Opthamologist Question: Eye Squeeze?

[StSomewhere]

Decending recently on a shallow repetitive dive (at that point only about 20' or 25') I experienced what I can only call an "Eye Squeeze" or maybe "Sinus Squeeze". It was like Ice-Cream-Eye (aka: Brain Freeze) directly in the back of my right eye on the nose side, except maybe a hundred times more painful. I ascended a little which helped, and forcefully clearing my mask seemed to help and eventually I was OK, but still felt some residual pain. I can still sorta feel it, but it may just be pyschosomatic at this point. Prior dives that day were fine.

Has anyone ever heard of anything like this? I'd just go see an opthamologist but haven't found one locally that either specializes barotrama (not surprising given my geography) or at least dives so I thought I'd ask here.

 

[gert7to3]

I'm an ophthalmic photographer, not a doctor. Unless you have had recent surgery involving gas injected inside your eye, you probably have not sufferred an "eye squeeze". Your problem was most likely either a nasal sinus blockage or a transient blockage of your right lachrymal duct (the canal which drains from the corner of your eye into your nose). Maybe the pressure from your mask kept it from equalizing immediately?

You should see an ophthalmologist if you have swelling or redness extending from your lower eyelid down along your nose or if you have changes in your visual acuity. The doctor would not have to be a diving doctor to properly care for you. An otolaryngologist (ear-nose-throat) doctor is the specialist to see for sinus issues.

Vigorous, forceful clearing is not the best way to correct these problems. Ascending slightly and gently blowing is the better option. Deeply squinting or schrunching your face, flexing your palatte and back of your throat can also open up all of your sinus cavities. The residual pain you feel may be the result of straining or even tearing some small sinus structure.