Pulling feeling on lateral gaze, recurrence

[Nejlika]

At the end of September I felt something like a pulling sensation behind or rather under my right eye, when I looked sideways (mostly on left lateral gaze). It wasn't very bothersome, I didn't notice it during my normal daily activity, only when I turned my eyes as far left (or right) as they would turn and "strained" them. This sensation was there for 4 days, then it stopped. I didn't notice any changes in my vision or anything else (no swelling, no redness, no tearing).

Two months later, at the end of November, I experienced a similar sensation - like pulling or pressure-like, only this time sort of stronger, slightly painful, and in my other eye (my left eye), but also on lateral gaze and mostly when I looked left (as far left as possible, for example when I was trying to look at shopwindows to the left, but without turning my head). Sometimes it fels like the eye didn't have enough space in the eye socket (a slight sensation of fullness) and sometimes it felt like the pressure was towards my nose. These symptoms weren't so bothersome, they didn't disturb my day, although they did raise a question in my mind. And they went away in a 4 or 5 days' time too. And also this time I didn't notice any changes in my vision, but I did notice an occasional throbbing on that same side of my head, for example when I bent down or got up.

I must admit I have been very busy lately and I haven't had time to see a doctor. Besides, I thought the September incident was nothing serious, but then when the same thing, only a little stronger, happened two months later in my other eye, I am beginning to worry. I have had dry eyes for years ( I spent many hours at the computer every day), I am also myopic and wear glasses. Could this have anything to do with my dry eyes or with eyestrain? I have googled this and things like Graves' or sinusitis come up, or orbital inflammatory disease. I do have a pain in my sinuses on pressure, but no other symptoms...

[Nejlika]

I managed to see an ophthalmologist today. He said everything looked fine. I asked specifically about inflammation, but he said there would be other symptoms. He also said I should take more breaks from my work and use artificial tears.

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

You need to see an ophthalmologist for an eye exam.

Dr. O.