Is there ever a time when you worked at your desk for three hours straight, and that familiar pain started behind your eyes? As you try to get through the day, you take painkillers and power through. But what if that persistent headache isn’t just about your deadline or that argument with your partner? Many of us experience headaches regularly, and many of us also have some form of vision issue – whether diagnosed or not. An eye specialist in Singapore will go into more detail about the link between eyes and headaches, one of the body’s most missed connections.
The Connection Between Eyes and Headaches
The eyes and brain are interconnected and nearly inseparable, with their communication system constantly circulating with activity. When the eyes are working too hard, muscles around the eyes, face, and neck feel tense, leading to a tension headache. The brain also takes in information from the eyes, but when the images are fuzzy or distorted, it has to work extra hard to process it. This extra mental work can cause a headache, reminding us of the interconnectedness of our bodies and how seemingly isolated issues can cause headaches.
The Causes of Eye Problems and Headaches
- Refractive Errors
Nearsightedness, hyperopia, and astigmatism can all lead to blurry vision because of problems with how the eyes are shaped. Because these flaws make it harder for eyes to focus, they can get headaches and make daily life more difficult. These problems can cause eye tiredness and headaches that won’t go away if they aren’t fixed. Refractive mistakes can be hard to spot at first but can become more obvious over time. It is important to get regular eye exams to find and fix these problems by an eye specialist.
- Presbyopia
Presbyopia, a condition in which near vision gets worse around age 40, is a normal part of getting older. It gets harder to focus at different distances as the lens of the eye gets stiff. As people get older, they often have to hold books farther away or read in better light, which makes them squint when there isn’t enough light. This is the body’s way of trying to make up for not being able to see things clearly up close.
- Eye Muscle Imbalances
Eye muscle imbalances can lead to moves that aren’t on time, like strabismus and convergence insufficiency. When one eye moves in a different way, this is called strabismus. When looking at close objects, convergence insufficiency makes it hard for the eyes to stay in line. When these muscles don’t work together, they try to make up for it by working harder. This causes you to grow tired and cause headaches. You should keep your eyes healthy to fix these errors and also consult with an eye specialist if these conditions occur often.
- Glaucoma
Many people with angle-closure glaucoma have severe headaches, eye pain, nausea, and blurred vision because their eye’s internal wiring can become clogged. People with this condition need to see an ophthalmologist right away because it’s like a sudden blockage in a pipe. To get help, don’t be afraid to seek an eye specialist for medical assistance.
- Dry Eye Syndrome
People with dry eye syndrome have eyes that feel dry and itchy, like windshield wipers. This makes you blink more and puts stress on your eyes, which can cause tension headaches. The situation gets worse when it’s dry or when fans blow on the face. Dry eyes aren’t just an aesthetic problem, they can also give you terrible headaches.
- Inflammatory Eye Conditions
Uveitis, also called iritis, is an eye condition in which the surface of the eye gets irritated, causing pain that spreads and makes headaches feel like they’re coming from somewhere else. Sometimes this is confused for a migraine or sinusitis. Considering uveitis or iritis is important if you have headaches and eye pain that won’t go away, since the discomfort may not be where it seems at first.
When to Suspect Your Eyes
If you get headaches often, recognize these red flags that your eyes may be to blame:
- Headaches that happen after reading or watching screens for long amounts of time
- Pain that is in the area behind or around your eyes
- Headaches that come with double or blurred vision
- More susceptible to light sensitivity when you have a headache
- Finding that you have to squint or strain to see clearly
- Headaches that get worse during the day
- Eye pain that gets better after you rest them
- Frequently scratching your eyes or temples when you have a headache
Ruling Out Other Headache Triggers
Eye problems are one cause of headaches, but they’re not the only one. Stress, dehydration, not getting enough sleep, certain food allergies, and more serious conditions like sinus infections or migraines can all cause headaches. If you get headaches often or really badly, you should think about what might be causing them. In some cases, this could mean seeing more than just an eye specialist. You might need to see your primary care doctor or even a neurologist in rare circumstances.
Seeking Solutions
Vision health is an important part of staying healthy generally. As a result, getting regular eye exams is very important because headaches can be a sign of deeper eye problems. Professional eye exams are recommended for most people every two years. These exams can find problems that might lead to headaches. Good lighting and a screen at or below eye level will help make your watching area comfortable. The 20-20-20 guideline advises looking away from something close like your computer monitor every 20 minutes for at least 20 seconds to give your eye muscles a rest while looking at something 20 feet away. Special computer glasses are available that can help you focus better on screens if you spend a lot of time looking at them. Others have coverings that block blue light, which can help your eyes feel better. Stay moist in the eyes by drinking enough water and blinking more often, especially when you’re looking at a screen. Eye-related headaches can be avoided by taking good care of your eyes and making sure you have a comfortable and well-lit place to watch TV.
The Final Word
Think of it this way, your eyes and your head are connected. It’s not uncommon for problems with your eyes to actually cause headaches. Lots of folks go through years of having headaches without ever realizing that their eyes might be the reason. Sometimes, all it takes is a simple pair of glasses or just changing a few things you do every day to make those headaches go away or happen much less often. So, if you get headaches a lot, don’t just assume it’s something else. It’s worth thinking about your eyesight. Getting a thorough eye check-up with an eye specialist could be the very first thing you do to finally feel better.
Chelvin Sng Eye Centre – Dr Chelvin Sng
38 Irrawaddy Road
Mt Elizabeth Novena Specialty Centre #06-25
Singapore 329563
Tel: +65 6334 2282
Whatsapp: +65 8129 6328
