Sinus pressure on left side and left eye dry

[Joseph]

I always seem to have sinus issues on my left side including headache, light sensitivity and pressure around and behind my left eye. The thing is I am on a dry eye forum because my left eye is always dry and painfull. Does anybody else see any connection with sinus pressure and dry eye's.

[Scout]

Joseph,

This does happen to me. It was quite a mystery to the doctors I saw for several years. I was misdiagnosed many times.

Here is the short version (at least in my case) of what I have learned:

I had a very serious post-surgical infection in my left eye after LASIK surgery. I was treated for several months with topical antibiotics and other drops (all with BAK as a preservative).

Either from the infection itself (which can trigger chronic inflammation) or the constant medications (which can also trigger chronic inflammation), I started experiencing the same throbbing pain on and behind my left eye, all the way through my sinuses. The pain was severe, with nausea and light sensitivity at times. It was misdiagnosed as a migraine and did not respond to migraine meds.

When the eyes (and also sinuses) become inflamed, they can be highly sensitive to allergens and irritants in the environment. I am now highly sensitive to fragrances, lotions, eye drops, medication and others substances in my environment. If the inflammation is not stopped when I feel the early signs, it will escalate into the migraine-like headache--only on the left side.

I use cold compresses for the initial stages and then use either antihistamines or decongestant medication to reduce inflammation if it gets worse. The sinuses swell when they come in contact with environmental irritants and allergens and the swelling creates painful pressure. Reducing the inflammation and pressure helps reduce the pain.

I have also rid my environment of anything that I found that I am sensitive or reactive to. There are many things that I am now reactive to that I was never sensitive before this experience

My life is now vastly improved and I rarely have one of those one-sided severe migraine-like headaches.

I hope this helps,

Scout

[Joseph]

Thanks Scout. I also have had LASIK surgery with some problems with my left eye for the first six months. I wonder if sinus issues could have been the reason for that, and if sinuses are still playing a role in dry eyes. The odd thing is that what helps my dry eyes the most is Advil cold and sinus OTC. It does not make my eyes less dry but does help with the pain.

[Scout]

Thanks Scout. I also have had LASIK surgery with some problems with my left eye for the first six months. I wonder if sinus issues could have been the reason for that, and if sinuses are still playing a role in dry eyes. The odd thing is that what helps my dry eyes the most is Advil cold and sinus OTC. It does not make my eyes less dry but does help with the pain.

I forgot to mention that the infection post-LASIK surgery was in my left eye. I had lots of pain and a torn flap that had to be repaired and then I had another surgery on that eye. It is as if that eye is more reactive and much more quickly irritated by any allergens or environmental irritants.

It could be that you are experiencing inflammation on the ocular surface as well as in your sinuses. Ocular surface inflammation feels like dry eye and acts like dry eye but may not be exactly the same thing.

I think you may be on the right track with what you have tried so far. I would only add that you may want to figure out if anything in your environment is triggering the sinus and ocular surface inflammation. I had to change many of the products I was using like lotions, soaps, fragrances, etc. Removing the products that apparently triggered inflammation, has helped a lot.

Good luck

Scout