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Do Headaches Cause Eye Pain?

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Headaches cause pain in different parts of the head. This can include pain behind the eye or in the region surrounding the eye.

The eye pain can be due to eye strain, a sinus infection, a tension headache, a cluster headache, or a migraine. Treating the cause can help treat the pain.

Right eye pain and headache

If you are having pain in the right eye and headache on the right side, then you could probably be suffering from a cluster headache.

These types of headaches are rare, but when they come they do so in a cluster. It occurs every day for cluster of a few weeks or months.

A cluster headache happens on one side of the head with pain in the eye. There can also be swelling of the eyelid and watery eye.

What type of headaches make your eyes hurt?

There are different types of headaches that would make your eyes hurt:

  • Migraine: A migraine started with pain in the forehead and eye region. It is a severe throbbing pain that can last for hours or even days.
  • Tension headache: This headache is caused due to muscle tightness and causes pain behind the eyes and in the front of the head. It may last for a few minutes or a few hours.
  • Cluster headache: In a cluster headache, you feel pain around one eye with watery eyes. The headache can last for a long time and can be severe.
  • Sinus headache: The headache occurs around the eyes, nose, forehead, and cheeks. It may be accompanied by fever and nasal discharge.
  • Eye strain: When your eyes are tired, you can get a headache with pain in the eye. You may also experience blurred vision, burning, and watery eyes.

Eye pain and headache

Eye pain commonly occurs due to an eye strain when your eyes are tired. It can also be due to an eye defect.

Sometimes, getting your vision correction can fix the problem. In some cases, the eye pain and headache could be signs of something more serious.

Optic neuritis is where the eye nerve is inflamed. Glaucoma is a serious condition causing pressure in the eye.

Ignoring these conditions can even lead to loss of vision. You must always see a doctor if you keep experiencing eye pain with a headache.

What do eye related headaches feel like?

Eye related headaches can be due to different reasons. It can be due to sinusitis, cluster headache, tension headache, or a migraine.

The pain is usually located behind the eyes. It can be severe and can be accompanied by watery eyes and sensitivity to light.

The headache may occur on one side or throughout the head. It can also be due to a serious eye problem and hence must never be ignored.

Pain behind eye headache

Most commonly, a pain behind the eye with a headache can occur due to a migraine. This can be confirmed if the pain is more on one side and has other symptoms like sensitivity to light/sound, blurred vision, and nausea.

If the pain is accompanied by dry eyes, then it could be due to eye strain. When the pain feels like a tight band around the forehead, it could be due to a tension headache.

A cluster headache also causes pain behind the eye and is located on one side. It comes in a cluster spread for many days or weeks.

Pain behind the eye and headache can also occur due to sinusitis, where the sinuses are inflamed.

How do I get rid of an eye headache?

To get rid of an eye headache, it is important to understand the cause. The treatment depends on the cause.

Some of the treatment options include:

  • Taking medications for relief from pain.
  • Treating any eye strain through eye drops or wearing glasses.
  • Headache and eye pain can be due to certain triggers. When the triggers are identified, it would help in effective treatment.
  • Massaging the affected area can be helpful.
  • Being relaxed can help ease symptoms.
  • Where the headache occurs due to sinusitis, steam therapy can be helpful.

Headache on left side of head and eye

Headache that occurs on any one side of the head with eye pain is usually due to a cluster headache.

The cluster headache is one-sided and is focused mainly behind the eye. The attacks come in a cluster and lasts for many days or weeks.

The pain would be accompanied by swelling of the eye, watery eyes, red eyes, flushing, and runny nose.

How do I get rid of a headache behind my eye?

The most common way to get relief from a headache behind the eye is taking medication. OTC medication or prescription medicines can help get relief from symptoms.

It is important to identify if there are any triggers for the headache. Avoiding these triggers can help prevent the headache.

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Headache due to eye problem symptoms

Problems in your eye can lead to headache and related symptoms. It is important to consult an eye doctor to get the problem diagnosed, so the right treatment is given.

  • The problem can occur due to eye strain. Using eye drops and doing eye exercises can help.
  • A swelling in the optic nerve can cause a headache. This may require treatment through medication or surgery to treat.
  • Glaucoma is a serious condition caused by excess eye pressure. It needs to be treated through eye drops or medication.
  • A vision problem can cause headache. Vision correction by using prescription glasses can help solve the problem.

Should I worry about pain behind my eye?

Pain or pressure behind the eye can be due to something as simple as a sinus infection. It can also be due to glaucoma, a tumor, or any other problem.

If the pain behind the eye recurs and is accompanied by blurred vision or loss of vision, it is serious. You must see a doctor to avoid complications.

Eye pain and headache covid

One of the symptoms of COVID was eye pain and headache. Conjunctivitis or pink eyes was one of the symptoms that people with COVID experienced.

Sore eyes and sensitivity to light was also experienced by some people. On average, these symptoms lasted for around 2 weeks.

Eye pain and headache treatment

The treatment options for eye pain and headache include:

  • Medication, which includes OTC and prescription medicines.
  • Home remedies like steam inhalation or ice pack (depending on the headache type).
  • Antibiotics for sinus infections.
  • Decongestants to clear the sinuses, if inflamed.
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How to get rid of headache behind eyes fast?

Home remedies like using an ice pack or heating pad can help offer fast relief from pain. OTC medications can also be helpful in providing instant relief from pain.

Steam inhalation is another way of getting relief from headache behind eyes. For some types of headaches, rest can help in getting relief from the pain.

FAQs relating to do headaches cause eye pain

More information on whether headaches cause eye pain can be found out by going through the FAQ’s listed below.

Why am I having pain behind my eye?

If you are having pain behind the eye, it could be either due to an eye problem or some other issue.

Eye problems like vision defects, optic nerve swelling, or glaucoma can cause pain behind the eye.

Migraine, tension headache, cluster headache, and sinusitis are other cause for pain behind the eye. It is important to identify the cause correctly so appropriate treatment can be given.

What causes severe headache and eye pain?

There could be different causes for eye pain with severe headache. These include:

  • Inflammation or infection in the sinuses.
  • Migraine, where there is severe pain behind the eye.
  • Strain in the eyes due to vision-related problems.
  • Cluster headache that can occur in a cluster, spread over a few days or weeks.
  • Tension headache occurring due to stress, eye strain, or muscle tightness in the head/neck region.

While home remedies can be used to get relief, it is important to find out what is causing the pain.

Migraine needs a different treatment approach as compared to a cluster headache or tension headache. Sometimes the problem can be something serious like glaucoma or even a tumor.

This is why one should see a doctor to get a proper diagnosis done.

Can tension headaches cause eye pain?

Tension headaches can cause eye pain. The headache primarily causes pressure around the forehead and can be accompanied by eye pain.

Eye strain, dry eyes, sinus infection, lack of sleep, stress, and dehydration are triggers that can cause a tension headache with eye pain.

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What does a brain Tumour headache feel like?

Headaches can occur due to brain tumor. These headaches are usually dull with pressure in the head and eye region.

They are usually localized in one area. Some people experience stabbing pain.

When the headache is severe or is worse in the morning then it is advisable to see a doctor.

It is important to identify if the tumor is benign or not. Seeing a doctor early will help in getting proper treatment. 

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