Headaches and Eye Problems

Do eye problems cause headaches?

Headaches are a very common health problem, and they can have many different causes. Occasionally — though not usually — the cause lies with the eyes.

What causes headaches?

The most common cause of headache is contraction of the muscles of the scalp and neck. Tension, anxiety, strain, stress, fatigue and depression can all trigger sudden or gradual muscle contraction and pain.

Migraine is another common type of headache. Migraines are usually far more severe than muscle-contraction headaches, and are caused by changes in the blood vessels and blood flow to the head.

Headaches can also be caused by many diseases and disorders affecting other parts of the body — for example, ear, jaw or sinus problems, arthritis, high blood pressure, neurological disease, and even tumours and aneurysms.
Only rarely are headaches caused by eye problems. If, for instance, you need reading glasses and read for long periods without them — or with glasses that are too weak — you may develop eye strain and a headache. You may also get a headache from reading or close work if your eyes are not properly aligned; that is, certain eye muscles may be too weak to keep focus at close range.

How are headaches treated?

Treatment for headaches varies according to the cause, so an accurate diagnosis is very important — tell your ophthalmologist if you have severe, frequent or constant headaches. If your headaches appear to be caused by an eye problem, a new glasses prescription may be all the treatment you need. If your eyes are not aligned, eye muscle exercises or a special addition to your glasses, called a prism, can sometimes help.