Pain in the eye socket

Introduction

Pain in the eye socket is a symptom that can occur in a variety of diseases. It is a rather unspecific phenomenon and can have various causes. Frequently, structures outside the orbit are also affected.

These are usually harmless causes such as flu, and dental problems can also cause pain in the orbit. There are also rare diseases, some of which can have serious consequences and require medical treatment. In the following, the most common possible causes of pain in the eye socket are illuminated starting from different structures.

Pain in the eye cavity due to flu or cold

A cold or even the real flu manifests itself with a variety of symptoms. Among them may be pain in the eye socket, which is usually caused by an inflammation of the paranasal sinuses. The reason for pain in the orbit in the case of a flu or a cold is in most cases an inflammation of the paranasal sinuses.

If one suffers from the flu or a cold, the nasopharyngeal cavity is also particularly affected. It is inflamed and filled with secretion, which contains many pathogens (mostly bacteria). There are, however, other air-filled paranasal sinuses in the facial skull, which are connected to the nasal cavity via small passages, namely four different cavities, which are located in the forehead (frontal sinus), jaw (maxillary sinus) and sphenoidal bone.

In some cases, pathogens can enter the sinuses during a flu or cold, resulting in the development of sinusitis. Children are particularly affected during a cold or flu. Due to the immediate anatomical proximity to the eye socket, pain also occurs here.

In rare cases, the inflammation spreads directly to adjacent bone layers or the eye socket, which aggravates the symptoms. In most cases, pain in the orbit exists even without an inflamed sinus, because the pressure (intraocular pressure) in the orbit is increased by the difficulty in draining secretions. This also irritates nerves in the orbit.

In addition to the pain in the orbit that occurs during a flu or a cold, there are other symptoms that indicate sinusitis. Watery eyes and slight redness can be observed. Headaches also occur frequently.

The pain itself is oppressive and increases when you bend over, e.g. when tying shoes. The pain becomes worse when you move your eyes. A slight tapping in the area of the forehead and above the eye socket also causes an unpleasant pain.

The diagnosis of sinusitis in the context of a cold or flu is primarily made by asking about the typical symptoms (as part of the medical history). In addition, it is possible to take a smear of nasal secretion if one wants to identify a pathogen. In case of complications such as inflammation of the orbit, imaging such as MRT, CT or X-ray may be useful.

Therapy for pain in the orbit caused by sinusitis in the case of flu or cold is mainly symptomatic. The eye pain disappears as the disease subsides. Decongestant nasal sprays and liquefying measures such as steam inhalation are used to support the treatment of sinusitis or sinus congestion.

Painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol relieve the symptoms. Herbal remedies such as Sinupret® forte or Sinupret® drops promote recovery. In severe cases, inflammation must be combated with antibiotics, especially if the pain in the eye socket increases and does not disappear after a few days. Chronic complaints may require surgery.