Headache Behind Eyes | The 6 Possible Causes and Treatment Options
Having a headache behind eyes could be several conditions. The best way to know what disease applies to your situation is to do a thorough process of elimination.
Your doctor can do this, or you and a loved one can do it if that isn’t an option. If you decide to do a self-evaluation in the interim, there are a few things to note.
However, we recommend getting professional help as the information here is only for sharing purposes.
If you plan to self-examine, you need to know a few things. It is essential to understand what is causing the headache behind the eyes. To eliminate any causes, you first must consider the symptoms; you can probably write them down.
Once you have identified a group of symptoms, you can now compare based on the information shared. The next step would be to see what treatments you can use to help, but I reiterate seeing a physician is critical.
Based on this understanding, there are several reasons for headaches behind the eyes, symptoms, and treatments to consider.
Sinus Headaches
It would amaze most people that a sinus headache could be painful and threatening to the eyes. The eyes, ears, and roof of the mouth all connect. This condition affects the sinuses most; despite the dripping resulting from the sinus in the throat, other parts of the body can be affected.
Allergies usually cause sinus headaches; some allergies are due to the time of the year. Persons can have hay fever from the spores of flowers, but it could be an allergy to perfume or some other smell.
This issue can cause a headache or the sinuses to drip.
There are a few treatments you can use to treat a sinus headache. Treatments include allergy medication, nasal corticosteroids, decongestants, and nasal spray. There is also a nasal wash that can flush the nose.
Note that most headaches, whether tension, sinus, cluster or migraine, can cause you pain in the eyes. That is why it is so important to be able to do elimination.
Most headaches will require pain medications to help ease the pain. You can also relax, avoid noises, and find refuge in a dark room to help you cope.
Headache Behind Eyes – More Causes
The eyes are part of the head so you can expect a connection between them. Something to factor in the advice shared is the need to visit an eye doctor to see if you need glasses.
Eye Strain
Your eyes weaken as you age, but eye strain can come at any age if the eyes are under duress. The pain that eye strain produces can be uncomfortable and require pain meds to help soothe it.
However, medication won’t be necessary if the problem is known and can be corrected or averted.
Eye strain symptoms include dry and watery eyes, headaches, light sensitivity, and concentration problems. Other symptoms are blurred vision and double vision, inability to keep eyes open, and a sore neck, shoulders, and back.
The best treatment for eye strain is rest of the eyes, regular blinking, and adjusting screen settings if you use a computer. Try eyewash as well, and be sure to check your blood pressure.
If the problem persists, you may need to see if you need eyewear.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is another condition that causes pain in the eye and can give you a headache. It isn’t challenging to know if you have this condition as glaucoma is present on the eyeball. You need to look in a mirror to see if it is present.
These are the symptoms associated with glaucoma. Once the condition worsens, there will be eye pain, headaches, red eyes, and blurred vision. Vomiting and nausea aren’t always typical, but possible.
This condition can cause severe vision problems if left untreated.
The most prominent treatment for glaucoma is surgery to remove it from the eyeballs. There are different types of glaucoma, so your doctor is the best person to advise you.
The use of eyedrops and intraocular pressure are also possible treatments.
Scleritis
Scleritis is the by-product of an autoimmune disease. Conditions like eye infections, lupus, arthritis, and connective tissue diseases are the most responsible causes. Scleroderma, inflammatory bowel disease, and granulomatosis are other culprits.
For those with scleritis, these are the symptoms to expect. You will notice eye tenderness, tearing, red eyes, blurred vision, light sensitivity, and swelling in the eye’s white.
Sjogren’s syndrome can also be responsible, so you should research these other conditions.
Treating scleritis requires NSAID or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Other options are cold compress, eye drops, and eye protection from light. The issue can go away with time, but lifestyle changes will play a big part.
Graves’ Disease
Graves’ disease is harmful; this autoimmune disease causes the thyroid to produce too many hormones. This disorder, called hyperthyroidism, can affect the entire body.
The eyes are one such body part that is affected symptoms are immense.
Symptoms for graves’ disease are insomnia, heart palpitations, rash on shins, bulging eyes, fatigue, bowel movement rapidity, and weight loss.
For men, erectile dysfunction can happen, while women experience changes in their menstrual cycle. Other symptoms include irritability, anxiety, trembling in the hands.
Treatments for graves’ disease are beta-blockers to help the heart. Antithyroid medications are another group; this helps control thyroid hormones production.
Other treatments are radiation therapy and surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid.
Optic Neuritis
Optic neuritis is a disease that can cause the optic nerve to become damaged. Inflammation is responsible for the pain in the eye, and it affects the contact between the brain and optic nerve.
Symptoms of optic neuritis are color blindness, flashing of lights, and loss of vision in one or both eyes. Other symptoms include side vision loss, peripheral vision loss, and central vision loss.
Multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica, and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein could be responsible.
The best treatments are potent anti-inflammatory drugs, which have side effects. To compensate, you can use foods high in anti-inflammatory properties. Increase B12 in the diet and rest the eyes regularly.
If you implement lifestyle changes, the condition will improve after a while.
These are the known headache behind eyes causes known to the medical fraternity. The reasons, symptoms, and treatments are also the best known to man.
Give this information consideration and, above all, seek the medical advice of an expert.