14 Causes of Headache Above or Behind Right Eye

Migraine. The most common time for a migraine to happen is the early morning as pain medication you took before you went to sleep begins to wear off. But migraine headaches are complicated. They’re different for everybody. If you have a migraine or headache of any type that continually wakes you in the morning and gets in the way of your work or personal life, a doctor’s visit may be in order. Treatments, including over-the-counter and prescription medications, are available.

Headache Behind the Eye? Why It Happens, What Helps

If you feel pain behind your eyes, there are many possible causes. There’s a good chance it could be a specific type of headache.

Causes of Headache Behind the Eye

Migraine headaches

These headaches often begin with pain around your eye and temple. They can spread to the back of your head. You might also have an aura , which can include visual signs like a halo or flashing lights that sometimes come before the pain starts.

You may also have nausea, a runny nose, or congestion. You could be sensitive to light, sounds, or smells. Migraine headaches can last several hours to a few days.

Tension headaches

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These are the most common type of headache. They usually cause a dull pain on both sides of your head or across the front of your head, behind your eyes. Your shoulders and neck may also hurt. Tension headaches might last 20 minutes to a few hours.

Cluster headaches

These cause severe pain around your eyes, often around just one eye. They usually come in groups. You may have several of them every day for weeks and then not have any for a year or more before they start again.

Along with the pain, you may also have watery eyes, congestion, and a red, flushed face. The attacks last 30 to 60 minutes and are so strong that you may be restless and can’t stand still while they happen. Cluster headaches aren’t very common and mostly happen in men.

Sinus headaches

A sinus infection (sinusitis) can cause a headache around your eyes, nose, forehead, cheeks, and upper teeth. This is where your sinuses are. You’ll often also have a fever, congestion, and a thick nasal discharge. The pain usually gets worse throughout the day.

True sinus headaches are rare. Migraine and cluster headaches are often mistaken for sinus headaches.

Eyestrain

This is when your eyes get tired from working too hard from doing things like staring at a computer screen or driving for a long time.

Other symptoms can include:

• Sore, itching, burning eyes
• Watery eyes
• Blurred vision
• Sore shoulders or back

Eyestrain isn’t serious and usually goes away when you rest your eyes.

Headache Behind the Eye Triggers

Different things may set off each type of headache.

You might get migraines because of:

• A lack of sleep
• Weather changes
• Stress
• Lights
• Noises
• Smells
• Things you eat or drink, like alcohol, chocolate, or MSG
• Missing a meal

Things that may give you a tension headache include:

• Stress
• Eyestrain
• Poor posture
• Problems with the muscles or joints in your neck or jaw
• Fatigue
• Dehydration or missing a meal
• Bright sunlight
• Noise
• Certain smells

Cluster headaches are often triggered by alcohol, smoking, or certain medications.

Headache Behind the Eye Treatment

Learning to avoid your triggers may prevent headaches or make them less painful. If you do get one, there are many kinds of treatments.

Medication for headache behind the eye

Over-the-counter pain medicine can ease occasional headaches. It may even help with migraine if you take it early enough. Doctors often recommend acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( NSAIDs ) like ibuprofen or naproxen. But remember that taking them too often can trigger overuse headaches.

If you get frequent tension headaches, your doctor may prescribe medication. Antidepressants like amitriptyline help many people.

Sometimes, prescription drugs are the only things that will ease migraine pain. Some of the most common are triptans such as almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex), and zolmitriptan (Zomig). They help most people within 2 hours if taken early enough. People who get chronic migraines often take medicine like beta-blockers or antidepressants every day to help cut back on how many they have.

Breathing pure oxygen may bring relief of cluster headaches. Injected triptans like sumatriptan and lidocaine nose drops might also help. Some people take medicines such as verapamil (Calan, Verelan) or prednisone to prevent attacks.

Treat a sinus headache by clearing up the infection. Your doctor might suggest antibiotics and decongestants.

