The sensation of pressure in the eye can feel like a fullness, heaviness, or a stretching sensation. It may also be described as a dull discomfort around the eye, or a feeling of something pushing from the back. This common symptom can range from a mild, temporary annoyance to a sign of a more significant health issue.
Common Explanations for Eye Pressure Sensation
Many common and often temporary factors can lead to the sensation of eye pressure. Prolonged visual tasks, such as extended screen use or reading, often result in eye strain, manifesting as a tight or heavy sensation, sometimes with headaches or blurred vision.
Dry eyes are another frequent cause, occurring when eyes lack sufficient lubrication. This can cause irritation, a gritty feeling, and a sensation of pressure.
Allergies and environmental irritants can also cause eye pressure. Allergens trigger inflammation, redness, and swelling, which some perceive as pressure.
Inflamed or blocked sinuses, located around the eyes, nose, and cheeks, can exert pressure radiating to the eyes, often felt as a dull ache. Improperly fitted, overused, or poorly maintained contact lenses can also irritate the eye, causing discomfort or pressure.
Medical Conditions Causing Eye Pressure
Beyond common irritations, several medical conditions can cause a feeling of pressure in the eye. Glaucoma, a serious eye disease, damages the optic nerve, often due to increased intraocular pressure (IOP). While open-angle glaucoma usually has no early symptoms, acute angle-closure glaucoma involves a sudden, severe increase in eye pressure, causing intense pain, blurry vision, headaches, nausea, and halos around lights.
Ocular hypertension is elevated eye pressure without optic nerve damage, a precursor to glaucoma. It typically causes no symptoms, but regular eye exams are important for early detection.
Optic neuritis, an inflammation of the optic nerve, can cause pain or pressure behind the eye, often worsened by eye movement, and may lead to vision changes. Similarly, infections or inflammation around the eye, like orbital cellulitis, can result in significant pressure, pain, and swelling.
Thyroid eye disease (Graves’ ophthalmopathy), an autoimmune condition, can enlarge tissues behind the eyes, pushing them forward and causing pressure or pain, often worsened by eye movements. Eye injury or trauma can also directly cause pressure due to damage to eye structures or nerves. Additionally, migraines and tension headaches frequently cause pain and pressure around or behind the eyes, sometimes with visual disturbances.
When to Seek Professional Medical Attention
Seek professional medical attention if eye pressure is accompanied by warning signs. Sudden or severe pressure warrants immediate evaluation, especially with vision changes like blurriness, halos, or sudden vision loss.
Other concerning symptoms include severe eye pain, persistent headache (especially behind the eye), redness, inflammation, nausea, vomiting, double vision, or noticeable eye bulging. These require prompt medical assessment.
Consult a healthcare provider if you develop pressure after an eye injury or surgery. If symptoms persist despite self-care or worsen, seek an eye care professional’s opinion for diagnosis and treatment.
Diagnostic Approaches and Initial Steps
When visiting an eye doctor for eye pressure concerns, a comprehensive exam is performed. This typically includes measuring visual acuity, assessing intraocular pressure with tonometry, and examining internal structures with a slit lamp. Tonometry methods vary, from a gentle touch to a puff of air.
The eye care professional will also take a detailed patient history, asking about symptom nature, onset, and associated factors. Specific details about the pressure, its timing, and other symptoms can guide diagnosis.
While awaiting an appointment, self-care measures can provide relief. These include resting eyes, staying hydrated, avoiding eye rubbing, and practicing proper contact lens hygiene. Relying on professional medical evaluation, rather than self-diagnosing, is important for accurate assessment and management.