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What Causes Pain In Left Eye During Menstrual Cycle?

Posted on Thu, 9 Jul 2015

Question: I have constant pain in my left eye which gets worse with my monthly period. This has been happening for about 10 years. My eyes also tear frequently especially if I do eye exercises. Annual eye exams reveal only slight infections. My opthamologist suggested could be referential pain or headache related. What could be the cause - I also have myopia, astigmatism and night blindness and PCOS.

Was once on birth control without the hormone and had no pain, however, when I came off pain was intensified.

Answered by Dr. Dadapeer K (23 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
This can be related to headache.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to Health care Magic.

I am Dr. DADAPEER K, an Ophthalmologist and I will be answering your question.
I reviewed your history.
Menstrual period is usually a stressful period and many a times it can cause general symptoms like fatigue, headache....
Sometimes it can cause precipitation of migraine and this can cause headache.

Hence your ophthalmologist is right in saying that this can be referral pain or headache related.

I would suggest you to use analgesic drugs for pain relief.

Hope this information is helpful to you.

Do write back to me for further questions.

Thank you
With regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dadapeer K (15 minutes later)

I have no headache pain or pain in my other eye. This pain is always there. Are you suggesting that I have a 24X7 headache which intensifies around my period.
Is there any possibility that this pain could be hormone related at all or even physical? I was placed on Andocur once and I had no pain in my left eye while I was on it for some months, however as soon as I came off Andocur, my pain intensified.

Also I had a baby six months ago and am doing chemotherapy treatments and my vision has worsened. What can I do/take to reverse the effects on my vision.

Answered by Dr. Dadapeer K (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
This can be related to hormone variations.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thank you for the follow up question.

Menstrual period is associated with hormonal variations and these can cause headaches.
Most of the chemotherapy drugs will cause visual impairment. But this will improve once the drug is stopped. Since you have been seen by a ophthalmologist no need to be worried.
Since your doctor has referred you to a nerve specialist he wants to rule out neurological causes and primary headaches as I mentioned in my previous answer.

Hence I advice you to consult your doctor and get back to me with his examination reports.

Hope this information is helpful to you.

Do write back to me for further questions.

Thank you
With regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dadapeer K (2 days later)

Thanks for your response. However, I am still not clear what could be the source of the pain outside my period days.

Could you kindly confirm how soon after, the chemotherapy ends, should I go for my annual eye examination both for the pain issue (opthamologist) and for vision screening for new lenses?

Answered by Dr. Dadapeer K (18 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
As soon as you finish your chemotherapy you need eye examination.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thank you for the follow up question.

Primary headaches like migraine or tension headache may be responsible for your headache.

As soon as you finish your chemotherapy you need to consult your ophthalmologist for eye examination and vision testing as chemotherapy can affect the eyes and vision.

Hope this information is helpful to you.

Do write back to me for further questions.

Thank you
With regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D