Home remedies for headache behind the eye

Caffeine or ice packs may help with migraine pain.

For a tension headache, try a heating pad or a warm shower, or rest until the headache goes away. It can also help to find better ways to handle stress. Learn relaxation techniques like yoga or deep breathing. Try not to skip meals or get too tired.

When you have a sinus infection, breathe in warm, moist air from a vaporizer or a pot of boiling water to ease congestion. Warm compresses can also help.

If your eyes are often strained, take breaks and blink more. Artificial tears may also refresh your eyes. Check with your doctor to make sure your vision prescription is up to date, and ask about exercises to strengthen eye muscles.

Waking Up With a Headache Behind the Eyes?

If you wake up in the morning with a pounding headache behind your eyes, you’re not alone. Here’s a look at some common causes of morning headaches:

Hangovers. After drinking too much alcohol, when your blood alcohol content drops back to normal or close to it, you start to feel symptoms that can include headaches. They can be caused by a couple of things. When you drink, the alcohol causes your body to make more urine, which can cause you to become dehydrated . The alcohol also causes your blood vessels to expand, which can lead to headaches. If you have more severe symptoms like confusion, seizures, slow breathing, or loss of consciousness, get medical help right away.

Migraine. The most common time for a migraine to happen is the early morning as pain medication you took before you went to sleep begins to wear off. But migraine headaches are complicated. They’re different for everybody. If you have a migraine or headache of any type that continually wakes you in the morning and gets in the way of your work or personal life, a doctor’s visit may be in order. Treatments, including over-the-counter and prescription medications, are available.

Sleep apnea. This is a condition where your throat muscles partially collapse while you sleep and interrupt your breathing. Other signs of sleep apnea include dry mouth and snoring. Sleep apnea is a serious health problem. Your doctor may suggest that you do a sleep test. A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine might help, and lifestyle changes like losing weight and rolling off your back while you sleep could also help you get better rest.

Other sleep disorders. The relationship between sleep and headaches is a tricky one. Sometimes headaches are the cause of poor sleep, sometimes they’re the result of it. If it’s hard to get to sleep, stay asleep, or if you just wake up too early, you may have insomnia. It’s been tied to some forms of chronic headaches, including morning headaches. Circadian rhythm sleep disorders mess with when you fall to sleep or wake up. They can lead to morning headaches, too. If you think you may have a sleep disorder, see your doctor.

Overmedication. A medication overuse headache (MOH) can happen if you’re already prone to headaches and you take a lot of pain meds. A MOH usually hits right when you wake up. For those with chronic headaches, using medication more than 2 or 3 days a week may be too much. Check with your doctor about this. They can help you treat your headaches without overusing pain meds.

TMJ. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your jaw to your skull. Pain in the joint and its surrounding muscles, caused by things like too much gum chewing or clenching and grinding your teeth at night, can bring a morning headache. A dentist can prescribe an oral device to keep you from grinding your teeth at night.

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14 Causes of Headache Above or Behind Right Eye

You may feel stabbing and shooting pain when you have a headache behind the eye. The pain can be mild, moderate, or severe and lasts from some hours to several days. Sometimes you may feel extreme pressure on the right side of your forehead and a dull headache in the back of your eyes, which can radiate across your head to the back of your head.

There are many causes of a headache behind the right eye and temple. Common reasons include stress, sinus infection, eyestrain, trauma, injury, tumor, migraines, glaucoma, or trigeminal neuralgia.

In most cases, headaches are temporary conditions that can be alleviated by some natural remedies such as cold, massage, and sleep. These remedies can effectively help you relieve headaches. However, some headaches are often the symptoms of serious diseases, and you need to see your doctor immediately.

