How a headache can be related to eye problems
When you have a routine eye exam, the optician will usually ask if you have been suffering from headaches. It may not be immediately obvious why this question is asked, but frequent headaches can be a sign that there’s a problem with your eyes. Here we outline how the two can be related.
Eye strain
There’s a reason a particularly intense day in the office can result in a headache once you leave work. Staring at your computer screen for long periods of time can cause you to overuse your eye muscles, resulting in a blurring of your vision and a headache behind the eyes. Eye strain isn’t typically serious; it’s usually just your body’s way of reminding you to take regular screen breaks, ensure your workspace is well-lit and keep your working environment comfortable.
Presbyopia
If you’re over 40 and you’ve found yourself suffering from more frequent headaches recently, it’s time to Google ‘best eye test near me’ and make a booking. Presbyopia is a condition that tends to happen around or after 40 years of age and makes it difficult for your eyes to focus on nearby objects. This can result in blurred vision, which in turn causes you to squint, leading to headaches.
Hyperopia
Like presbyopia, hyperopia - long-sightedness - makes seeing objects close up challenging. The resulting eye strain can cause headaches in the front part of your head and/or behind the eyes. Hyperopia can occur at any age and can be accompanied by double vision when reading, blurred vision at night or a need to hold items at arm’s length to see them clearly.
Myopia
If you are myopic - or short-sighted - a lack of vision correction can result in headaches. Again, eye strain is the cause as your eyes have to work harder to focus on distant objects. As with presbyopia and hyperopia, you’ll feel the headache in your brow area and/or behind the eyes.
Cataracts
Cataracts typically develop with age, causing the lens of the eye to become cloudy. This means the eye must work harder to focus, leading to headaches. You may also experience sensitivity to glare and faded colours.
Acute angle-closure glaucoma
Sudden headaches in people who otherwise manage their vision well can be a sign of a rare and serious condition called acute angle-closure glaucoma. This is where an accumulation of fluid causes pressure to build up in the eye, leading to headaches and cloudy or blurred vision. If left untreated it can result in vision loss over time. Those who are frequently experiencing headaches around the brow area or behind the eyes should always search for the best opticians for eye tests in their area and book an exam. A professional will be able to assess your eyes and determine whether your vision needs correcting with glasses or if there’s something more serious going on.
If you want to ensure you’ve booked the best eye test in Kensington, make your appointment with The Eye Establishment today. Our opticians carry out a comprehensive sight exam and eye health assessment and can help you get rid of your sight-related headaches for good.
