SYMPTOM

Headache behind the eyes

A sensation of pain, pressure, or aching located specifically at the back of the eyes. This can often be due to eye strain from prolonged screen time, sinus infections, or tension headaches that radiate to the eye area.

For general awareness only. This is not medical advice. If symptoms are severe or persistent, consult a healthcare professional.

Showing 8 causes

Migraine vasodilation

Changes in brain blood flow, especially around the nerves connected to your eyes, cause intense throbbing pain. It often feels like a stabbing pain behind one or both eyes.

Common
High
🤧

Sinusitis pressure buildup

Inflammation of your sinus cavities, especially frontal or ethmoid ones, causes mucus buildup and pressure. This could feel like a deep ache or throbbing right behind your eyes.

Common
Moderate
💻

Eyestrain from prolonged focus

Your eye muscles get tired from sustained focus, like from screen time, causing them to ache. This strain could radiate as a dull pain felt behind your eyes.

Common
Low
🎯

Cluster headache trigeminal nerve

A nerve pathway behind your eye becomes overactive, causing severe, piercing pain and sometimes a droopy eyelid. The pain is excruciating and often strikes in clusters.

Possible
High
👁️

Glaucoma intraocular pressure

Pressure builds up inside your eye, pushing against the optic nerve and eye tissues. This could cause a deep ache and sometimes vision changes.

Possible
High
🦴

Cervicogenic headache from neck

Problems in your upper neck could cause pain that refers to your head, often felt behind the eyes. It usually starts in the neck and spreads forward.

Possible
Moderate
💡

Optic neuritis inflammation

Inflammation of the optic nerve, which runs behind your eye, could cause pain with eye movement and vision changes. The pain is often a dull ache that worsens with movement.

Rare
High
🧠

Brain aneurysm rupture

A sudden, severe bleed in the brain could cause an intense, 'thunderclap' headache, often localized behind the eyes. This is a medical emergency.

Rare
High