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What Causes Tightness In Eye?

Posted on Fri, 26 Dec 2014

Question: Hello I need help. I have attached two images of my right eye one from a couple of months ago and one from today. After a night out I woke up with a tight feeling in right side of my face and then I developed neuropathy in the right side of my face. I noticed that my eye and side of nose hasn't drooped but it looked slightly different than what it looked like before. I want to know what can cause this? Could the neuropathy cause it? But I also think my drink got spiked tht night so could it be from that? Please help. I just want my eye back to normal.

The picture with eye make up was before and without makeup was taken today

it looks like it has been widened slightly at the bottom

Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (52 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It's hard to say if there is facial palsy.

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for using HCM.

I looked carefully at pictures you uploaded and there is a very slight difference between them. It is my impression that there is no facial palsy. However how you feel about it is very important in this case. To say certainly if there is or is not a problem, needs to compare both sides of your face. I think Amytriptiline is not indicated in this situation, treatment consists on local muscular massage and maybe the use of corticosteroids ( Prednisolone).

Neuropathy develops after a prolonged history of alchohol consumption, not in your case. Sometimes facial palsy happens after prolonged exposure in cold of one side of face and is always reversible. In my opinion very soon your concern will subside.

Hope this answers your question. If you have additional questions or follow up questions then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your questions.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (48 minutes later)

Everytime I touch the areas in my face which I think has drooped slightly I get nerve pain and I have constant neuralgia in my teeth. I just want my face back to normal

It's been like this for 4 months

I uploaded a picture and in the pic it's the right side of your view that has changed a little.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (43 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
In this case Trigeminal Neuralgia.

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for asking again.

I looked the last photo you uploaded and I think the difference is minimal. I don't think this is a case of facial palsy, instead it is more likely that Trigeminal Neuralgia is causing your symptoms.

I suggest you to consult a Neurologist and have a careful examination of sensitivity on both sides of your face (light touch, numbness, temperature discrimination etc), and a possible imaging study (if it is indicated ) according to neurologic examination findings. (Cerebral MRI to check for/ rule out neuro vascular conflict). Treatment depends on examination and imaging findings.

Hope this helps. If you have further questions feel free to ask.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (7 minutes later)

i had an MRI done it came back normal. but other doctors have said that the trigmenial nerve wouldnt cause any weakness or droopyness....

Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (52 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
There is no significant droopness.

Detailed Answer:
Hi again. As I mentioned before, there is only minimal asymmtry between both sides and this is not the case of facial palsy. Maybe the muscles of your right side of your face stay less XXXXXXX because the pain. Facial palsy has not the pain as a characteristic symptom, Trigeminal Neuralgia has it. If MRI resulted negative it is a good fact. Is there any difference in light touch on both sides of your face? If yes it is Trigeminal Neuralgia, if not you have nothinf to worry and you can start a treatment with Prednisolone and local massage, but this has to be discussed with your Neurologist. Hope this helps.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (9 minutes later)

Yeh with light touch I can feel pain. Is there any medication for the trigmenial neuralgia that will make my muscles go back to normal ?basically what is affecting me the most is the way I look, I don't like it. I know it's only a tiny change but it's making an impact on me I just want it back normal

My neurologist diagnosed me with trigmenial sensory neuropathy. Can this be caused by drink spiking? (Someone putting drugs in my drink) Also will it go away?! I will go crazy if it's permanent

Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Trigeminal neuralgia is treated with Carbamazepin.

Detailed Answer:
Hi again,

Carbamazepine is the main treatment for pain caused by Trigeminal neuralgia, Your muscles need massage ( physical therapy) to come back to normal. Physical therapy is started after pain is controlled. Drink spiking has a low chance to cause your concern if it was only one episode and you should get to normal after the drug is out of your system. Continuous drug consumption causes damages that last longer.

I think you soon will get back to normal.

Hope this helps.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (17 minutes later)

Is trigmenial sensory neuropathy the same as trigmenial neuralgia? Because I have trig sensory neuropathy

Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (28 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
They are not the same.

Detailed Answer:
Hi again.

Trigeminal sensory neuropathy has no pain as a symptom.

In Trigeminal sensory neuropathy symptoms are numbness, anesthesia or hypoesthesia of the affected area.

You said you feel pain and pain is a feature of Trigeminal neuralgia.

Hope this helps.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (13 minutes later)

Oh sorry I wasn't clear, my symptoms are not pain it's just when I touch side of my face I can feel my nerve. What is the treatment for sensory neuropathy and will it go away?

Also will physical therapy make my muscles go back to normal with sensory neuropathy?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (30 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Treatment depends on the cause of neuropathy.

Detailed Answer:
Hi again.

Treatment of Trigeminal sensory neuropathy depends from cause.

I believe your Neurologist has done necessary tests to identify the cause.

Idiopathic cases ( it means there is no visible cause even after tests) usualy resolve spontaneously in few months.

Physical therapy helps in restoring muscle function. Hope this helps. Wishing you good health.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (4 minutes later)

Thanks. I know I asked this before but it cannot be caused by drink spiking or cold air can it?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (12 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Drink spiking is a possibility.

Detailed Answer:
Hi again XXXXXXX Drink spiking is a possibility but if was only once your symptoms should subside gradually. If you have symptoms from four months now, it's better to have a check up to identify/ rule out other possibilities. Hope this helps.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (13 minutes later)

Thanks! But this will definitely go away won't it? I just have to be patient?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (2 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It will go away.

Detailed Answer:
Hi again. I believe it will go away. Physical therapy may help in reducing time. Hope this helps.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (15 minutes later)

Sorry one last question. I hear about people who have permanent neuropathy what if this happens to me :-(

Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
I believe it is not your case.

Detailed Answer:
Hi again. Permanent neuropathy is caused from certain systemic diseases, side effects of drugs, toxic substances, chemotherapy, etc. and usually there are several nerves damaged. I think none of these is connected to your symptoms. Wishing you good health.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (5 minutes later)

But you said that drink spiking would go away. By drink spiking I mean putting drugs into an alcoholic drink. Does this mean it's permanent?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (5 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Pharmaceutical drugs I mean.

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX By drugs I mean drugs used for medical reasons can have side effects on patient's health and one of them is nerve damage. Drugs into beverages if can cause neuropathy it is not permanent and should subside after the drug is out of your system. Hope I've been understandable.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (36 minutes later)

But drugs and alcohol can also come under toxic neuropathy which can be permanent...?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (21 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Toxic substances chemicals or heavy metals.

Detailed Answer:
Hi again XXXXXXX Alchohol and drugs can cause neuropathy after a long time of abuse with it and generally there are several nerves damaged, not only one. Neuropathy is reversible in most cases that stop alchohol or drugs immediately after symptoms start. Toxic substances ( some chemicals and heavy metals) can damage nerves ( usually not only one) by cumulative effect over a long period of time and I think neither is your case. Time will show you had nothing to worry about. Best regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T