Pressure between eye/eyebrows, similar to headaches

[JB23]

I am 17 years old and I have intense pressure above my eyes, it occurs in each eye between where the eyeball meets the eyebrow, along that bone sort of. The pressure comes and goes and is usually accompanied by dizziness and swelling. Just recently that area was so swollen my eyelashes were rubbing it, like, you couldn't tell the difference of me holding my eye regular and opening it as far wide as I could. I have seen regular doctors and they always say it is allergies and just give me an eye drop for allergies, which doesn't work, and I saw a neurologist (one of the other doctors referred me to him) who contributed it to lack of sleep and migraines. The condition gets significantly worse when I am on the computer, then I get the pressure really bad and it hurts to look upwards. Also, when I sleep I still feel the pressure and try to blink with my eyes closed, and its like a habit I can't stop. Like, I can blink when I am awake and my eyelid makes a popping sound and it feels a bit better. Its weird. Thanks in advance for any help.

[steelcoffee]

Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor or giving any advice. Just yapping.

I sit in front of a computer pretty much all day for work, then when I get home its roughly the same. I've felt all sorts of arrays of aches and pressures, none of them anywhere near as intense as what you are describing.

What I can say though, is staring at a computer for long periods of time makes the eyes feel funky. Inadequate sleep makes EVERYTHING feel funky. Migraines (which I do not have, but friends do) must complicate things even further.

If I were in your position (again, I am not a doctor or anyone who knows anything about medicine), I'd start paying attention to when its interfering with your life the most. I would be spending a little less time on the computer, getting at least 8 hours of sleep (and most importantly for me personally, getting to bed early enough so that I can wake up without an alarm, so as not to break the sleep cycle I am in).

Random thoughts:
1. What you generally feel, and your big swelling episode may not be related.
2. Is it possible you are allergic to something you're using in or around your eyes? (including medicines and materials like contacts and such?)
3. Are you compounding some of what you feel because you are fixating on it?

With regards to the differing diagnoses, I've found that doctors tend to view things from the scopes of their own fields. While the above is certainly not a rule of thumb, it does make sense that your neurologist would talk about neurological things like inadequate sleep and migraines as opposed to something funky going on in your sinuses. That being said, maybe ask an ear/nose/throat specialist too while you're at it?

It may be worth mentioning here if your problem comes and goes, or is it constant. As well as how long you have had it, and how many times it has happened in the past.

For my own curiosity (if you don't mind sharing), what medical discipline is your primary care physician? I think mine falls under "internal medicine" - not positive though.

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

That popping sound when you blink your eyes can be a telltale sign of severe dry yes.  Please see an EyeMD Ophthalmologist for a full evaluation with special attention toward dry eyes.  Also make sure glasses prescription is correct and watch especially for latent hyperopia.

MJK MD

[JB23]

This has came for the last year or two, but been more of a dizziness than a pain above the eye. Recently (last 3 weeks) it started to be where I couldn't hardly look at a computer or tv screen and began feeling the soreness when I did. So within the last 3 weeks I would say my eyes have been feeling sore. Like today I feel pretty good, they are just normally sore, but about a week ago the pain was unbearable and accompanied by swelling. Earlier that day, though, I recall a lot of rain, could that have maybe stirred up the pollen in the atmosphere or something and caused an allergic reaction?

To what you said about me being allergic to something I use on my face. I don't think that could be it because I get the pain regardless of if I am wearing my contacts, but having the contacts in doesn't ease the pain, you know. And I am constantly changing face wash brands and things of that nature to see if it is an allergy to something like that, but no luck.

Could it be my eyeglasses prescription causing pain? I recall when I got them I wouldn't wear them for like 2 months because they gave me headaches, but finally I gave in and got used to it, assuming it was just because they were new pair.

I believe the doctors were like general physicians or something. I can't honestly say though.

[JB23]

I just thought to come back and include this as well. I wear contact lenses and glasses. Since it is summer though, I would say I only wear my contacts about once every other week. I just wear my glasses around the house and stuff. Thanks again.