If you get a headache behind one eye, it is natural to assume the eye is the problem. Very often, it is not. That pain is frequently referred from somewhere else, and identifying the true source is the first step to lasting relief.
Why does it hurt there?
Where you feel pain is not always where the pain begins. The nerves of the head, face and upper neck share closely connected pathways in the brainstem. Because of this overlap, a problem in one area can be felt in another. This is why headache is so commonly experienced around or behind the eye, even when the eye itself is perfectly healthy.
Could it be migraine?
Migraine commonly causes pain around or behind one eye. Typical features include pain on one side of the head, discomfort across the temple or forehead, nausea, and sensitivity to light, sound or movement. If that pattern sounds familiar, migraine may be driving your symptoms.
Could your neck be contributing?
The upper cervical spine, particularly the C1 to C3 segments, connects directly with headache pathways in the brainstem. In some people, pain from the upper neck is referred towards the eye, forehead, temple or back of the head. This is known as cervicogenic headache, and it is often overlooked.
What we look for
During assessment at the Melbourne Headache and Concussion Group, we examine whether specific testing of your upper neck can reproduce your familiar headache, or reduce it. This tells us whether the neck is contributing to your symptoms, and it guides a treatment plan built around the actual cause rather than just the location of the pain.
Ask a better question
Instead of only asking “where does it hurt?”, the more useful question is “what may be contributing to my headache?” Answering it properly is often what changes your results.
If you have been living with headache or pain behind one eye, you do not have to keep guessing. Book an assessment with our team and let us help you find out what is really going on.
