Headaches and Vision Problems

Did you know that your frequent headaches could actually be caused by problems with your vision? If you have been experiencing frequent headaches or if you’ve noticed a sudden onset of headaches that are not normal, then it may be time to schedule a visit with your eye doctor. Your eye doctor can help you determine if certain activities are interfering with your vision or if you have a vision issue that needs correction to alleviate your headaches.

One possible reason for your headaches could simply be due to certain activities. Things like staring at the computer screen for too long, as well as working in an area with too much or not enough light could contribute to or cause headaches. If this is found to be the case, simple changes could help resolve the problem, such as taking frequent breaks or adjusting the lighting.

However, in other instances simply changing the activities may not solve the problem. Certain eye conditions have been found to cause headaches if they are left untreated. If a change in activity has not resolved the issue, then your opthamologist will most likely start looking for these eye conditions. Eye conditions that can cause headaches if not treated include: astigmatism, hyperopia, and presbyopia.

An astigmatism occurs when one cornea is abnormally shaped, resulting in constant squinting to focus your vision. Hyperopia is the medical term for “long-sightedness” or “far-sightedness”, meaning that distant objects are seen more clearly than objects that are nearby. Finally, presbyopia occurs when age causes the lens to become hard and rigid, which makes focusing on objects difficult.

In addition to the aforementioned eye conditions, there is also the possibility that the headaches are being caused by more serious eye conditions such as glaucoma or cataracts. In the case of glaucoma, fluid is unable to drain from the eye properly, so it accumulates and causes pressure within the eye to build. This pressure can cause damage to the optic nerve. There are two variations of glaucoma, open-angle and closure glaucoma. Although open-angle glaucoma is a slow build up of pressure that does not always display symptoms, closure glaucoma has a faster build up of pressure that can cause pain, blurred vision, and headaches.

Cataracts, on the other hand, can also cause headaches as they progress. Cataracts are characterized by a clouding or fogging of the eye’s lens, causing clouded vision. Headaches can occur as a result of severe cataracts when the eye is forced to work harder to see through the clouded lens.

If you are experiencing frequent headaches and have not been to your eye doctor in a year or two, then it may be time to schedule an appointment. Even if you already have glasses, you may need to have your prescription altered since our eyes can change over time. Don’t suffer in silence from your headaches, schedule a consultation at The Optical Shoppe today and we’ll help you adjust your vision!

Dr. Paul D. Trapeni JrAt The Optical Shoppe, we're dedicated to optometry excellence under the guidance of Dr. Paul D Trapeni. Serving the Smyrna community since 1989, Dr. Trapeni is a trusted member of the community, bringing general and specialized optometry care to individuals and families throughout the area.