Do you ever experience headaches that seem to come out of nowhere? Did you know that your vision could be playing a role in these headaches? It’s true! There’s a strong connection between headaches and vision and understanding this link can help you find relief and improve your overall eye health.
But how can you tell if your headache is caused by a vision problem? Here are a few signs to look out for:
- Eye strain: If you’re experiencing headaches after long periods of reading, using a computer, or doing other activities that require focusing for an extended period, it could be a sign of eye strain. This type of headache is often described as a dull ache around the eyes or forehead.
- Blurred vision: Are you experiencing a headache along with blurred vision? Then you could have a refractive error like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. Refractive errors occur when the shape of your eye prevents light from focusing correctly on the retina. These types of vision problems can cause headaches due to the extra effort your eyes need to make to focus clearly.
- Light sensitivity: If you’re experiencing headaches as well as sensitivity to bright lights or glare, it could be a sign of photophobia. Photophobia is a condition where the eyes are overly sensitive to light. Photophobia can be caused by a variety of eye conditions, including inflammation, infection, or injury.
- Visual disturbances: If you’re seeing flashing lights or blind spots when you have a headache, a migraine could be the culprit. Migraines are often associated with visual symptoms, but they can also cause other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound.
How to find relief from vision-related headaches
If you’re experiencing headaches related to your vision, there are several things you can do to find relief. First, make sure to take frequent breaks when engaging in activities that require a lot of focus. For example, if you’re working on the computer, take a break every 20 minutes and focus on an object at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Another way to relieve vision-related headaches is to make sure you’re wearing the correct eyeglasses or contact lenses if you have a refractive error. Regular eye exams can help ensure that your prescription is up-to-date and that you have the right corrective lenses.
Binocular vision dysfunction (BVD) is another potential cause of headaches. BVD is when your eyes are misaligned and the eyes struggle to send one clear image to the brain. If binocular vision dysfunction is causing your headaches, our eye doctors offer Neurolenses in Council Bluffs, Iowa to alleviate discomfort. These prescription lenses contain a unique prism that brings the eyes back into alignment and relieves headaches, neck and shoulder pain, and other symptoms.
In some cases, headaches related to vision may be a symptom of a more serious underlying condition, such as glaucoma or a brain tumor. That’s why it’s always a good idea to speak with your eye doctor if you’re experiencing frequent headaches. They can perform an eye exam to determine the cause of your headaches and recommend the best treatment.
If you’re having frequent headaches and think they could be related to your vision, contact us today to schedule an eye exam in Omaha, NE, or Council Bluffs, IA.