Symptoms of Headache Behind Right Eye

• Sharp headaches on just one part of your head or your whole head
• A dull ache headache behind or around the eye
• Sometimes the pain feels like a squeezing
• Stabbing and shooting pain that comes suddenly
• The pain may last from some hours to several days
• Nausea, vomiting, and dizziness
• Sensitivity to light or temporary blindness
• Tenderness of the scalp and neck

14 Common Causes of Headache Above or Behind the Right Eye

Headaches are one of the symptoms of different health issues. You may experience other temporary symptoms like nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, neck pain, and light flashes, depending on the reason. Here are 14 common causes of headaches on the right side of the head and eye.

1. Lifestyle Factors

Lifestyle plays a significant role in preventing different health problems, including the intensity and frequency of headaches. One may experience a headache behind the right eye due to the following:

• Fatigue
• Stress
• Neck pain related to a current or previous job
• Skipping meals
• Side effects of medications

Stress triggers many headaches and migraines, and taking a bath or reading a book may not be enough to alleviate the pain. You may need meditation or breathing exercises to reduce stress levels effectively. Eat balanced meals, often exercise, practice good posture, and make a sleep schedule to combat stress.

2. Eye Pain from a Tension Headache

The most common type of headache, tension headache, feels like a tight band around the head and may cause mild, moderate, or excruciating pain behind your eyes, neck, and head. It can occur due to muscle contractions in the neck and head regions. The symptoms of a tension headache are:

• Dull, aching pain in the head
• I feel pressure or tightness across the forehead or on the back and sides of the head.
• Tenderness on shoulder, scalp, and neck muscles

Episodic tension headache usually lasts 30 minutes to one week and may occur less than 15 days a month. Chronic tension headache lasts for hours and may occur 15 or more days a month.

Home remedies for a Tension headache

• Drink plenty of water: Sometimes, mild dehydration can cause headaches. You can drink lukewarm water or decaffeinated fluids to relieve the headache.
• Rest: Sleep is one of the simplest and most effective ways to treat headaches.
• Scalp Massage: Scalp Massage can help you ease stress and anxiety. This is very effective at treating tension headaches.
• Exercise: Regular aerobic exercise is the most effective way to reduce tension in your body. This can produce endorphins in your brain, which can help relieve the pain in your body. Walking, yoga and swimming are all excellent choices.
• Lavender oil or mint: lavender oil or mint flavor can effectively relieve headaches.
• Flaxseed Oil: The omega-3 fatty acids in flaxseed oil have anti-inflammatory properties that can help treat headaches.
• Cold compresses: Cold compresses can help reduce muscle tension in your head and neck.

Note: See your doctor if a tension headache affects your life, especially if you have to take medication for a headache twice a week.

3. Migraine Headache

One of the possible causes of right-side headaches and eye pain is a migraine. It usually causes a pulsing sensation or severe throbbing headache behind the left or right eye.

Migraine behind the eye can also be accompanied by sensitivity to sound and light, nausea, and vomiting. Migraine headaches may progress through four phases. The symptoms of the four stages of a migraine headache include:

• Prodrome (One or two days before a migraine) – Constipation, neck stiffness, increased urination and thirst, mood changes, food cravings, and frequent yawning.
• Aura (Before or during a migraine) – Vision loss, hearing music or noises, visual phenomena, difficulty speaking, pins and needles sensations in the leg or arm, and uncontrollable jerking.
• Attack – Pulsing or throbbing pain on one or both sides of the head, blurred vision, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to sounds, light, touch, and smell.
• Post-drome (Final stage) – Moodiness, confusion, weakness, sensitivity to sound and light, and dizziness.

It is best to see a doctor to discuss your migraine headache, especially when accompanied by a stiff neck, double vision, numbness, or pain like a thunderclap.

4. Eye Pain from a Cluster Headache

A cluster headache is one of the most painful problems as it occurs in clusters or cyclical patterns. It commonly awakens you with excruciating pain in or around one eye. Cluster periods may last for weeks, followed by remission periods (no headaches occur for months or years). The typical symptoms of this problem include:

• Extreme pain in or around an eye may radiate to the head, face, neck, and shoulders.
• Restlessness
• Redness in the affected eye
• One-sided pain
• Drooping eyelid
• Facial sweating
• A runny or stuffy nose on the affected side
• Pale skin

See your doctor if your headache is abrupt and severe, accompanied by fever, stiff neck, nausea or vomiting, difficulty speaking, and numbness.

