When you are feeling unwell, the experience of a deep ache or soreness upon moving your eyes can be a disconcerting symptom. This discomfort, often described as a throbbing sensation that intensifies when you shift your gaze, is a common side effect of many systemic illnesses. The pain is not typically due to an issue with the eye itself, but rather a temporary consequence of your body’s widespread reaction to fighting off an infection, particularly those caused by viruses. This temporary eye pain is an indicator that the immune system is actively engaged throughout your entire body.
Inflammation and the Eye Muscles
The underlying cause of this pain is directly linked to your body’s immune response, specifically the process of inflammation. When a viral or bacterial infection takes hold, the immune system releases numerous signaling molecules known as cytokines into the bloodstream. These chemicals are designed to coordinate the immune attack, but they also produce systemic symptoms like fever, body aches, and fatigue.
These circulating inflammatory cytokines can reach the delicate structures surrounding the eye. The movement of your eyeball is controlled by six small muscles, collectively known as the extraocular muscles, which reside in the orbit, the bony socket of the skull. The inflammatory molecules cause a temporary swelling, or myositis, within these muscles.
The orbital myositis results in the muscles becoming physically enlarged and tender. Since the orbit is a confined space, the swollen muscles press against their surroundings and the bony walls of the eye socket. Any action that requires these muscles to contract and stretch, such as looking up, down, or side to side, causes friction and strain on the inflamed tissue.
This physiological process is what translates into the deep, sore ache you feel when you move your eyes while sick. The pain is not coming from the surface of the eye or the cornea, but from the deep muscle tissue behind the eyeball. As the infection subsides and the body’s overall inflammatory response decreases, the swelling of the muscles goes down, and the pain resolves naturally.
Common Sicknesses Causing Eye Pain
The pain experienced upon eye movement is often associated with common viral infections that trigger a robust, systemic inflammatory response. Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is one of the most frequent culprits, regularly causing fever, severe body aches, and the characteristic soreness behind the eyes. Other upper respiratory illnesses, such as severe colds or infections caused by Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), can similarly induce this type of systemic inflammation.
Infections of the sinuses also frequently contribute to or exacerbate orbital pain. The sinuses are air-filled cavities located within the bones of the face and skull, with several of them situated immediately above, below, and next to the eye sockets. When a cold or infection causes the sinus lining to swell and fill with fluid, the resulting pressure can transmit directly to the eye area.
This buildup of pressure from congested sinuses can press on the nerves and surrounding orbital tissues, making the inflamed extraocular muscles even more sensitive to movement. While the primary cause of the pain may be muscular inflammation from a systemic viral infection, the physical pressure from sinus congestion often intensifies the discomfort.
Knowing When to Contact a Doctor
While temporary eye pain with movement during an illness is usually a benign symptom that resolves with the sickness, certain accompanying signs warrant immediate medical attention. You should contact a healthcare provider if you experience:
- Pain localized to only one eye accompanied by significant swelling, redness, or a noticeable bulging of the eyeball. These symptoms can be red flags for a more serious localized infection, such as orbital cellulitis.
- A sudden change in vision, like experiencing double vision or a significant loss of sight.
- Extreme light sensitivity (photophobia) combined with a severe headache and neck stiffness, which can indicate a serious condition like meningitis.
- Eye pain that persists long after your other symptoms have cleared or is not associated with any other cold or flu symptoms.