducted to rule out certain inflammatory or systemic conditions. Treatment for pressure behind the eye is specific to the underlying cause; this could involve eye drops for glaucoma, antibiotics for a sinus infection, or medications tailored for migraines or cluster headaches.