What Causes Pressure Behind the Eyes?

There are various reasons why people experience pressure behind their eyes. For most people, having this issue means that there is something wrong with their eyes. Unfortunately, it is a misconception, as experiencing such discomfort could possibly be an early symptom of a more serious medical condition that is not eye-related.

Sinus infections, glaucoma, and some neurological issues are only some of the severe health conditions that are highly linked to experiencing pressure behind the eyes. At Vintage Eyewear, we believe that our loyal shoppers should not only have access to our premium vintage eyewear collection.

To us, you should also be accessible to information regarding issues and concerns often experienced by individuals who wear eyeglasses on a regular basis. Understanding topics such as the underlying cause of having pressure behind the eyes is key to finding relief and protecting our customers' vision and overall well-being.

 

What Does Pressure Behind the Eye Mean?

“Pressure behind the eyes” is simply the sensation characterized by the tightness, fullness, or discomfort felt deep within the sockets of the eye. Knowing this is important, as this uncomfortable sensation should not be mistaken for eye pain.

Unlike feeling pressure behind your eyes, eye pain is pain that stems directly from the surface of your eye and its internal structure. Contrary to popular belief, experiencing pressure behind the eyes is actually more likely associated with non-eye-related issues, such as sinus problems and nerve inflammation, than it is caused directly by an eye-related issue.

Also, pressure behind the eyes is always coupled with headaches, blurry vision, or even dizziness. Hence, if you happen to experience such discomfort frequently, consulting a medical professional should be your top priority to identify the cause of the pressure behind your eye.

 

Common Causes of Pressure Behind the Eyes

As briefly discussed, various medical conditions, from mild to serious, can possibly cause pressure behind the eyes. Other than sinus infections and neurological problems, eye disorders such as eye strain and dry eyes, together with some systemic health concerns, could possibly be the culprit for having such discomfort.

To help you know them, here are some of the most common causes of having pressure behind the eyes:

Sinus Infections (Sinusitis)

Sinus infection or sinusitis is one of the leading causes of pressure behind the eyes. But how does a sinus infection cause pressure behind the eye? To put it simply, our face, specifically the areas around the nose, eyes, and even the forehead, houses air-filled cavities called the sinuses.

During a sinus infection, the tissue lining of the sinuses gets inflamed. When they get swollen, the air-filled cavities get filled with body fluids such as mucus. When this happens, pressure builds up in these areas. Hence, when the sinuses near the eye get swollen, the feeling of pressure behind the eye persists. 

Common symptoms of sinusitis often include:

• Nasal congestion
• Facial tenderness or swelling
• Headaches

Best relief options for sinusitis:

• Decongestants
• Steam inhalation
• Hydration and rest

Eye Strain

In today’s digital age, prolonged exposure to digital screens is inevitable, as almost everything is digitized already, from ordering food in a restaurant to reading and much more. Due to this, many people fall victim to an eye problem called the “Digital eye strain" or computer vision syndrome (CVS).

Too much screen time tires out our eye muscles; when this happens on a regular basis, a heavily pressurized sensation behind the eye occurs. On the other hand, blue light exposure has the same effects.

When someone is exposed to too much blue light, which comes from digital screens, sleeping at night becomes harder. When this happens constantly, feeling pressure behind the eyes is expected.

Another common thing that most people do on a regular basis that could lead to the same effect is doing activities in poor lighting conditions, such as reading in an unlit room. 

Key contributors to eye strain:

• Excessive screen time
• Blue light exposure
• Poor posture or lighting

Solutions that you can do on your own:

• Follow the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
• Take regular screen breaks
• Ensure proper ambient lighting

Glaucoma

Did you know that there is a naturally occurring fluid in our eyes that plays a vital role in our vision? Intraocular pressure (IOP) is the scientific term for such an important body fluid. However, the sudden increase in IOP, due to the imbalance of its production and drainage, damages the optic nerves.

And when this happens in a constant manner, glaucoma occurs. Unfortunately, glaucoma has no specific and noticeable symptoms at its early stages– the mere reason why it's called the silent thief of eyesight. This is also the reason why glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in the world. 

The highly common risk factors for glaucoma include:

• Old Age (People 60 years old or older have higher chances of having glaucoma)
• Family history of glaucoma
• High eye pressure

A key point to remember, for you to worry less about having glaucoma, is to know that regular eye exams are essential to detect this eye condition, especially at its earliest stages. Treating it early can save your vision. The less damaged the optic nerves, the better.

Migraines and Headaches

Migraines and headaches could also be responsible for the pressure behind our eyes. The simplest explanation for this is the fact that most, if not all, of our nerves and muscles in the face are closely connected.

When migraine or a headache occurs, our blood vessels in the face expand. When our blood vessels expand, our facial nerves get irritated. The irritation of the nerves will ultimately cause tightness and heaviness around the eyes. 

Common symptoms of headaches and migraines:

• Light sensitivity
• Visual disturbances (aura)
• Nausea or vomiting

Effective and simple relief strategies for both:

• Resting in a dark room
• Staying hydrated
• Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, when needed

Allergies

Allergies can also cause pressure in the eye. Whether seasonal or caused by environmental allergens, allergies lead to inflamed tissues and even sinuses. When facial tissues and sinuses get inflamed, pressure builds, especially in the areas around the eyes.

Common treatment options for allergies affecting the eye:

• Antihistamines
• Avoiding known allergens
• Artificial tears to flush irritants

Dry Eyes

Having dry eyes is literally not just what it's called; dry eyes could also be feeling a gritty, irritated, and pressurized eye. But how do dry eyes cause pressure behind the eye? Well, the lack of moisture in our eyes leads to eye irritation and muscle strain.

