Pain under the eyebrow is common, with causes ranging from minor issues to serious underlying conditions. Understanding these origins helps interpret symptoms and decide when medical attention is beneficial. This article explores reasons for pain in this area.
Headaches and Migraines
Headaches are a frequent cause of pain under the eyebrow. Tension headaches are common, creating a sensation of a tight band around the head that often spreads to the eyebrow and temple areas. This pain is mild to moderate and can last from 30 minutes to several days.
Migraines cause intense, throbbing pain that can affect one side of the head, including the eyebrow, eye, and temple. Episodes can last from 4 hours to 3 days and may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and heightened sensitivity to light and sound. Cluster headaches are characterized by severe, sharp, piercing pain located around one eye or behind the eyebrow. These headaches can occur multiple times a day for weeks or months, often with a red or watery eye, a drooping eyelid, or a stuffy nose on the affected side.
Sinus-Related Issues
Inflammation or infection of the sinuses, known as sinusitis, can lead to pain under the eyebrow. The frontal sinuses are located just above the eyes. When inflamed or congested, trapped mucus leads to increased pressure and pain in the forehead and around the eyebrows.
Sinus pain feels like pressure and can worsen when bending over or moving the head. Common symptoms include nasal discharge, a stuffy nose, a reduced sense of smell, and sometimes a mild fever or cough. Sinusitis can be caused by viral infections, allergies, or structural issues like nasal polyps.
Eye Conditions and Strain
Various eye problems can contribute to pain under the eyebrow. Eye strain is common, especially for those who spend long hours on visual tasks. Prolonged visual tasks can lead to fatigued eye muscles, resulting in discomfort around the forehead and eyebrow area.
Uncorrected vision problems can cause eyes to work harder, leading to strain and referred pain. Dry eyes can also cause discomfort around the eyebrows. Acute angle-closure glaucoma is a medical emergency with sudden, severe eye pain, blurred vision, headaches, and sometimes nausea or vomiting. Optic neuritis, an inflammation of the optic nerve, can cause pain around the eye that may extend to the eyebrow.
Less Common but Serious Causes
Other less frequent but serious conditions can cause pain under the eyebrow. Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic nerve pain condition affecting the trigeminal nerve. It causes sudden, intense, sharp, or electric shock-like pain in parts of the face, including the area around the eyebrow. This pain is severe and often affects only one side of the face.
Temporal arteritis involves inflammation of the arteries, causing a severe headache that may feel like pain under the eyebrow. Other symptoms include jaw pain, vision changes, and scalp tenderness. Referred pain from dental issues or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders can also manifest as pain in the eyebrow region. TMJ disorders can cause tension that radiates throughout the head, including the forehead and eyebrow area.
When to Seek Medical Attention
Seek medical advice if pain under the eyebrow is severe, persistent, or accompanied by other concerning symptoms. Immediate medical attention is warranted for sudden, severe pain. Vision changes, such as blurred vision or double vision, are red flags.
Other symptoms signaling a need for prompt medical evaluation include fever, swelling or redness around the eyes, nausea, vomiting, or any new weakness or numbness. Pain under the eyebrow that occurs after an injury should also be assessed by a healthcare professional. Self-diagnosis should not replace professional medical advice, especially for severe or unusual symptoms.