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Ocular and Orbital Pain for the Headache Specialist

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Abstract

Ocular pain is most commonly associated with redness and inflammation; however, eye pain can also occur in the absence of grossly visible pathology. Pain in the quiet eye can be the first sign of a number of threatening conditions. Many of these conditions such as intermittent angle closure glaucoma, carotid artery dissection, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, and giant cell arteritis can lead to permanent vision loss or blindness. In this review, ocular history and examination techniques are summarized. The article also reviews pertinent ocular, orbital, referred, and other causes of eye pain in the quiet eye. The neurologist and headache specialist should recognize when consultation with an ophthalmologist is necessary.

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Acknowledgment

M.S. Lee has received an unrestricted grant from Research to Prevent Blindness, New York, NY.

Disclosure

Conflicts of interest: A.L. Ringeisen: none; A.R. Harrison: is a consultant for Merz Pharmaceuticals; M.S. Lee: none.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware Street SE, MMC 493, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA

    Alexander L. Ringeisen, Andrew R. Harrison & Michael S. Lee

Authors
  1. Alexander L. Ringeisen
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  2. Andrew R. Harrison
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  3. Michael S. Lee
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael S. Lee.

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Ringeisen, A.L., Harrison, A.R. & Lee, M.S. Ocular and Orbital Pain for the Headache Specialist. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 11, 156–163 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-010-0167-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-010-0167-6

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