5. Eye Pain from a Sinusitis Infection

Sinus infections can cause headaches behind or under the eye near the clogged sinus. It may also cause common symptoms like:

• A runny nose or drainage of a thick, greenish or yellow discharge from the nose
• Postnasal drainage, nasal congestion
• Pain, swelling, and pressure around the eyes, nose, cheeks, or forehead
• A sore throat, bad breath
• A cough, fever, fatigue
• Ear pressure

Because of the pressure buildup, coughing, sneezing, and bending over, blocked sinuses will cause pain behind the eyes and around your forehead.

Home remedies for sinus headaches

• Ginger: Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties that can help relieve your sinus headaches. At the same time, it can promote nasal drainage to alleviate sinus pain.
• Neti Pot: Using a neti pot can help reduce sinus pain. Use distilled water and salt to clean up the nasal passages, which can effectively rule out the mucus in the nasal cavity.
• Humidifier: Place a humidifier in the bedroom, which can reduce the irritation of dry air brought to the nasal cavity and help relieve sinusitis symptoms.
• Hot compress: Apply a towel soaked in warm water on the nose, which helps relieve sinus pain. You can also use a steam shower to expand and soothe the sinus cavity.
• Cinnamon: Mix cinnamon with honey and ingest it, which can help relieve sinus headaches. Cinnamon contains natural anti-inflammatory properties. Honey has a lot of vitamins. They can effectively relieve headaches and sore throat caused by postnasal drip.
• Over-the-counter drugs: Take some over-the-counter medicines, such as Advil. This non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug can reduce nasal inflammation and relieve sinus headaches.

6. Eyestrain

A headache behind the right eye or over the right eyebrow can be a sign of eyestrain. It usually occurs when your eyes get tired from prolonged, intense use, such as staring at computer screens and driving for hours. This cannot be very pleasant, but it usually goes away after taking enough rest.

Eye strain can cause redness, irritation, dry eyes, and difficulty focusing. Other symptoms of eyestrain include:

• Neck, shoulder, or back pain
• Blurred or double vision
• Dry or watery eyes
• Difficulty concentrating
• Itching or burning eyes
• Sensitivity to light
• Feeling like you cannot keep the affected eye open

How to cure eye strain headaches

Warm compress: Warm compress is an effective way to reduce eye strain. Place a soft towel soaked in warm water on your eyelids. This can help relax the muscles around your eyes and relieves dryness, swelling, and pain in the eyes.

Eye Exercises: Regular eye exercises can improve blood circulation to your eyes. Try to roll your eyes in different directions for a few seconds. This can effectively help alleviate eye strain.

Eye Massage: Eye Massage can help improve blood circulation and relax the muscles of your eyes. Gently massage your eyelids, temple, and upper cheekbones for about 1 to 2 minutes. This can help prevent dry eyes and relieve a strain headache.

Note: See a doctor if home remedies and relaxation do not relieve the symptoms.

7. Trauma or Injury

Injury or trauma to the right side of your head can cause a headache behind the eyes and forehead. Depending on the severity, it may cause a recurring headache even after healing. Traumatic headaches can also cause cluster headaches.

If you have an injury or trauma, you should see your doctor as soon as possible.

8. Giant Cell Arteritis

Another possible cause of a headache above or behind the right eye is giant cell arteritis. Also known as temporal arteritis, it is an inflammation of the lining of the arteries in the head. If left untreated, this condition can result in blindness or stroke. The general signs and symptoms of giant cell arteritis are:

• Constant headache behind the eyes, usually in temple areas
• Jaw pain when opening the mouth wide or chewing
• Scalp tenderness
• Weight loss
• Fever, fatigue
• Double vision, blurred vision, or vision loss
• Sudden or permanent vision loss in one eye

See your doctor immediately if you develop a persistent headache and other symptoms mentioned above.

