Differential Diagnosis for Left Temple Pain with Shooting Eye Pain
- Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Migraine: This is a common condition that often presents with unilateral headache, which can be accompanied by shooting eye pain. The pain is often described as throbbing or pulsating and can be exacerbated by light or sound.
- Other Likely Diagnoses
- Cluster headache: Known for severe, unilateral orbital or periorbital pain, cluster headaches can also cause eye pain and are often accompanied by autonomic symptoms like lacrimation or nasal congestion.
- Trigeminal neuralgia: Characterized by sudden, severe, shock-like or stabbing pain around the eyes, lips, or nose, trigeminal neuralgia can cause shooting eye pain, especially if the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve is involved.
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder: Pain from TMJ disorders can radiate to the temple area and may cause referred pain to the eye, especially if there is inflammation or dysfunction of the joint.
- Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Giant cell arteritis: Although less common, this condition is critical to diagnose due to the risk of vision loss. It typically presents with headache, jaw claudication, and visual disturbances in older adults.
- Acute angle-closure glaucoma: This is an ophthalmologic emergency that presents with severe eye pain, blurred vision, and headache. It requires immediate medical attention to prevent permanent vision loss.
- Cavernous sinus thrombosis: A rare but potentially life-threatening condition that can cause headache, eye pain, and neurological deficits. It often arises from facial or sinus infections.
- Rare Diagnoses
- Ophthalmic herpes zoster: Shingles affecting the eye can cause severe pain and may lead to complications like uveitis or glaucoma.
- Tolosa-Hunt syndrome: A rare condition characterized by headache, eye pain, and ophthalmoplegia due to inflammation of the cavernous sinus or superior orbital fissure.
- Raeder's syndrome: A rare condition that presents with unilateral facial pain, often accompanied by ptosis and miosis, due to a lesion affecting the sympathetic nerves to the face.