Headache behind eyes are common, and they may result from underlying health issues ranging from eye strain to migraine. Pain behind the eyes can affect one or both sides, and it may occur with light sensitivity and other types of discomfort. A doctor can identify the cause of a headache behind the eyes and recommend the best course of treatment.
Keep reading for more information about the causes of pain behind the eyes and how to treat them. Some common reasons for behind-the-eye aches:
Eye strain
Our muscles aren't the only part of our body that can become fatigued and sore after overuse. Eye strain can lead to eye pain. Reading without giving eyes a rest, driving long distances, being exposed to glare (or straining to see in poor lighting) or coping with an underlying eye problem can cause trouble. And then there are those digital devices.
Treatment
Give your eyes a rest, get a good night's sleep, and things usually get better on their own,” Iwach says. Here are a few other ways to get relief.
Keep eyes lubricated. Over-the-counter artificial tears can lubricate the ocular surface to prevent or relieve dry eyes. Don't wait until you have symptoms to use them. If you tend to experience dry eye symptoms at 2 or 3 in the afternoon, start using artificial tears earlier in the day. You'll be able to work longer and end up using less in the long run.
Avoid digital eye strain. Glare can strain eyes, making it difficult to see objects on your monitor. Consider turning off some of the overhead lights or place an anti-glare cover over the screen. Also, keep the screen about an arm's length away. Make sure the height of the monitor or laptop is at a comfortable height, just below eye level.
Migraines
Migraines affect 12 percent of Americans, and many of sufferers have a family history of migraines, which often manifest as extreme pain behind the eyes. The common symptoms are pain that interferes with your life, light sensitivity and nausea. If you've got two of these three symptoms,you've got a 90% chance of it being a migraine.
Treatment
Medication: OTC pain relievers may help with mild discomfort, but most sufferers require prescription meds. Triptans, which you should take when you feel an attack coming on, help block pain pathways to the brain. Lasmiditan, a new oral medication approved for the treatment of migraines, improves pain as well as nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. (It's similar to Triptan but safer for those with underlying cardiovascular diseases.) Another game changer: calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antibodies. They target and inactivate CGRP, a protein released by the nerves and blood vessels in the brain, known for causing migraines.
Understand your triggers. Monosodium glutamate (MSG), for one, can cause a flare-up. Other potential culprits: alcohol (especially fermented products, such as red wine, champagne or beer), aged cheeses, processed meats, chocolate and some artificial sweeteners (like NutraSweet or aspartame).
Consider your magnesium intake. One study found that regularly getting magnesium into your system can reduce the frequency of migraine attacks by 41.6 percent. Have your doctor check your magnesium level to determine if you're deficient.
Tension headaches
The most common type of headache, a tension one produces a dull, aching pain that can feel like a band wrapped tightly around your forehead, causing tenderness in the scalp, neck and shoulder muscles, and an ache behind the eyes. Some people experience tension headaches once or twice a month; others, more often. They come from stiffness in your neck, forehead and face, with overly taut muscles aggravating nerve endings. Stress, anxiety and fatigue are other common culprits.
Treatment
Medication: Tension headaches can usually be treated with simple OTC pain relievers. Take an aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen or acetaminophen at the first sign of tightness. If the pain is severe, prescription meds may be necessary.
Massage: Have someone gently knead your head, neck and shoulder muscles. Or do it yourself with a targeted mini-massage, gently rubbing the painful spot on your head with your fingertips for a minute or two. You can also apply a heating pad set on low to your head for five to 10 minutes, as needed, or take a hot bath or shower, to relax tense muscles.
Relaxation: Keeping stress under control can help you manage your symptoms. If you feel overwhelmed, unwind with some slow stretches or deep breathing, or take a 15-minute walk around the neighborhood. Now that gyms are starting to open, consider a weekly yoga class.
Sinusitis
Anything that causes a buildup of pressure in your sinuses, such as congestion from a cold or allergy, can bring a painful pounding around the eyes as well as other parts of the face. Sinusitis is a sinus infection, with symptoms that can include postnasal drip and fever. It typically lasts two to four weeks. Sinusitis that lingers beyond 12 weeks, despite medical treatment, is considered chronic sinusitis. But if facial pain is the predominant symptom, you probably have a migraine disorder, not sinusitis.
Treatment
Most people don't need to see a doctor, as sinusitis usually goes away on its own and doesn't require treatment beyond taking a short course of OTC painkillers or nasal sprays; hydrating well; applying warm face packs, to ease decongestion; and resting.
Other ways to thwart pain and pressure:
Steam therapy: Steam adds moisture to the air, helping to moisten your sinus passages and thin out thickened mucus. Take a hot shower and breathe in the steam, to reduce pressure. Place warm, damp towels around your nose, cheeks and eyes, to ease facial pain. Or, for long-term relief, use a humidifier.
Nasal spray: To help keep nasal passages open and reduce sinus pressure, use a nasal saline spray or steroid spray (like Flonase), which can loosen thick, dry mucus. You can also try a neti pot (a teakettle-like device used to irrigate the sinuses with a warm saline solution).
Exercise: Staying active — particularly engaging in aerobic activties, such as walking, swimming and biking — can relieve sinus pressure.
When to see a doctor
If a person experiences headaches behind the eyes frequently, they should see a doctor. The doctor may recommend an eye examination and prescribe treatments that are not available over the counter.
Making lifestyle adjustments may also prevent the pain from recurring.