9. Trigeminal Neuralgia

A person may suffer a severe headache over the right eye due to damaged or trapped nerves in the head. This condition affects the trigeminal nerves in the face and causes stabbing pain around the left or right eye.

The jabbing or shooting pain can be triggered by some actions, including speaking, brushing your teeth, applying makeup, drinking or eating, and touching your face.

You may experience a headache behind the eyes and temples that lasts for a few seconds or minutes. A series of attacks can last for days, weeks, or months. If facial pain accompanies your headache behind the right eye, see your doctor for a proper diagnosis.

10. Vision Problems

In some cases, pain behind one or both eyes is caused by a problem with the eye itself and must be appropriately treated. For example, someone with an uncorrected vision issue, such as astigmatism, farsightedness, or nearsightedness, may experience a headache and eye pain because the eye and brain are trying to work harder for poor vision abilities.

Other possible causes of a headache behind the right eye are optic neuritis, which is the inflammation of the optic nerve, and Scleritis, which is the inflammation of the outer coating of the eyeball.

11. Glaucoma

Glaucoma is an eye condition that causes damage to the optic nerve, which is essential for good vision. High pressure usually causes damage to the eye. The effect is gradual, and some symptoms are not noticeable until the problem is at an advanced phase. Depending on the stage of the condition, symptoms may include:

• Patchy blind spots in peripheral or central vision
• Tunnel vision (advanced stage)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Severe headache
• Eye pain, redness
• Halos around lights

Vision loss caused by glaucoma cannot be recovered. See an eye doctor if you experience symptoms of proper diagnosis and immediate treatment.

12. Aneurysm

An aneurysm is the ballooning or bulging of an artery’s wall. It can rupture and result in internal bleeding. This condition does not usually show symptoms, so a person may not know that they have an aneurysm, even if the bulge is prominent.

When symptoms occur, some signs of an unruptured aneurysm include pain above or behind one eye, double vision or change in sight, a dilated pupil, drooping eyelid, and numbness.

Common symptoms of a ruptured aneurysm are:

• Sudden, excruciating headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Blurred or double vision, sensitivity to light
• Stiff neck
• Drooping eyelid
• Confusion
• Loss of consciousness or seizure

Seek medical attention if you develop sudden, extreme headaches.

13. Tumor

A brain tumor is a growth or accumulation of abnormal cells in the brain. It increases pressure in the skull and produces pain throughout the head but may also cause localized pain behind an eye. The general symptoms of a brain tumor include:

• Headaches that gradually become more severe and frequent
• Seizures, muscle cramps, spasms, jerks
• Change in vision, sensation, hearing, or smell
• Balance and speech difficulties
• The gradual loss of feeling in a leg or an arm
• Nausea or vomiting
• Confusion

If you experience any of these symptoms, speak to your doctor immediately to prevent the possible tumor growth in your head.

14. Dry eye

Dry eye is a very common disease, especially for those who look at a computer screen or cell phone for a long time. Dry eyes can cause the eyes to become dry, itchy, and irritating, leading to headaches behind the eyes.

This eye pain and headache can sometimes be intense, accompanied by a burning sensation. Sometimes, you will feel tears flow out suddenly and cannot be controlled.

Close your eyes and rest for a while. This will help ease the symptoms of dry eyes. You can also use eye drops to relieve the headache caused by dry eyes.

How to Treat Headache Pain Above or Behind the Right Eyes

Knowing the underlying cause of a headache behind the right eye allows you to conduct a proper treatment. You can also relieve these problems naturally by applying a cold compress, improving sleep habits, lowering stress levels, eating nutritious meals, and massage therapy.

