Aches and pains around your body may be fairly common, but your eyes should never be painful. If you’re experiencing eye pain—especially behind your eyes—you should seek professional help as soon as possible. There are many possible reasons for pain behind your eye, and a professional diagnosis is always the safest choice.
What Are The Possible Causes of Eye Pain?
There are some common causes of eye pain that are less serious as far as health consequences. These include:
Sinus infection – The sinuses are located very near the eyes. In fact, the sinuses are so close to the eyes that what you believe is eye pain may in fact be sinus pain. When sinuses are infected, they become inflamed and affect a radius around the sinuses, including the eyes.
Migraine – Migraine headaches can cause a variety of side effects like nausea, vertigo and yes, even eye pain. If you know that you suffer from migraines, you may tend to disregard eye pain. However, if you have eye pain without a migraine, make an appointment with your eye doctor for a checkup.
Dry Eyes – Dry eyes is a condition where the eye is not sufficiently lubricated from the tear glands. If your eye pain feels more like discomfort and scratchiness, it’s possible that dry eyes is the culprit. Try drinking more water for a day or two. If that doesn’t help, consult with your eye doctor.
Serious Causes of Pain Behind the Eyes
There are more serious causes of pain behind the eyes, which need to be addressed by your eye doctor as soon as possible. These include:
Glaucoma – Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness. It presents as fluid buildup and pressure behind the eyes, which causes pain.
Macular Degeneration – This is another common cause of blindness. It’s most common in older people with underlying health problems. It can cause pain behind the eyes as well as vision loss.
Both of these conditions are dangerous. The earlier you seek treatment, the better the outcome.
Pain behind the eye is not normal and should always be attended to. Call your eye doctor in Grand Forks today for a consultation about your eye pain.