Severe headache felt in or around the eye can arise from eye conditions, neurological problems, or general health issues.
Ocular causes
Certain eye diseases cause pain that radiates to the head. Vision changes often accompany symptoms.
- Acute angle-closure glaucoma with red, painful eye and haloes
- Uveitis causing deep ache and light sensitivity
- Scleritis with severe, boring pain worse at night
- Uncorrected refractive error or eye strain causing frontal headaches
Neurological and systemic causes
Migraine, cluster headache, and raised intracranial pressure can all present with periocular pain. Sudden, unusual headache patterns need urgent assessment.
- Migraine with throbbing pain, visual aura, or nausea
- Cluster headache with tearing and redness in one eye
- Temporal arteritis in older adults causing scalp tenderness and jaw pain
- Any “worst ever” headache requires emergency evaluation