Sleep: Sleep is the most effective way to get rid of migraines. It can help you remove tension and stress. It also relieves headaches caused by fatigue.

Exercise: Exercise is a natural painkiller. It can promote the production of endorphins in the body and relieves headache. Avoid excessive exercise, which can lead to fatigue and headaches behind your eyes.

Steam: Inhaling steam can effectively help you reduce sinusitis, a common cause of headaches behind the eyes. You can also use the saline nasal spray to treat sinusitis and relieve headaches.

Acupuncture or massage: Acupuncture or massage is very effective in treating headaches after the eyes. They can help improve your blood circulation and relieve your body tension.

Yoga: Yoga is another effective way to treat headaches behind the eyes, while it can help improve the body’s flexibility.

Avoid smoking and drinking: Heavy smoke and too much alcohol often lead to headaches. You better avoid them.

Avoid strong tea or coffee: Strong tea or coffee can stimulate your nerves and lead to headaches behind the eyes. You can drink some green tea to relieve the headache.

See your doctor: If the pattern of headaches changes and becomes more frequent or severe, see a doctor immediately.

Headache Behind Eyes

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In this article

Key Takeaways

• There are many different causes of headaches that occur behind the eyes.
• Many headache remedies are available over-the-counter or involve behavioral or lifestyle changes.
• In some cases, the pain or frequency of a headache behind the eyes warrants a visit to the doctor.
• If you experience ongoing headaches or the measures you take to alleviate the pain don’t work, you should seek professional medical attention.

What Does a Headache Behind the Eyes Mean?

Headaches occur in all parts of the head. Some even affect the neck and shoulders.

It’s common for someone experiencing a headache to feel pain in their face, especially around or behind their eyes.

Headaches that affect your eyes might also affect vision and sensitivity to light.

Understanding what the location of your headache means can help you alleviate the pain and avoid the same type of headache in the future.

Most of the time, a headache behind the eyes does not mean anything serious. Sometimes it’s linked to vision problems or eye strain. However, it’s a good idea to seek medical attention if you frequently experience headaches that involve your eyes.

7 Causes of Headache Behind the Eyes

Here are seven common causes of headaches behind the eyes:

1. Tension

Tension headaches are a common type of headache and usually aren’t a cause for concern.

However, they’re uncomfortable and can interfere with daily life.

Typically, people prone to tension headaches experience about one or two a month. Some people experience them far more frequently.

Symptoms of tension headaches include:

• Tight-feeling or pressure in the forehead and behind the eyes
• Dull pain
• Neck pain
• Scalp tenderness

2. Migraines

Migraines cause pain, pressure, and severe pain behind the eyes. They also affect vision and other senses.

Many people experience migraine pain severe enough to diminish their quality of life. A migraine headache causes excruciating pain and can be similar to an illness that prevents you from performing your usual daily tasks.

Other symptoms of migraines include:

• Eye pain
• Sensitivity to light
• Dizziness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Mood changes
• Impaired vision
• Weakness

3. Cluster Headaches

A cluster headache includes multiple short and painful headaches. Most last for less than an hour but can cause hours-long pain as they “cluster” together in occurrence.

Cluster headaches trigger piercing headache pain, usually behind one eye. Other symptoms include:

• Swollen eyes
• Red eyes
• Excessive tearing

4. Eyestrain

Sometimes problems with vision are the cause of headaches behind the eyes.

Eyestrain is also associated with too much time spent looking at computer screens, phone screens, or televisions.

Other causes of headaches linked to the eyes include:

• Scleritis. Inflammation of the white coating of the eye
• Optic neuritis. Inflammation of the optic nerve
• Grave’s disease. An autoimmune disorder that affects the eyes
• Glaucoma. An eye disease that affects the optic nerve
• Dry eyes. This occurs when the eyes do not naturally produce enough tears to keep eyes properly lubricated

5. Sinus Infection

Sinus infections, sometimes called sinusitis, occur when the lining of the sinuses is inflamed or there is congestion.

