Symptoms of Sinus Eye Pain

The sinuses are a major part of the respiratory system. They provide protection from bacteria, pollen and other matter in the air, helping prevent them from entering the lungs. Located directly behind the nose and eyes, the sinuses cause discomfort and pain when they are agitated or infected. Many people mistake headaches, eye pain and tooth aches for another aliment when in fact it is caused by the sinus cavity.

Facts

• Not all eye pain is a result of sinus issues. Eye pain can be directly related to various eye diseases, disorders in the brain or poor vision. More commonly, eye pain caused by sinus problems will be accompanied by tooth pain, a stuffy or runny nose and sneezing. If the sinus cavity is infected or irritated, it enlarges, pressing on the back of the eyeball and the roots of your teeth. Eye pain without any nasal symptoms is most likely not related to a sinus issue.

Fatigue

• A common symptom of sinus eye pain is fatigue. As the irritated sinus cavity swells, it slowly presses on the back of the eyeballs, pushing the eyes forward. This minor adjustment in eye movement sends signals to the brain that you are tired. The brain responds by releasing melatonin, causing the desire to sleep. Fatigue is also a signal that the body's compromised immune system wants rest to rebuild itself. If you're experiencing sinus eye pain, you should try to get at least eight hours of sleep a night.

Complications

• If a sinus infection gets out of control and is not medicated in time, the infection can spread to the eyes. If the eyes become infected, you need to see a doctor. A family doctor likely will recommend that you take an oral antibiotic and an eye-drop antibiotic to fight both infections. Severe eye pain, accompanied by extreme redness and itchiness of the eyes, is also a sign of an eye infection. If you fail to treat a sinus infection, you risk the infection spreading to the eyes.

Considerations

• Sinus eye pain is not always related to infection or irritation of the sinus cavity. It could be caused by severe allergies that can affect the sinus cavity and the eyes at the same time. An over-the-counter antihistamine will alleviate sinus eye pain if it is caused by allergies. If you're experiencing sinus eye pain, drink plenty of water (at least six 8-ounce glasses daily) in order to build up your immune system and loosen the mucus in the sinus cavity.

Identification

• According to www.sinuswars.com, sinus eye pain is caused by the ethmoid sinuses directly behind the eyes. When the ethmoid sinus swells, it causes the eyelids to swell, the tear ducts to produce tears and severe pain in and around the eyes. Many times, you also will experience a loss of smell and decreased taste. The irritated ethmoid sinus also will cause sensitivity in the upper nasal and lower eyelid areas.