Headaches & Eye Strain? Find Causes & Relief

Are your headaches linked to your eyes? Discover how eye strain, outdated prescriptions, or visual stress could be the hidden culprits behind your pain—and when to seek expert care for lasting relief.

Key Takeaways:

• Headaches may stem from eye strain, outdated prescriptions, or binocular vision dysfunction (BVD).

• Key signs: Worsen after driving/screen time, improve with adjusted glasses, or involve light sensitivity/blurry vision.

• Critical conditions: Acute glaucoma, optic nerve swelling, or uncorrected refractive errors require prompt care.

• Diagnosis: Eye exams, digital strain analysis, and OCT scans pinpoint causes like dry eye or misaligned eyes.

• Relief: Update prescriptions, follow the 20-20-20 rule, optimize screen ergonomics, and track triggers.

• Seek immediate care for vision loss, severe pain, dizziness, or numbness.

• Children’s headaches may signal undiagnosed nearsightedness or convergence insufficiency.

Headaches are a common issue, with a wide range of causes and symptoms. While some headaches are mild and occasional, others can be more severe and potentially linked to underlying health issues. One question many people ask is whether their headaches could be related to their eyes. Read on to learn more about different types of headaches, when to see an eye doctor, and how eye health may play a role.

Types of Headaches

• Sinus headache: pain associated with the sinuses which are located above the eyebrow and below the eye near the nose.
  • Potential causes: allergies, sinus congestion, infection in sinuses
• Tension headache: pain may be in a band around the head extending from above the ears forwards towards the forehead and/or backwards above the neck
  • Often due to stress
• Migraine: pain on one side of the head sometimes causing blurry vision, sensitivity to light, or lights in the vision
  • More often in women, often recurrent
• Cluster: pain focused in one area on one side of the head, often behind the eye or near the temple region

4 Important points to describe your headache to your doctor:

• Location of the headache may help your doctor determine the cause of the headache or where to perform additional testing
  • For example, pain located near the nose may indicate a sinus headache
• Severity of the headache may be one of the most important factors.
  • While many people get mild headaches occasionally, any severe headache should prompt immediate attention.
• Identifying triggers that bring on a headache may allow you to better manage your headaches.
  • For example, oftentimes patients with migraines report triggers including loud noises, bright lights, or caffeine use.
• Associated symptoms that happen before, during or after your headache are also very important to discuss during your eye exam.
  • Concerning symptoms that should prompt immediate attention: tingling, numbness, weakness, loss of vision, vertigo, dizziness, nausea, double vision
  • Other important symptoms to note: lights in your vision, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, throbbing

Diagnostic Procedures: How Eye Doctors in Tamarac, FL Identify Headache Causes

At West Broward Eye Care in Tamarac, FL, our eye doctors use advanced methods to pinpoint headache triggers:

• Comprehensive Eye Exams:

  • Tests for refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism) using digital phoropters.

  • Evaluates eye alignment to rule out binocular vision dysfunction (BVD), a common headache culprit.

• Digital Eye Strain Analysis:

  • Assesses screen habits, blue light exposure, and focusing ability with tools like the 20-20-20 rule tracker.

• Advanced Imaging:

  • OCT scans and retinal imaging detect conditions like glaucoma or optic nerve swelling, which can mimic migraines.

• Prescription Verification:

  • Confirms if outdated glasses or contacts strain your eyes (e.g., incorrect lens strength for Tamarac drivers).

Concerning Symptoms That Require Immediate Attention

Certain headache symptoms may indicate a more serious problem and should prompt immediate medical attention:

• Tingling, numbness, or weakness.
• Loss of vision or double vision.
• Vertigo, dizziness, or severe nausea.
• Any headache with severe pain (10/10 on the pain scale).

If you experience any of these symptoms, visit your primary care doctor, eye doctor, or the emergency room right away.

Specific Eye Conditions That Cause Headaches

Common eye-related headache triggers treated at West Broward Eye Care:

• Uncorrected Refractive Errors: Blurry vision forces eye muscles to overwork, leading to tension headaches (common in Tamarac office workers).

• Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD): Misaligned eyes cause double vision, dizziness, and forehead pain—often misdiagnosed as migraines.

• Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma: Sudden eye pressure spikes trigger severe headaches, nausea, and blurred vision (requires emergency care).

• Dry Eye Syndrome: Inflammation from poor tear quality causes brow/ temple pain, worsened by Tamarac’s seasonal allergies.

Are Your Headaches Related to Your Eyes? Key Signs

es, your eyes could be involved if headaches:

• Worsen after driving, reading, or screen time (common in Tamarac’s tech-heavy workforce).

• Improve when closing one eye or adjusting your glasses.

• Include light sensitivity, blurry vision, or “halos” around lights.

Next Steps for Tamarac Patients:

• Track Patterns: Note if headaches spike during allergy season or after long commutes on Sunrise Blvd.

• Visit West Broward Eye Care: Our Tamarac team specializes in headache-eye connections, offering same-day emergency exams for sudden vision loss or severe pain.