Almost everyone gets a headache at some point in their lives. While most people treat it themselves, others seek a physician’s care. Most patients suffer from a vascular headache, a tension headache, or a mixture of the two. Others may have a condition that can lead to inflammation, traction or dilation of pain-sensitive structures of the head and neck. Always remember that a headache may be a symptom of a serious underlying condition requiring immediate diagnostic workup and treatment.
Patients are often referred to optometrists to see whether a pair of spectacles can relieve some of the strain. In actual fact, no specific mechanism exists in the eye itself that causes a headache, except in far-sighted people where there is a spasm of the muscle that focuses the lens.
Eye strain headache has a character of mild tension headache, localized to the brow region. Squinting to try and see better and bright sunlight may be contributing to these symptoms. Fixed posture and mental concentration with prolonged near-point tasks also contribute, especially in computer users.
Headaches occurring with change in task demands may reflect stress related to intellectual demands but are often attributed to the use of the eyes. Visual headaches always improve with rest. Infrequent attacks of lightning pain in the eye, and short stabbing pain behind the eye is relatively common, but there is no known cause.
When visiting health care professionals to identify the cause of headaches, try to explain it with as much detail as possible, for example, what makes it worse or better, when you get them, and the quality of pain throbbing or pulsing pain points to a blood vessel source; burning or aching a muscular cause; sharp or shooting pain usually originates from a nerve; a pressure-like sensation has a chamber-derived (e.g. sinus cavity) origin.
In some cases, spectacle scripted lenses can alleviate some of the strain and relieve the pressure on your eyes to try and focus. In other cases, prolonged exposure to blue light can also be the case and Blue block or Anti-reflective lenses can also assist.
It is always best to consult your Optometrists to see whether these might be a factor. If not, seek medical care immediately.
