Can a sinus infection affect your eyes? A sinus infection (sinusitis) can cause pain around your eyes, eyelid swelling and other symptoms that can affect your vision. Get eye pain and vision changes checked out by an eye doctor as soon as possible to avoid vision loss and other eye health issues.
If you experience swelling around your eyes, this can be a red flag for severe sinusitis. You may just be having an allergic reaction, or it could be something more concerning like an infection in your eye.
Patients may suffer from loss of vision due to pressure on the optic nerve caused by trauma, sinonasal or orbital tumors, Graves' disease or chronic sinusitis. Endoscopic optic nerve decompression through the nose and sinuses can relieve pressure on the optic nerve and in many cases restore vision to the patient's eye.
An infectious pink eye is contagious and may result from a sinus infection or ear infection. Some viruses or bacteria can lead to contagious forms of pinkeye; however, in some cases, pinkeye may develop as a result of allergies (e.g. ragweed; grass; dust mites) or being exposed to certain irritants or chemicals.
Antibiotics are not needed for many sinus infections. Most sinus infections usually get better on their own without antibiotics. When antibiotics aren't needed, they won't help you, and their side effects could still cause harm. Side effects can range from mild reactions, like a rash, to more serious health problems.
An “acute” sinus infection lasts anywhere from ten days up to eight weeks. A “chronic” infection lasts even longer. It is ongoing — it may seem like it's improving, and then it comes right back as bad as it was at first. Chronic sinus infections may drag on for months at a time.
If the condition lasts longer than ten days, or there is a worsening of symptoms after five to seven days, the sinusitis is more likely caused by bacteria than a virus.
For adults — See a health care provider if:
You have symptoms for more than 10 days. You have a high fever. What's coming from your nose is yellow or green. You also have sinus pain or fever.
What happens if sinusitis is left untreated? You don't necessarily need to treat sinusitis — it often goes away on its own. Very rarely, untreated sinus infections can lead to life-threatening infections. This happens if bacteria or fungi spread to your brain, eyes or nearby bone.
Diagnosis of sinusitis
A sinus infection is diagnosed in a physical exam by a primary care doctor, who will look inside your nasal cavity and check for sinus pressure or tenderness by gently touching or feeling your face.
Antibiotics and sinus infections
This may give you the idea that you need antibiotics, but most clear up without them. Antibiotics have no effect on viruses and aren't recommended within the first week of developing a cold. About 70% of sinus infections go away within two weeks without antibiotics.
If you have acute sinusitis, your symptoms likely will go away within a week to 10 days, but some people have symptoms that last up to four weeks.
Even if the infection becomes bacterial, 70% of the time the infection will go away within two weeks without antibiotics. In the event of severe headache, toothache, or face pain or for persisting fevers greater than 102 degrees you should be seen by your health care provider.
A Norwegian pilot study of 33 patients compared the use of chloramphenicol eye drops applied to both eyes 8-10 times a day with systemic antibiotics for sinusitus-like symptoms (2), and found a statistically significant difference in days before clear improvement in favor of the eye drops (3.7 vs 5.0 days).
Fatigue. Sinusitis can also cause fatigue. You may feel tired as your body tries to fight off the infection. Constant pressure on your sinuses, an irritating cough, and dizziness can also contribute to exhaustion.
This can lead to a brain abscess or meningitis, rare and life-threatening conditions. While emphasizing that these complications are unlikely, Sindwani explains, “In most cases, the bacterial infection goes away, especially if you don't have underlying medical problems.”
Certain conditions, such as having allergies, asthma or a respiratory infection, can make people more susceptible to getting chronic sinus infections, and it is important that these patients be evaluated to address the cause and not just the sinusitis symptoms.
Getting plenty of rest and staying hydrated are also essential as the body recovers. If people have symptoms of a sinus infection for longer than 7–10 days or any severe symptoms, they can see their doctor for further treatment.
“It is often best-and many times, company policy-that employees stay out of work until they are fever-free for 24 hours, especially with the flu.” Nasal congestion with sinus or facial pain suggests a sinus infection. Sinus infections can be viral or bacterial. “Either way, it's best to stay home,” Wigmore says.