Pressure behind the eyes can feel like a throbbing, pressure or squeezing in the head, just behind the eye sockets.

The most common causes of pressure behind the eyes are;

• Headache: Especially tension-type headaches and migraines cause a feeling of pressure behind the eyes.
• Eye strain: Working long hours in front of a screen, not wearing glasses even though they are necessary, or inadequate eyeglass ratings can cause a feeling of pressure behind the eyes.
• Sinusitis: There are empty air-filled spaces called “sinuses” near our eyes and nose. Inflammation of these areas is called “sinusitis” and can cause a feeling of pressure behind the eyes.
• Dental problems: A toothache can be felt as pain or pressure behind the eye.
• Angle-closure glaucoma: There are several types of glaucoma (eye pressure). In open-angle glaucoma, the most common type of glaucoma, there is no pain, whereas in the so-called “angle-closure” type of glaucoma, pressure is felt in the eye and behind the eye.

What should we do if we feel pressure behind the eye?

• If you feel pressure behind the eye, you should consult an ophthalmologist.
• After performing a complete eye examination, your ophthalmologist may recommend that you also consult neurology, dental and ear-nose-throat departments if necessary.

October 2023