Differential Diagnosis for Eye Pressure and Frontal Area Pain
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Tension Headache: This is the most common type of headache and can be triggered by visual stimuli, leading to eye pressure and frontal area pain. The pain is usually bilateral, mild to moderate, and can be exacerbated by activities that involve focusing, such as reading or looking at screens.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Dry Eye Syndrome: This condition can cause eye discomfort, including a sensation of pressure, and can be exacerbated by focusing on certain tasks or looking at specific things. The pain is usually accompanied by other symptoms like dryness, grittiness, and blurred vision.
- Convergence Insufficiency: A condition where the eyes have difficulty working together, leading to eye strain and pain, especially when performing tasks that require focusing, such as reading or looking at digital screens.
- Refractive Errors: Uncorrected or under-corrected refractive errors (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism) can lead to eye strain and pain, particularly when looking at certain things that require focusing.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Giant Cell Arteritis: Although less common, this condition is critical to diagnose early because it can lead to blindness if not treated promptly. It typically presents with headache, jaw claudication, and visual disturbances, including eye pain when looking at certain things.
- Temporal Arteritis: Similar to giant cell arteritis, temporal arteritis can cause eye pain and visual disturbances, including blindness if not treated promptly.
- Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma: A medical emergency that can cause severe eye pain, blurred vision, and headache, often accompanied by nausea and vomiting. It requires immediate treatment to prevent permanent vision loss.
Rare Diagnoses
- Optic Neuritis: An inflammation of the optic nerve that can cause eye pain, especially with eye movement, and vision loss. It is often associated with multiple sclerosis.
- Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH): A condition characterized by increased intracranial pressure without a detectable cause, leading to headache, vision changes, and eye pain.
- Trigeminal Neuralgia: A chronic pain condition that affects the trigeminal nerve, which can cause severe, shock-like or stabbing pain in parts of the face, including the eye area, often triggered by specific actions like chewing or looking at certain things.