Eye Pain: What might cause it during flying?
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.On a flight, as we landed at Gatwick, I felt a sharp pain above one eye as if someone had put a needle through my eyebrow. When I touched the painful area, the skin was very sensitive and my eye got bloodshot. It has happened once before. What might cause it?
Dr Fred Kavalier answers your health question:
This is not something I have come across before. A sharp pain followed by a hypersensitivity suggests that something acutely disturbed the sensory nerves that supply your forehead. The nerve that supplies sensation to the skin above the eye is known as the trigeminal nerve. It is possible that the change in cabin pressure as the aeroplane descended somehow disturbed the nerve. Another possibility is that a sudden neck movement as the plane landed tweaked a nerve. Are there any neurologists out there who can explain this symptom?
Please mail your questions for Dr Fred to health@independent.co.uk. He regrets that he is unable to respond personally to questions.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments