It is a common and uncomfortable experience to have eye pain when feeling unwell. This discomfort can range from a mild ache to a more significant sensation, often stemming from various bodily responses to illness. Understanding the different reasons behind this symptom can provide clarity and help in managing the discomfort.
How Your Body’s General Response Affects Your Eyes
When you are sick, your body initiates a widespread immune response to fight off infection. This response often involves systemic inflammation, a process where the body’s tissues become swollen and sensitive. This general inflammation can affect muscles and tissues throughout the body, including those in and around the eyes, leading to a feeling of soreness or aching.
Fever, a common symptom of many illnesses, can further contribute to this discomfort. An elevated body temperature increases overall body sensitivity, making existing aches and pains feel more pronounced, including those experienced in the eyes. The feeling of “body aches” that accompanies conditions like the flu can therefore extend to the eye area, making it feel tender or painful to move.
The Impact of Sinus Pressure
The sinuses are air-filled cavities located within the bones of your skull, positioned above, below, behind, and between your eyes. When you have a cold, allergies, or a sinus infection (sinusitis), these cavities can become inflamed and filled with fluid and mucus. This buildup creates pressure that can directly impact the eye sockets and surrounding nerves.
The proximity of the sinuses to the eyes means that this internal pressure can manifest as pain behind or above the eyes, or a feeling of tightness or achiness around the eyes, nose, forehead, and cheekbones. For example, inflammation in the ethmoid sinuses, located between the eyes, or the sphenoid sinuses, found behind the eyes, can specifically cause pain in these areas.
Specific Eye Conditions and Symptoms
Illness can sometimes lead to direct eye-related issues or symptoms. One common condition is conjunctivitis, often called “pink eye,” which involves inflammation of the conjunctiva, the clear membrane covering the white part of the eye and the inner eyelid. This condition can be caused by viral or bacterial infections, frequently accompanying respiratory illnesses like colds or the flu. Symptoms of conjunctivitis include redness, itching, discharge, and a gritty or burning sensation, which can contribute to overall eye pain.
Another symptom common with fevers and certain viral infections, such as the flu, is photophobia, or sensitivity to light. This occurs because the inflamed conjunctiva and cornea become more sensitive to bright light, causing discomfort and a tendency to squint. In some instances, viral infections can also irritate or inflame the optic nerve, a condition known as optic neuritis. This inflammation can cause pain with eye movement, blurry vision, and diminished vision.
Dehydration and Eye Discomfort
Illness often leads to reduced fluid intake and increased fluid loss through fever, vomiting, or diarrhea, resulting in dehydration. Dehydration can significantly impact eye comfort by reducing the body’s ability to produce adequate tears. Tears are essential for keeping the eyes moisturized and comfortable, and a decrease in their production can lead to dry eyes.
When tear production is insufficient, the eyes can feel dry, irritated, gritty, or even painful. This sensation arises because the tear film, which lubricates and protects the eye surface, becomes compromised. Staying properly hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids is therefore important for maintaining tear quality and quantity, helping to alleviate dry eye symptoms during illness.