Eye socket pain can be caused by problems with the facial nerves, infections, and underlying medical conditions. It may occur around the edges of the eyes or in the deep part of the socket behind the eye. Patients should try to determine the location so they can report their symptoms accurately to a doctor. This information can be important for ruling various diagnoses out in a patient evaluation. Treatments for eye socket pain depend on the cause but can include medications, compresses, and rest.

One potential cause of eye socket pain is a disorder like glaucoma, migraines, sinusitis, or Addison's disease. Patients may experience intermittent facial pain with these conditions, and sometimes the pain can be located in the eye socket. Likewise, patients with temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) sometimes notice eye socket pain. The cranial nerves involved run by the eye, and in a flareup, they can cause pain around the orbit of the eye.

Cranial nerve palsy is another culprit. When the cranial nerves do not function right, they may send random signals to the brain and can cause significant pain for the patient. This can be the result of disease, pressure on a nerve, or trauma. Recent trauma should be discussed in an evaluation for eye socket pain, as it can provide a clue to the origins of the symptom. Penetrating trauma is a particular cause for concern, as there may be an injury in the back of the eye that is not readily apparent on a casual physical examination.

Some patients develop orbital cellulitis, an inflammation of the tissues that line the eye socket. This can cause pain as well as dry eyes and swelling. The patient may notice blurred vision and other vision changes as well. Other patients experience chronic inflammation of the eye socket without a clear cause. These patients benefit from anti-inflammatory medications and may also respond to therapy with antibiotics or antiviral drugs if a microorganism is responsible for the inflammation.

Another reason to develop eye socket pain is optic neuritis. In this neurological condition, the optic nerve becomes inflamed. Pain signals around the back of the eye may come from the nerve but feel like they are emerging from the eye socket. Patients with tumors and buildups of fluid in their skulls can also develop eye socket pain due to pressure. They may also notice swelling or bulging eyes along with neurological symptoms like slurred speech, double vision, and tremors.