They cause a lump you can see or feel within the eyelid formed by a blocked oil gland. This lump causes irritation to the eye. Orbital pain is described as a deep, dull ache behind or in the eye. This pain is often caused by diseases of the eye. Glaucoma is an eye emergency that causes orbital pain.
Optic neuritis is an inflammation of the optic nerve that connects to the back of the eye.
The cause of this inflammation can be multiple sclerosis, viral infections, or bacterial infections. Sinusitis, which is a bacterial or viral infection of the sinuses, can cause a sensation of orbital pain. Migraines are also a very common cause of orbital eye pain associated with headaches. Traumatic events such as a penetrating injury to the eye, blow to the eye with a foreign object, and motor vehicle collisions are causes of significant eye pain and injury. Each person may interpret pain differently.