Which condition is described as throbbing unilateral pain behind one eye that may progress to a full-headache?

• A. Tension headache
• B. Migraine headache
• C. Cluster headache
• D. Sinus headache

Answer: (B)

Migraines are characterized by a pulsating or throbbing pain that is often confined to one side of the head and can feel centered behind the eye or temple. This pattern fits because the pain can start as a focused, unilateral discomfort and then progress to involve the whole head as the attack intensifies. Many people with migraines also experience nausea, and sensitivity to light or sound, and some have an aura before the headache begins.

Tension-type headaches typically present as a bilateral, band-like pressure around the head and are not usually described as throbbing behind the eye. Cluster headaches involve extremely severe unilateral pain around the eye with accompanying autonomic symptoms (tearing, nasal stuffiness), but the attacks are brief and occur in clusters, not progressing into a gradual full-headache. Sinus headaches produce facial pressure over the nasal sinuses with accompanying nasal symptoms and are not primarily a throbbing eye-centered pain.