Welcome! At Bend Headache Center, we treat diverse conditions related to Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ), and we’ve noticed something fascinating. Many patients with TMJ also report experiencing eye pain. Initially, this connection might seem strange since the jaw and eyes are separate parts of the body. However, upon a deeper dive, the shared root of these conditions becomes clearer. In this post, we’ll explore the link between TMJ and eye pain, and how we at Bend Headache Center can help alleviate these symptoms.
Understanding TMJ Disorder
Temporomandibular joint disorder — more commonly known as TMJ — is a condition stemming from issues with the joints connecting the jaw to the skull. TMJ can cause facial and jaw pain, difficulties in opening or closing the mouth, and other uncomfortable symptoms.
Causes of TMJ
Some of the causes of TMJ include:
- Arthritis
- Bruxism (teeth grinding or jaw clenching)
- Traumas to the head, jaw, or neck.
TMJ and Eye Pain: What’s the Connection?
So, how does a disorder affecting the jaw and facial muscles connect to eye pain? The answer lies in the intricate network of nerves that crisscross our faces and heads. One major player is the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensory impulses from various parts of the head to the brain.
The Trigeminal Nerve
The trigeminal nerve has three main branches:
- Ophthalmic branch (eye and upper face)
- Maxillary branch (middle face and upper teeth)
- Mandibular branch (lower face, jaw, and lower teeth).
When TMJ disorders trigger irritation in the mandibular branch, this discomfort can, in turn, affect the ophthalmic branch, causing referred eye pain.
Common Symptoms of TMJ-Related Eye Pain
TMJ-related eye pain often presents as:
- Sharp, stabbing sensations in or around the eyes
- Hypersensitivity to light
- Blurred vision or visual disturbances
- Tightness or pressure around the eyes.
It’s easy to mistake these symptoms as indicative of an eye disorder or migraine when, in actuality, TMJ could be the root cause.
How Bend Headache Center Can Help
At the Bend Headache Center, we have a wealth of expertise in treating TMJ and associated ailments. Using a personalized approach based on thorough assessments and tests, we devise treatment plans to alleviate symptoms and improve jaw movement.
TMJ Treatment Approaches
Our treatment options include:
- Oral appliances or splints for adjusting the bite and taking pressure off the jaw joint
- Physical therapy for improving joint mobility and strengthening jaw muscles
- Pain management techniques such as relaxation exercises and stress management training.
Through these non-invasive, drug-free solutions, we can help alleviate both TMJ and the correlated eye pain, thereby significantly improving our patients’ quality of life.
