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Sinusitis is a very troublesome condition that can be bought about by common cold, bacteria as well as fungal infections. There are a lot of issues you may encounter when dealing with sinusitis. Vision problems, congestion, throbbing headaches, facial, reduced sense of smell or taste, ear pain, fatigue and even bad breath are just a few. While most of these symptoms are manageable, these is one symptom that brings about the greatest concern – vision problems.[1]

Sinusitis and vision problems can be very much related to one another. Many people often find their vision is impeded every time their sinus flares up. Watery eyes, blurred vision, and frequent dull eye pain are all associated with sinusitis. Bacterial sinusitis accounts for more than 15% of all sinus infections and sinusitis vision problems. Depending on the sinus that is infected, multiple symptoms may occur.

The main reason why people experience blurred vision is that all the four sinus regions are located close to the eye. The maxillary sinus is located in the cheek, the ethmoid sinus between the eyes and nose, the sphenoid sinus behind the ethmoid sinus, and the frontal sinus is located in the forehead above the eyes.

Sinusitis is inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, which may be due to infection, allergy, or autoimmune issues. Most cases are due to a viral infection and resolve over the course of 10 days. It is a common condition; for example, in the United States more than 24 million cases occur annually.[2] eResearch by Navid Ajamin -- summer 2012

Eye symptoms

In addition to eye pain or pain behind the eyes, there are other eye symptoms that may be caused by infection-related sinus pressure. These may include:

• Eye pain – You may feel pain behind or around the eyes. This may feel like pain in your eyes or a headache behind your eyes.

• Eye watering – A chronic infection can lead to watery eyes (epiphora). But these symptoms may also be caused by other conditions. A cold or allergies may cause eye watering and a feeling of stuffiness or pressure. A cluster headache can similarly cause pressure, watery eyes and a stuffy nose.

• Swollen eyes – You may also experience eyelid swelling and eye puffiness. This can occur when the sinuses between and below your eyes become inflamed and clogged with mucus. The swelling typically goes away as your condition improves with treatment.

Sinus problems such as chronic sinusitis can also cause blurry vision, vision loss and other problems due to optic nerve damage caused by chronic inflammation, although this is rare.[6]

What are the different types of sinusitis? [3]

• Acute sinusitis usually starts with coldlike symptoms such as a runny, stuffy nose and facial pain. It may start suddenly and last 2 to 4 weeks.
• Subacute sinus inflammation usually lasts 4 to 12 weeks.
• Chronic inflammation symptoms last 12 weeks or longer.
• Recurrent sinusitis happens several times a year.

Sinusitis symptoms: [4]

• Headache or pressure in the eyes, nose, cheek area, or on one side of the head
• Cough with fever, bad breath, and nasal congestion with thick nasal secretions
• The common cold, allergic rhinitis (swelling of the lining of the nose), nasal polyps (small growths in the lining of the nose), or a deviated septum (a shift in the nasal cavity)
• Thick yellow-green nasal discharge
• Postnasal drip, often with a bad taste
• Loss of the senses of smell and taste
• Facial pain, particularly when leaning forward
• Congestion
• Toothache

When to see a doctor [5]

Schedule an appointment with your doctor if:

• You've had sinusitis a number of times, and the condition doesn't respond to treatment
• You have sinusitis symptoms that last more than 10 days
• Your symptoms don't improve after you see your doctor

See a doctor immediately if you have the following signs or symptoms, which could indicate a serious infection:

• Fever
• Swelling or redness around your eyes
• Severe headache
• Forehead swelling
• Confusion
• Double vision or other vision changes
• Stiff neck

Why Is Your Vision Affected By Colds And Flu? The common cold virus, responsible for head colds will see the most vulnerable parts of the area targeted. As a result, this means that the more delicate tissues in your nasal passages, eyes and back of your throat are at risk of becoming inflamed and infected.

Reference:

1. ezinearticles.com/?Why-Sinusitis-Affects-Your-Vision&id=4271672
2. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinusitis
3. webmd.com/allergies/qa/what-are-the-different-types-of-sinusitis
4. sevadham.org/sinus.html
5. mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-sinusitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351661
6. allaboutvision.com/conditions/related/sinus-eye-pain

See Also:

• Will Sinusitis Impair Vision?
• Can A Cold Affect Your Eyes & Vision?
• 9 Ways to Get Rid of a Sinus Infection
• COVID's effects on the retina and cornea