SUNCT and SUNA Headaches
SUNCT and SUNA are rare headache disorders. They cause very short bursts of intense pain on one side of the head, mostly around one eye, that can repeat many times a day.
What are SUNCT and SUNA?
The names are long, so most people use the letters:
- SUNCT stands for short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing. In plain words: brief, one-sided, nerve-type pain with a red, watery eye.
- SUNA stands for short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with cranial autonomic symptoms. It is the same kind of brief, one-sided pain, but the other symptoms can be any of a wider group, not just a red, watery eye.
Both are rare primary headache disorders. “Primary” means the headache is the condition itself, not a symptom of something else. They belong to a group called trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs), along with cluster headache, hemicrania continua and paroxysmal hemicrania.
The pain comes from the trigeminal nerve. This is the main nerve of feeling for the face. It has three branches: one for the eye and forehead, one for the cheek, and one for the lower jaw. SUNCT and SUNA attacks are usually shorter and come more often in a day than other TAC headaches.
Common symptoms
- Moderate to severe pain around one eye or at the temple
- Pain that feels burning, stabbing, throbbing or electric
- Short bursts of pain, sometimes several within one hour
- Attacks that mostly happen during the day
- On the same side as the pain: a red or watery eye (typical of SUNCT), a swollen or drooping eyelid, pressure around the eye, a stuffy or runny nose, or sweating on the forehead or face
How they differ from migraine and other face pain
TAC headaches nearly always stay on one side of the head and face. They do not usually bring the nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light and sound that are common with migraine. Instead, they bring one-sided eye and nose symptoms like those listed above.
SUNCT and SUNA can look a lot like trigeminal neuralgia, another condition with brief, shock-like face pain. The eye and nose symptoms are one clue that points toward SUNCT or SUNA. How long each burst of pain lasts is also an important clue. Pain behind the eye that lasts only seconds to a minute points away from migraine.
What causes them
The patient education sources we use do not describe a known cause or common triggers for SUNCT and SUNA.
How they are diagnosed
Because these conditions are rare and the attacks are so short, they can be hard to tell apart from other headaches. A headache specialist bases the diagnosis on the details of your attacks. It helps to keep a record before your visit:
- Where the pain is
- How long each attack lasts
- How many attacks you have in a day
- How strong the pain is
- Any eye, nose or face symptoms that come with it
Treatment options
TAC headaches often do not respond to the treatments used for other short headaches. Because attacks are frequent and unpredictable, it can also be hard to tell whether a treatment is working. Treatment is planned with your doctor and may include:
- Preventive medicines taken regularly to cut down on attacks. Anti-seizure medicines are commonly used, such as lamotrigine and gabapentin. Steroids (corticosteroids) are another option.
- Treatments during a flare that may give short-term relief, such as lidocaine (a numbing medicine) given through a vein, or nerve-blocking injections.
- Nerve stimulation surgery, in which a small device is placed to send mild signals to nerves. This may be considered when medicines and other approaches have not helped.
How Dr. Park can help
Dr. Hannah Park is a dual board-certified, fellowship-trained headache medicine neurologist with over 10 years of specialized experience, and she has lived with migraine herself. She treats trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias, including SUNCT and SUNA.
Every patient starts with a 90-minute new patient consultation with Dr. Park ($520): a full history review, a neurological exam, a diagnosis and a personalized treatment plan. The practice focuses on targeted injection treatments, such as peripheral nerve blocks, rather than a cycle of prescription medications. If appropriate, an injection may be done during your first visit for an added fee. See services and fees.
Appointments are Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., usually within days. The practice is direct pay with no referral needed.
Related
Sources
This page summarizes patient information from these organizations, in our own words. It is general education, not medical advice.
- What Are SUNCT and SUNA?, American Migraine Foundation
- Facial Pain, Headache, & Migraine: What is the Difference?, National Headache Foundation
- Rare Disease: Headache and Migraine, National Headache Foundation
- Understanding Headache Locations, National Headache Foundation
Last updated October 27, 2026.
Brief, stabbing eye pain that keeps coming back?
Every patient starts with a 90-minute new patient visit with Dr. Park.