Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) might cause the jaw to press on nerves that affect eye movement and contribute to vision issues, such as astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness.

TMD can also trigger migraine attacks, which can lead to eye symptoms.

Some people refer to TMD as “TMJ” or “TMJ disorder,” as the conditions involve the temporomandibular joints (TMJ). The TMJ are joints connecting either side of the jawbone with the skull. They work with many other muscles in the head and neck to help the mouth open, swallow, breathe, make sounds, and chew.

However, sometimes due to injury or often for unclear reasons, the joint may become painful or stiff to move and start popping, grating, or clicking. These symptoms are known as temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD).

This article will explore how TMJ disorders can affect the eyes.

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Given the complexity of the joint and its movements, TMJ problems might also have links to specific problems with eye movement.

The TMJ and the oculomotor system responsible for eye movement might relate to each other in three ways, according to a 2020 review of studies:

  • Anatomical connection: Bones in the head and face link in a way that means jaw problems might affect the eyes. This is possibly due to the many connections between different bones in the skull.
  • Neurological connection: Different brain nerves control different functions. Some nerves connect to each other, so jaw-related nerve problems might impact eye-related nerves. For example, the vestibular nerve affects balance, the trigeminal nerve affects feeling in the face, and the oculomotor nerve controls eye movements.
  • Functional connection: Face, jaw, and eye muscles work together. This relationship may mean that muscle tension or misalignment in one area, such as the jaw, can influence the others, including the eyes.

The above review notes that not much research is available on the link between TMD and the eyes, and the existing studies often contradict each other.

However, the authors point to studies that have linked issues with tooth alignment, such as crossbite, with eye problems.

Three different nerve branches connect the eye and jaw, which means that jaw issues may cause pain around the eye, also known as orbital eye pain. TMJ problems might also cause eye pain by triggering migraine attacks.

TMJ problems can involve vision problems such as:

A misaligned jaw and muscle pain may affect how well the eyes work together. People with certain jaw problems might have worse vision in both eyes than those who do not have TMD.

People with orbital eye pain might also experience:

No direct advice recommends how to manage vision problems due to TMD. Many people with TMD do not need treatment, as symptoms often get better without treatment.

Evidence does not support most TMD treatments, so the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) does not recommend undergoing surgery or treatments that permanently alter the jaw, bite, or teeth.

Home remedies

People may be able to manage TMD by:

  • only eating soft foods to reduce pressure on the jaw
  • using heat or cold therapy to strengthen and stretch out the jaw muscles
  • using over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
  • reducing gum chewing, nailing biting, and jaw clenching

Medical treatments

If symptoms do not improve, doctors may recommend:

  • intraoral appliances (such as a dental night guard) that a person can put over the teeth to reduce tooth grinding
  • physical therapy, such as manual therapy, where a physical therapist stretches the muscles and soft tissues around the TMJ
  • prescription medications, such as:
  • arthrocentesis, in which a physician injects fluid into the TMJ to remove scar tissue in the joints and inflammation-causing substances
  • arthroscopy, which involves inserting a very small camera into the joint to diagnose the cause of the TMJ and remove scar tissue if necessary

As TMD usually resolves without treatment, a person will not always need to contact a doctor. However, severe symptoms or vision changes may suggest a more severe health problem or advanced TMD.

A person should contact their doctor if they experience:

  • TMD pain that interferes with eating or drinking
  • clicking, popping, or grinding noises during jaw movements
  • problems fully opening the mouth
  • having painful headaches regularly
  • tenderness or pain on the scalp or side of the head
  • double vision
  • vision loss in one eye or both

How can a person relieve TMJ eye pressure?

TMJ eye pressure and pain may get better if an individual receives treatment for TMD and relieves pressure on the related nerve branches. A doctor can advise on whether they recommend medical treatments for TMD.

Does TMJ cause eye floaters?

Some anecdotal reports link TMD and eye floaters. However, no case reports, studies, or reviews have linked the two.

Can TMJ cause blurry vision in one eye?

TMJ may trigger migraine attacks. Some types of migraine can cause eye symptoms, such as blurry vision and visual disturbances in a single eye.

What does TMJ pain feel like?

TMJ pain might present in the muscles involved in chewing and the jaw joint. The pain may worsen during stressful periods or while chewing, and it could interfere with sleep.

What are the neurological symptoms of TMJ?

TMD symptoms affecting the nerves might include dizziness or ringing in the ears. It can also lead to a headache around the sides of the head.

Learn more about TMJ and headaches.

What are red flags for TMJ dysfunction?

TMD may cause symptoms such as:

  • jaw, ear, and temple pain
  • sounds when moving the jaw, including grinding, clicking, or popping
  • finding it hard to fully open the mouth

Symptoms may worsen during stress or while chewing. It can also cause disturbed sleep and vision changes.

Can TMJ cause light flashes in the eye?

Anecdotal evidence links light flashes and TMD, but no reliable studies or authorities have suggested that TMD can cause them.

What are the unusual symptoms of TMJ?

One small 2017 study found that the most commonly reported symptoms were difficulty when opening the mouth, painful chewing, earaches, and a clicking TMJ. People may consider other symptoms, such as headaches, eye pain, dizziness, dental changes, or hearing loss, to be unusual.

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) happens due to problems with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). It may lead to eye pain or vision difficulties in some people. This is due to the involvement of the three nerves that run between the jaw and eye, meaning that jaw problems may interfere with eye function.

Some research has linked TMD with vision changes, such as astigmatism, nearsightedness, farsightedness, and crossed eyes.

TMD may resolve on its own without medical treatments. In some cases, a doctor may recommend physical therapy, medications, or intraoral devices.

It is important to contact a doctor if a person experiences vision changes or vision loss.