Associated symptoms
Depending on the cause of the pain over the eye, accompanying symptoms of various kinds can be caused. In the case of sinusitis, nasal secretion and olfactory disorders may also occur. A migraine can be accompanied by pain over the eye, light shyness, nausea and vomiting.
In addition, so-called short-term visual field failures, flickering of the eyes and radiating pain in the forehead and jaw area can occur. Both migraine and other headache disorders can be accompanied in some cases by dizziness, neck pain and sensitivity disorders in the temporal and facial region and sometimes also unilaterally in one arm and fingers. In the worst case, if there is an underlying disease, the pain over the eye can be accompanied by disturbances of consciousness.
The causes must be clarified and treated by a doctor. In addition to pain above or in the eye, eye diseases can cause radiating pain in the entire face, as well as visual disturbances (“blurred vision”, double vision, persistent loss of visual field).Very strong, suddenly appearing deep-seated and dull perceived pain above and in the eye can indicate a so-called acute glaucoma attack, if other symptoms occur (up to acute blindness and limitations of the pupil reactions to, these complaints are indications of an eye infarction. Both are emergencies and must be treated immediately by an eye specialist.
If the pain extends to the forehead, it may indicate chronic sinusitis and should be clarified by a doctor. Since the paranasal sinuses are in close proximity to the eye sockets and therefore to the eyes themselves, there is a risk that infections of the nasal region will spread to the eyes. This can lead to complications and subsequent damage to the eyes.
In children, so-called harmless orbital (from “orbit” = orbit) complications often occur in the context of paranasal sinusitis, which manifest themselves, among other things, as pain all the way to the forehead. In adults, the complications can be more serious. They are distinguished according to 5 degrees of severity.
In addition to the pain above the eye and up to the forehead, there are usually other complaints. In addition, pain over the eye and up to the forehead can occur in the context of various headache disorders or eye diseases. Pain over the eye can manifest itself in different ways as headaches.
Often it is difficult for those affected to describe exactly where the pain is located, so that eye pain and headache are often interpreted differently. These can have different causes. If they are particularly pronounced, permanent or recurring, a visit to a doctor is highly recommended.
In the context of some diseases, e.g. migraine, allergies or visual defects, light sensitivity can occur. In these cases light can cause pain over the eye. In some cases, bright light can cause pain without further causes.
In most cases, the pain is reduced as soon as the source of irritation is avoided or switched off. Probably this pain triggering is related to a very fine perception. A branch of the so-called triplet nerve emerges in the face exactly at the eyebrow.
If pain occurs in this area, this may indicate an irritation of this nerve. This can be triggered by an infection or in the course of a neurological disease. A so-called trigeminal neuralgia is characterized by excessive pain in the facial area.
In the case of a fracture of the strin bone or a fracture of the bony orbital cavity, the nerve may also be damaged and cause pain and sensitivity disorders of the eyebrow. If there is pain above the eye when coughing, this may be a sign of sinusitis. Due to swollen mucous membranes in the course of the inflammatory processes, a certain nerve branch in the eye area may be compressed.
Coughing can increase the pressure and cause pain over the eye. This pain is often described as stabbing. Some affected persons report a short-term pain, others a persistent pain.
If the pain persists, a medical clarification is advisable. When bending down, the pressure on the so-called ophthalmic nerve above the eye, at the eyebrow, increases. If the mucous membranes are swollen in the course of a sinusitis, the pain when bending down can increase due to the increased pressure.
This is often a typical sign of a sinusitis. There is a negative pressure in the airplane, which can become noticeable in the body especially during take-off and landing. This can manifest itself as severe pain above and behind the eyes. In many cases, this is a sign of chronic sinusitis, which only manifests itself in extreme situations, such as during landing approach. A medical clarification is advisable.