Pain behind or around one eye can have several causes. It may occur with migraine, cluster headache, eye strain, sinus-related symptoms, or certain eye conditions.
The surrounding symptoms are particularly important.
Cluster headaches typically cause extremely severe pain around or above one eye, often on one side of the head. Attacks may occur repeatedly over a period of weeks and usually last between approximately 15 minutes and three hours. The affected eye may become red or watery, the eyelid may droop or swell, and the nostril on the same side may become blocked or runny.
Some people feel restless during a cluster headache and find it difficult to remain still. This differs from many migraines, during which people often prefer to lie down and avoid movement.
Eye strain can also contribute to discomfort around the eyes, particularly after extended close-up work or screen use. However, pain behind an eye should not automatically be blamed on computers or tiredness.
A painful red eye accompanied by blurred vision, sudden vision changes, halos around lights, or nausea requires urgent medical assessment. Some eye conditions can threaten vision if treatment is delayed.
If you repeatedly experience severe pain around one eye, especially with tearing or nasal symptoms, arrange a medical evaluation. Cluster headaches have specific treatments, and obtaining the correct diagnosis can make a substantial difference.
4. Pain at the Temples: Stress, Migraine, or Something Else?
The temples are the areas on either side of the forehead, near the outer corners of the eyes. Pain here may feel dull, tight, throbbing, or tender when touched.
Tension-type headaches and migraines can both affect the temples. Jaw clenching and teeth grinding may also contribute to discomfort, particularly if the pain is associated with jaw stiffness, facial soreness, or discomfort when chewing.
Another possibility is a problem involving the temporomandibular joint, which connects the jaw to the skull. People with jaw-related problems may notice clicking, restricted movement, or pain around the ears and temples.
However, new temple pain deserves particular attention in adults aged 50 and older. A condition called giant cell arteritis can cause a new headache, scalp tenderness, jaw pain while chewing, and sometimes visual symptoms. It requires prompt medical evaluation because it can threaten vision.
Do not dismiss a new or persistent temple headache as ordinary tension, especially if you also experience scalp tenderness, jaw fatigue when eating, fever, or changes in vision.
A clinician can assess your symptoms and determine whether further testing or treatment is needed.
5. Pain at the Back of the Head: Could Your Neck Be Involved?
Pain at the back of the head, particularly around the base of the skull, may be associated with tension-type headaches, neck-related headaches, or irritation of nerves in the scalp.
Long periods spent looking down at a phone or working at a poorly positioned desk can contribute to neck and shoulder discomfort. In some people, pain associated with the neck may spread upward into the back of the head.
A cervicogenic headache is a type of headache in which the pain originates from a problem involving the neck. The discomfort may begin near the base of the skull and spread toward the forehead or one side of the head. Neck movement or pressure on certain areas may reproduce the pain.
Occipital neuralgia is another possible cause. It involves irritation of the occipital nerves, which travel through the back of the scalp. The pain may be sharp, shooting, burning, or electric-like rather than a steady pressure.
These conditions can resemble other headaches, so the location alone cannot establish which one is present.
If the discomfort follows long periods of sitting, gentle movement, improved workstation positioning, and appropriate rest may help. Avoid forceful neck manipulation, particularly if the pain is new or severe.
Seek medical attention if the headache follows a significant injury, is accompanied by fever and neck stiffness, or occurs with weakness, numbness, confusion, or difficulty walking.
6. Pain Across Both Sides of the Head: The Classic Tight-Band Feeling
When a headache affects both sides of the head and feels as though something is squeezing or pressing around the skull, a tension-type headache is one possible explanation.
The discomfort may extend from the forehead to the temples or the back of the head. Some people describe it as wearing a hat that is too tight.