Nasal bone/nasal root

Another cause of pain in the eye socket is found on the nasal bone or root of the nose. This is the so-called nasociliary neuralgia. A neuralgia is a form of nerve pain in which pain is caused by simple touch or even at complete rest.

In this case the nasociliary nerve is affected. There is hypersensitivity in the area supplied by the nerve, which extends from the tip of the nose via the root of the nose to the inner corner of the eye. Neuralgia results from inflammatory processes in the nerve, metabolic diseases such as diabetes or rare diseases that directly cause nerve damage.Reduced blood flow in the area around the nasal bone or the root of the nose can also lead to damage to the nerves.

The main symptom of this disease is pain at the nasal bone or root of the nose. These are usually of a stinging or burning character. Mostly the pain is localized on one side of the nose, moving to the corner of the eye and the orbit.

The pain in the orbit can occur from complete rest or can be caused by touching the area supplied by the nerve and usually lasts a few seconds. In some cases, pain at the root of the nose or nasal bone is still noticeable after hours. Symptoms such as swelling and lacrimation may also occur.

In many cases the diagnosis is not easy and lengthy, as the symptoms are rather unspecific. A precise questioning (anamnesis) of the patient provides the most information. After excluding all other causes such as specific headaches or other forms of neuralgia, nasociliary neuralgia can be identified as the cause.

An acute attack can be treated with local anaesthetics, which are applied superficially over the nasal bone or root of the nose or injected into the skin. Similar drugs are used to treat cluster headaches and migraines, so-called triptans or ergotamines. In addition, the affected nerve can be blocked and severed as a last resort.