Vision and Headaches: Are They Linked to Each Other?

Occasional headaches can be manageable for some people. But when these headaches begin to affect your eyesight or if your vision problems start coinciding with headaches, it can be a lot harder for anyone to bear. In this post, Lumen Optometric — a trusted provider of eyeglasses and contact lenses — discusses how headaches and vision can be interconnected.

Types of Headaches That Can Affect Your Vision

Migraines and cluster headaches are the usual types of headache that can affect your vision. Migraines are often described as intense pain in and around the eyes. A “migraine aura” usually precedes them, and it often resembles flashing lights, a prismatic rainbow of lights, or a zigzag pattern of shimmering lights.

Meanwhile, cluster headaches usually occur in clusters and cause pain around the eyes. The pain typically radiates down the neck including the shoulders and comes with other symptoms like red eyes, changes in pupil size, eyelid droop, and nasal drainage.

Vision Problems That Can Trigger Headaches

Headaches caused by vision problems usually start when the eyes are overworked and you can’t maintain focus. Make sure to visit an eye exam doctor if you are experiencing any of the following:

• Eye Strain – This is common among people who work in front of digital screens for several hours and so they tend to overuse the focusing muscles of their eyes. When eye muscles become fatigued, a headache can be felt specifically around or behind the eyes.
• Farsightedness – A frontal headache or brow ache may occur if a person is farsighted. Farsightedness can make it difficult for a person to focus on nearby objects, making it possible for eye strain and headaches to develop.
• Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma (AACG) – A rare type of glaucoma, it causes the eye pressure to rise quickly and often results in eye pain, eye redness, cloudy vision, and an onset of headaches.

Lumen Optometric offers exceptional eye care services. Our expertise includes orthokeratology, scleral lenses, Neurolens® therapy, and more. Call us at (626) 921-0199 or fill out our contact form to request an appointment.