Sinusitis
Inflammation of the paranasal sinuses is not a rare disease and occurs mainly in the winter months. It differs from a common cold in that it involves the sinuses, which are located below and above the eyes. In addition to the symptoms of a cold, it presents itself above all with a persistent pressure pain over the sinuses, which becomes significantly stronger when bending forward. Often, this persistent pressure pain leads to headaches, which can be perceived behind the eye due to the narrow anatomical position. The therapy of the sinusitis consists of the use of decongestant nasal sprays, which, depending on the preparation, contain proportions of cortisone and must be used for 2 weeks in order to achieve complete healing.
Diagnosis
As is so often the case, the collection of a patient’s medical history can be a key factor in the diagnosis of headaches behind the eye. For example, if the affected person reports an accompanying cold with pressure pain, the diagnosis of sinusitis is obvious. However, if the underlying cause is not clear, a more precise diagnosis of the headache should be made.
In addition to the exact description of the localization, intensity and secondary symptoms, this usually consists of the preparation of a headache diary. This can be crucial in the diagnosis, since many types of headache have a characteristic pain pattern. In rare cases, the use of an imaging technique may be necessary to rule out disorders such as temporal arteritis. In addition, an ophthalmologist should be consulted in order to rule out conditions such as glaucoma.
Associated symptoms
Depending on the underlying cause, various accompanying symptoms can occur in headaches behind the eye. For example, in addition to the feeling of pressure when the sinusitis is inflamed, a red, watery eye is an indication of the presence of cluster headaches.Nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light, on the other hand, are often part of the accompanying symptoms of migraine attacks, which can also have the pain focus behind the eye. Common to migraine and other diseases such as acute glaucoma or temporal arteritis is that they can often be accompanied by a short-term limitation or total loss of vision in one eye. If this symptom is not already known from other migraine attacks, a quick presentation to a physician should always be made here to prevent possible permanent damage.