This happens when tear production is very low or when tears evaporate too quickly. When our eyes become dry and uncomfortable, our body involuntarily squints more, and prolonged squinting overuses the muscles around the eyes.

This muscle strain will then lead to tightness, heaviness, or pressure behind the eyes.

Common causes of dry eyes:

• Aging
• Taking Medications (like antihistamines or antidepressants)
• Prolonged screen time

Effective quick remedies for dry eyes:

• Lubricating eye drops
• Proper hydration
• Limit screen exposure or use blue-light filters

Infections

Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, is an eye infection that can be caused either by bacteria or viruses. During this infection, the thin tissues in the lining of the eyelid and the white part of the eyes are inflamed. This inflammation in the areas near the eyes causes the sensation of having pressure behind the eyes. 

Common symptoms of conjunctivitis include:

• Redness of the eye
• Eye irritation
• Light sensitivity
• Excessive eye discharge

Since conjunctivitis can either be bacterial or viral, the best thing that you can do to avoid getting it is to practice good hygiene. Meanwhile, if you ever get infected, you should never rely on easy fixes and home remedies. Instead, consult your doctor right away and get the proper medications.

Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD)

Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD) is simply a person’s eye misalignment. Misaligned eyes will force our brains to work much harder to create the optimum single image.

Eventually, this misalignment will cause strain that can lead to pressure behind the eyes, dizziness, motion sickness, and headaches. The best treatment option to combat the adverse effects of BVD is using prism glasses and, of course, vision therapy with a specialist.

Thyroid Eye Disease

Thyroid eye disease, which is often linked with Graves’ disease or Graves’ orbitopathy, is an autoimmune thyroid disorder that causes inflammation and swelling in the tissues found around the eyes.

Bulging of the eyes is the most common symptom of this autoimmune disorder, which is coupled with dryness of the eye and double vision, all of which are very detrimental as they affect a person’s physical appearance.

The best treatment option for Graves’ disease is, of course, through medications and, in some of the worst cases, surgery. However, prevention is better than cure, and managing your thyroid and lifestyle changes can also help keep such symptoms under control.

Optic Neuritis

Optic neuritis is a much more serious eye condition that may also cause the feeling of having pressure behind the eye. Unlike the previously mentioned eye conditions, which lead to tissue and muscle inflammation, optic neuritis is simply the inflammation of the optic nerves.

When optic nerves are inflamed, it causes pressure and pain, especially with eye movement. More often than not, optic neuritis is highly linked with multiple sclerosis (MS), which is a hazardous chronic condition as the protective tissues of nerves in our brain and spinal cord are mistakenly attacked by our immune system.

Other symptoms of optic neuritis include blurred or dim vision and changes in color vision. If you have such symptoms, see your doctor as soon as possible, as this may lead to blindness.

 

Can Pressure Behind the Eyes Be a Brain Tumor?

Experiencing pressure behind the eye and thinking of having a brain tumor is a common fear! Although it's very rare, the likelihood of having it is never zero. But how does a brain tumor cause pressure behind the eyes?

Well, with a brain tumor, there will be a sudden increase in intracranial pressure. When this pressure builds up, it can lead to several symptoms, which are also warning signs, such as headaches, vision changes, nausea, loss of coordination, and the feeling of having pressure behind the eyes.

If you happen to experience such symptoms and they are getting worse with time, trust your gut and seek proper medical advice immediately for proper evaluation.

 

Can Sunglasses Help Reduce Pressure Behind the Eyes?

At Vintage Eyewear, you can be assured that all pieces of eyewear in our collections are more than just fashionable– they are also functional. Bright light and glare are one of the major causes of migraines.

With our polarized and tinted sunglasses, say goodbye to headaches caused by glare. Other than that, we also have glasses with UV-protective lenses that can help you combat the adverse effects of harsh ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Eyeglasses are also stylish protective accessories that can help you protect your eyes from environmental allergens such as dust and pollen, minimizing the risk of having an allergy flare-up.

Indeed, sunglasses can absolutely help you protect your eyes from various eye conditions, including pressure behind the eyes. So what are you waiting for? Check out Vintage Eyewear’s sunglasses collection now and experience how you can prioritize function without compromising style. Shop now!

 

When to See a Doctor

Although having pressure behind the eye is often linked with serious medical conditions, experiencing such pressure doesn't entirely mean that you have a serious eye condition. As a matter of fact, most cases of pressure behind the eyes are caused by allergic reactions that could just resolve on their own with time.

However, just to be sure, you should seek medical attention immediately if you experience the following:

• The pressure persists or worsens over time
• You have accompanying symptoms like vision loss, nausea, or vomiting
• Over-the-counter treatments aren’t helping
• You have known risk factors for glaucoma or other eye conditions

 

Relieving Pressure Behind the Eyes Starts with the Right Care

An important takeaway from this article is that pressure behind the eye is not a diagnosis– it's only a symptom. Whether it's caused by a mild allergic reaction, screen habits, or a more serious eye condition, understanding the root cause is still the first step to relief.

Not sure about the root cause? Then, schedule an eye exam. At Vintage Eyewear, we believe that your vision is your best asset– and it's definitely worth protecting. Sunglasses for us are not only for aesthetics; they are highly functional protective accessories against glare, UV rays, and even environmental allergens.

At Vintage Eyewear, you can take care of your eyes without sacrificing your personal style. Check out our collection now!