Typically, pressure across the cheeks, forehead, and behind the eyes accompanies congestion. This headache pain is usually uncomfortable but not unbearable.

Sinus headaches also trigger:

• Stuffy nose
• Fatigue
• Aching in upper teeth
• Worsened pain when lying down

6. Poor Posture

Poor posture leads to misalignments in the soft tissues. Long-term, poor posture leads to weakening of the muscles in the surrounding area. This causes frequent headaches behind the eyes.

7. Brain Aneurysm

Brain aneurysms cause intense pain. They occur when the artery wall of the brain weakens and causes hemorrhage or stroke.

Symptoms of Headache Behind the Eyes

Symptoms of headaches behind the eyes include:

• Red, teary eyes
• Tight, aching, or intense head pain
• Neck and shoulder soreness
• Face redness and/or sweating
• Swelling on one side of the face
• Vision problems
• Squinting

Potential Triggers of Headache Behind the Eyes

There are several potential triggers of headaches behind the eyes, including:

• Eyestrain
• Fatigue
• Bright lights
• Lack of sleep
• Hormonal changes
• Alcohol use
• Hunger
• Exposure to strong odors, especially chemicals like perfume or cologne
• Emotional stress
• Infection
• Vision problems

Often, the cause of your headache affects what triggers it. Several things can trigger migraines, including:

• Lack of sleep
• Certain foods, including chocolate, alcohol, and MSG
• Stress
• Weather changes
• Strong smells
• Bright lights
• Loud noises
• Hunger

Several things trigger tension headaches, including:

• Stress
• Fatigue
• Eyestrain
• Poor posture
• Problems with the neck or jaw
• Bright lights
• Loud noises
• Strong smells
• Hunger
• Dehydration

Several things trigger cluster headaches, including:

Treatment for Headache Behind the Eyes

Treatment for headaches behind the eyes is based on the cause. However, one of the best treatments for any type of headache is to prevent it before it happens. This means avoiding triggers and acting fast at the first sign of pain.

Most people treat mild to moderate headaches with over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers. These include acetaminophen, naproxen, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Note: OTC medications should only be used occasionally. Although generally safe, they can trigger side effects, including rebound headaches.

Other remedies that help relieve the pain associated with most headaches include:

• Daily exercise
• Avoiding or reducing alcohol use
• Avoiding processed foods
• Eliminating the use of tobacco
• Avoiding or reducing caffeine intake

People experiencing severe or frequent headaches might benefit from prescription medications. Doctors sometimes prescribe muscle relaxants, beta-blockers, or antidepressants like amitriptyline (Elavil) to alleviate tension headaches. These medications can also help reduce the risk of developing future headaches.

Tension Headaches

The pain from a tension headache might be eased by:

• Warm shower
• Heating pad
• Rest
• Stress reduction exercises like yoga and deep breathing
• Adequate rest
• Migraines

For many people, the only relief for migraine headaches is a prescription medication. Drugs prescribed to help with migraines include triptans such as:

• Almotriptan (Axert)
• Eletriptan (Relpax)
• Rizatriptan (Maxalt)
• Sumatriptan (Imitrex)
• Zolmitriptan (Zomig)

Cluster Headaches

Cluster headaches are also treated with medications, including:

• Sumatriptan injections
• Lidocaine nose drops
• Verapamil
• Prednisone

Sinus headaches usually require antibiotics if related to an infection and decongestants to alleviate the sinus pressure causing the pain.

Additionally, symptoms can be managed by breathing warm, moist air and with warm compresses.

Headaches Related to Vision Issues

The pain from vision-related headaches might be eased by:

• Taking frequent breaks from screens
• Rest
• Artificial tears eye drops
• Eyeglasses prescription update

When to See a Doctor

If you notice your headaches continue or worsen even with the appropriate treatment methods, you should speak to your doctor. The problem might be associated with a more serious condition.