Why Do I Have Pain Behind My Eyes?

If you’ve recently become aware of pain behind one or both of your eyes, you should book an eye exam with your eye doctor in North Syracuse, NY. Pain behind the eyes is not normal and is often a symptom of a serious condition. Of course, pain behind the eyes doesn’t mean you have to worry about losing vision, but it is certainly something that warrants the attention of an eye professional. Following are some possible causes to be aware of.

Sinus Infection

Pain behind the eyes could be something as benign as a sinus infection. The sinus cavity is located very close to the eyes. Inflammation in this area will almost always lead to discomfort and possibly pain behind the eyes. If you also have symptoms like runny discharge or headache, this may be the reason.

Eye Strain

When you strain your eyes, the muscles of your eye contract. Chronic eye strain can lead to pain behind the eyes. Try minimizing the amount of strain you put on your eyes. Be sure to read insufficient light, use a blue light filter on your devices and make sure that your contacts or eyeglasses prescription is up-to-date. Your North Syracuse, NY eye doctor may have other ideas for reducing eye strain, too.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a condition where pressure builds up inside the eye. This pressure will eventually cut off brain signals from the optic nerve, inducing blindness. Be sure to see your eye doctor immediately to report your eye pain and to get a glaucoma test.

Dry Eyes

If you have the condition known as dry eyes, then your eyes do not produce sufficient tears to keep eyes adequately moist. Dry eyes often present with pain behind the eyes. Treatment is available from your eye doctor.

When it comes to your vision, you should never assume that everything is okay. You should never put up with pain behind the eyes or expect that it will just go away on its own. Even something as benign as a sinus infection can escalate into something more serious. See your eye doctor right away if you have pain or any kind of discomfort behind one or both eyes.