Why Do I Have Pain Behind My Right Eye?

12-05-2020

If you ever have eye pain, it’s important to call your eye doctor right away. Your eye doctor can tell you the underlying cause of your eye pain and recommend a treatment plan.

Anytime you call an optometrist about eye pain, here are some questions you may need to answer: 

• Which eye hurts?
• Are you experiencing stabbing pain behind your eye and a headache? 
• Do you have sharp pain behind your right eye?
• How would you rate your eye pain on a scale of 1-10? 
• What are your other symptoms? 

Where your eye pain is can make a difference in the cause of your pain. If you have pain behind your right eye, for example, here’s what you should know.

What causes pain behind your right eye?

Eye pain can happen in a single eye or both of your eyes. While the cause may be severe in some instances, that’s not always the case. Either way, reporting your symptoms to your eye doctor is an excellent way to monitor your pain progression and the likelihood of you having serious eye conditions. 

Here are some primary reasons for pain behind your right eye:

#1: Infections

An infection in your sinuses may cause an increase in pressure, which can make your eyelids puffy. This may lead to discomfort behind or beneath your eye. As your sinus infection gets better, the redness and pain should decrease. 

#2: Optic Neuritis

Just as puffiness around the eye due to an infection can contribute to discomfort, an infection or inflammation in the optic nerve can, too. This indicates optic neuritis (a serious eye condition that mandates a visit to the optometrist’s office). In addition to the uncomfortable feeling behind your eye, you might experience these symptoms: a blurry field of view, darkened vision, and trouble seeing color saturation. 

#3: Severe Headaches or Migraines

Headaches can cause pain anywhere on the upper part of your body, from your neck to your eyes. If you have a crippling headache that won’t go away, it’s likely a migraine, and that can make the area behind your eye more sensitive than usual. 

#4: Dry Eye Syndrome

The eyes need tears to maintain moisture. That means that if your tear quantity is low, your eyes may become dry and irritated. That can cause discomfort behind your eye, as well as watery eyes, fuzzy vision, and sensitivity to bright lights.

#5: Scleritis

If the white of your eye gets inflamed or uncomfortable, you may have what is known as scleritis. This condition can be caused by multiple factors, including infections in the eye, scleroderma, arthritis, or an eye injury. Scleritis can come with eye pain, swelling, watery eyes, head pain, vision impairment, and other symptoms.

#6: Uncorrected Vision Issues

Eye conditions aren’t the only things that can cause pain behind your right eye. Vision problems can as well. For instance, astigmatism, farsightedness, nearsightedness, or presbyopia can make it challenging to see at different distances, which can make your eyes hurt. For that reason, it’s best to get your eyes checked right away if you ever have eye pain.

Is it considered normal to have pain behind your eye with movement?

Pain behind your eye with movement is one of the primary symptoms of optic neuritis. This side effect may start one day with no other warning signs, or it may worsen over a series of days. 

Reach out to an eye doctor right away if you’re experiencing this symptom or any others of optic neuritis, as they may continue to develop if you don’t get treatment in time. Keep in mind that this condition can go away on its own in some cases. Specific medications can also help with your loss of eyesight and other symptoms. 

When should I be concerned about pain behind the eye?

Many things can cause pain and pressure behind one eye. Any eye pain should be reported to your optometrist right away and especially if your pain comes with a high temperature, extreme light sensitivity, queasiness, or abrupt problems with seeing. 

These symptoms indicate that something major could be going on. Your eye doctor has the necessary experience to detect this. 

How do you relieve pain behind your right eye?

You’re best off talking to an optometrist about an eye pain treatment. Eye doctors can recommend medication to take down the inflammation in your eye and decrease the pressure around your eye. 

And if it turns out that you have an eye injury or other major eye condition that’s causing your eye pain, they will help you come up with a plan of action.

If you have a headache around your eyes, you can try applying ice to your eye or an OTC painkiller to help reduce your pain. 

Summary: What’s the reason for the pain behind your right eye?

Many conditions can cause pain behind your right eye. We recommend watching for symptoms of an increase in sinus pressure (or an infection) or migraines. Both of these issues can affect the areas around your eye if left untreated.

Pain behind your eye with movement can also happen due to optic neuritis. If you have any symptoms, we urge you to write them down so that you can share them with your eye doctor. Next, you’ll want to contact your optometrist as soon as possible to find out if you need a comprehensive eye exam. 

Our optical team will let you know if your symptoms are severe and require you to come in right away. Otherwise, we may give you some simple tips on how to treat your eye pain at home. 

This blog was originally published on Month Day, Year, and expanded in August 2022.