Headaches are one of the most common complaints for adults and children. The severity and frequency of headaches varies from occasionally to almost daily. For some people, headaches can be debilitating and lead to a decreased quality of life. Headaches have a variety of causes, including eye problems. June is National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month. It is the perfect time to encourage people with chronic headaches to seek help. |
Types of headaches
- Migraines: Migraines are a chronic type of headache that has various triggers, such as hormones, certain foods, and sleep problems.
- Tension: Tension headaches can develop from tight muscles in the neck, face, and shoulders.
- Cluster: Cluster headaches can involve intense pain often in one side of the head that comes in a cyclical pattern. They may occur every day for a few weeks. The intense pain may last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.
- Sinus: Sinus headaches can develop due to a sinus infection or sinus congestion.
Eye strain
A common cause of eye strain is staring at a computer or phone screen for too long. If you spend a lot of time looking at a screen, it is helpful to take regular breaks every hour or two.
Typical symptoms of eye strain include:
- Blurred vision
- Watery eyes
- Sensitivity to light
- Headaches
Ocular migraines
Symptoms of ocular migraines include:
- See flashing lights
- Blind spots in your field of vision
- Severe eye pain
- Headaches
Astigmatism
Symptoms of astigmatism may include:
- Eye irritation
- Problems seeing at night
- Distorted vision
Glaucoma
In the early stages of glaucoma, most people may not have symptoms. But when symptoms do develop, they may include:
- Blurred vision
- Seeing halos
- Eye pain
- Headaches
Cataracts
Symptoms of cataracts include:
- Sensitivity to glare
- Fading of colors
- Blurred vision
- Headaches
If you have frequent headaches, it is useful to have an eye exam, especially if it has been a year or two since your last exam. Even if you assume headaches have a specific cause, eye problems, such as eye strain, can also contribute to existing headaches. It is also vital to treat underlying eye conditions as early as possible to reduce the risk of further headaches.
We are happy to answer any questions or to discuss whether an appointment with one of our eye doctors would be appropriate at this time. Please call our office at 508-746-8600.