Headaches are one of the most common health impairments, and it is often difficult to uncover their cause. In rare cases, the pain may be an indication of a serious eye disease; more often, excessive or one-sided eye strain is associated with headaches. An ophthalmologic examination may therefore be useful to make the correct diagnosis.
Visit to the ophthalmologist often provides information
Ophthalmologists can tell if the discomfort is caused by the eye or if it is a common type of headache, such as migraine or tension headache, and will advise their patients accordingly. However, since the pain triggered by the eye often radiates into its surroundings and manifests itself particularly intensely there, it cannot always be precisely localized for the person affected. Thus, a disease of the eye, the eyelids, the lacrimal apparatus or the orbit often leads to complaints that are perceived as forehead, temple, ear or tooth pain.
The danger of misdiagnosis is obvious. Under certain circumstances, valuable time can pass before the actual cause is identified. This applies, for example, to glaucoma attacks, which require immediate ophthalmological treatment because, if left undetected, they can lead to irreversible blindness in a very short time. The area around the eye contains a particularly large number of nerve fibers that are very sensitive to pain.
Starting from the first branch of the fifth cranial nerve, the ciliary nerves supply the eye. Pain radiating to the area surrounding the eye occurs because irritation of the ciliary nerves (ciliary neuralgia) can also be transmitted to other branches of the fifth cranial nerve or to the very pain-sensitive meninges.
Eye-related headaches develop
- In inflammatory diseases of the eyelids, lacrimal gland, lacrimal sac and orbit,
- In inflammation of the anterior segments of the eyeball, especially the sclera, cornea and iris, as well as a sudden increase in intraocular pressure (acute glaucoma attack),
- In asthenopia. Typical of asthenopia is that those affected are completely symptom-free in the morning when they wake up. Only after increasing strain on the eyes occur in the course of the day dull pain behind the eyes and in the forehead and temple area. Sometimes even dizziness, nausea and vomiting are added.
