You’ve been feeling a dull ache in your ear, but now you’ve also started to notice a strange pressure or pain in your eye. It’s natural to feel concerned when symptoms seem to cross over from one area to another.
It’s not uncommon for an ear infection to cause eye pain, often due to pressure buildup, sinus involvement, and shared nerve pathways that refer pain to your eye. If you are experiencing eye pain, it always helps to seek professional help.
The Link Between Your Ears & Eyes
Your ears and eyes are neighbors, so it’s not surprising that they can affect each other. An infection in your middle ear can create inflammation and fluid buildup. This can have effects that you feel in other parts of your head.
Shared Nerves & Pathways
The nerves in your face and head form a shared and complex web. Because of these shared pathways, pain can sometimes be “referred”—meaning that the discomfort you feel in your eye might actually originate from your ear. This is a common reason why an ear problem can lead to eye symptoms without a direct infection in the eye itself.
Pressure Buildup from Infections
A middle ear infection—also known as otitis media—often causes fluid to become trapped behind the eardrum. This buildup creates pressure that can radiate to nearby areas. You might experience this as a feeling of fullness or a dull ache behind your eyes.
How Sinus Involvement Plays a Role
Your sinuses are a system of hollow cavities located near both your ears and eyes. This means that an ear infection can sometimes spread or lead to sinus inflammation. When your sinuses become swollen, they can cause pressure and pain that feels like it’s coming directly from your eyes.
Common Symptoms of an Ear Infection with Eye Pain
When an ear infection affects your eyes, you may notice a combination of symptoms. You might feel pain or pressure in your eyes, but you should also experience the normal symptoms of an ear infection, which include:
- Sharp or dull ear pain
- A feeling of fullness or congestion in the ear
- Fluid drainage from the ear canal
- Difficulty with hearing or muffled sounds
What Is Conjunctivitis-Otitis Syndrome?
Sometimes, an ear infection and an eye infection can happen at the same time. This is often due to a single bacterial cause and is known as conjunctivitis-otitis syndrome.
A Combined Bacterial Infection
Conjunctivitis-otitis occurs when the same bacteria cause both a middle ear infection and conjunctivitis (commonly known as pink eye). It’s much more common in younger children, perhaps because they’re far more likely to get both middle ear and eye infections.
Could It Be Temporal Tendonitis?
Not all ear and eye pain is caused by an infection. Sometimes, the discomfort comes from an inflamed tendon on the side of your head called the temporal tendon. The resulting condition, known as temporal tendonitis, can mimic the symptoms of an ear infection.
Another Source of Ear & Eye Pain
Temporal tendonitis happens when the tendon connecting your jaw to the side of your head becomes irritated. This can cause pain in your temple, ear, cheek, and even behind your eye. The key difference is that this discomfort occurs without any infection present.
Common Causes of This Condition
This type of inflammation can be triggered by several factors. Some of the most frequent causes include:
- Trauma to the side of the head or face
- Jaw clenching or teeth grinding, which can be related to stress or prolonged focus
- A dental procedure that required your mouth to be open for a long time
- Eating very hard or chewy foods that strain the jaw
When to See an Eye Doctor in San Diego
If you experience persistent eye pain along with ear discomfort, it’s a good idea to get it checked out. We can help identify the source of the problem and suggest the right course of action.
Signs an Infection May Be More Serious
Certain symptoms indicate that an infection is spreading and requires attention:
- A high fever over 101°F
- Severe or worsening pain
- Red streaks that appear on the skin near the ear
- Confusion or disorientation
- Shortness of breath
The Value of a Comprehensive Exam
Because symptoms can overlap between different conditions, a thorough examination is always helpful for a proper diagnosis. As your eye doctor in San Diego, we can assess your eye health and help determine if your eye pain is related to an infection, inflammation, or another issue. Distinguishing between an infection and a condition like temporal tendonitis is the first step toward relief.
At Total Vision Sports Arena, we’re dedicated to helping you understand your eye health.. If you’re experiencing eye pain with or without ear symptoms, contact us to schedule an appointment today.
