Why do my glasses give me a headache?

Presse Santé

Wearing new glasses can cause headaches while the eye muscles adjust to them. Improper use, incorrect prescription, and overuse can also cause headaches. A person can take many steps to manage or prevent headaches.

A headache is a pain in any part of the head. There are two types: primary headaches, where the headache is the primary problem, and secondary headaches, which are due to another underlying condition. Wearing glasses can cause temporary confusion and headaches. Eye strain and eye diseases can also cause headaches. “Asthenopia is the medical term for headaches secondary to eye strain.

This article explains why glasses can cause headaches, as well as the symptoms and treatments associated with them. It also explains when to see a doctor and what other possible causes of headaches are.

Eyes must compensate for changing visual requirements when using eyeglasses for the first time or when the prescription is significantly changed. The muscles around the eyes and the focus systems have to adjust to adapt to the lens and work differently. It usually takes a few days to a few weeks for the eyes to adjust to the new prescription glasses. It is best to consult your ophthalmologist if symptoms, such as headaches, persist beyond this time after wearing new glasses.

Symptoms

People may experience many symptoms as their eyes adjust to new eyeglasses, even if they are properly fitted and prescribed. These symptoms can be the following:

headache
face
detect objects smaller than their target size, which are called micropsies
clear vision
destruction image
worry

Treatment

People should not stop wearing new glasses because of the discomfort. Instead, you should follow your doctor’s recommendations. Wearing glasses repeatedly and switching between old and new glasses can make it difficult for the eyes and brain to adjust.

Poor fit

Irregular eyeglass frames are another possible cause of headaches. An ill-fitting frame can put pressure on the temples or bridge of the nose, causing headaches. An ill-fitting frame can sit too close or too far from the eyes and cause confusion. Improper pupil distance, or the distance between the pupils, can also lead to headaches and other symptoms.

Mismatched glasses can

is loose in the ears
slip on the nose
pinch the bridge of the nose

Treatment

People can go back to their eye doctor and have their frames adjusted to fit better.

Wrong prescription

An uncorrected repair error can also cause headaches. A 2016 study found that migraine is a common type of headache in people with a refractive error, called ametropia. Headaches can also occur if a person wears glasses for a purpose other than what they were designed for. For example, glasses worn for distance vision and reading may be too weak for computer use. Rather, a person should use a uniform that matches what they want to do.

Symptoms

The types of headaches that repair errors can cause vary from person to person. A 2019 study of children with refractive errors found that some reported dull pain in, behind, or around the face (periodic pain), while others reported frontal and severe headaches.

Other symptoms of repair errors may include the following

two generations
clear vision
glare or halos
difficulty focusing and concentrating
face

Treatment

The best way to treat headaches due to correction errors is to have regular eye exams and address the underlying eye problem. It is best to consult your ophthalmologist if you feel that your glasses do not provide adequate corrective action or if you think it would be useful to wear glasses for other uses.

Eye fatigue

If a person wears glasses to work on the computer and gets headaches, the headaches may be due to eye strain rather than the glasses. It is also possible that the glasses worn to work on the computer are not suitable for this use. Their ophthalmologist can advise them on a different prescription for using digital screens. Eye strain occurs when the eyes are tired from hard and prolonged use. Another word for eyetrain is “asthenopia”. It occurs when the eye muscles are constantly adjusting to focus, which overwhelms them. A 2020 study of college students with asthenopia found that symptoms may include the following

headache
dizziness
itchy eyes
difficulty concentrating

Digital eye strain, also known as computer eye strain or computer vision syndrome, is a type of eye strain that occurs in people who use digital electronic devices, such as computers and tablets, for long periods of time. A 2020 study found that 12-41% of participants experienced headaches, neck pain, eye strain, and general fatigue when using tablets and smartphones.

Symptoms

Eye strain can lead to eye strain and headaches. As it is caused by the tension in the eye muscles that try to correct the visual acuity, it is not always normal upon awakening and it tends to get worse with prolonged use of the eyes.

Below are the ocular and non-ocular symptoms that often accompany digital eye strain:

headache
moving face
itchy eyes
feeling of having something in the eye
clear vision
borrowing
stiff neck
all fatigue
you imagine

Uncorrected vision problems, such as astigmatism, and corrective errors, such as myopia, can also contribute to eye symptoms when using a digital screen.
It is best to consult a doctor for a regular checkup if you are experiencing symptoms of eye strain.

Treatments

People who work in front of a screen can reduce eye strain by taking frequent breaks. It may help to follow the 20-20-20 rule. This rule is to stop every 20 minutes and look at something 20 meters away for 20 seconds. Reducing glare from screens where possible can also help.

Ways to prevent glass eye headaches

Regular eye exams can help prevent eye conditions from causing headaches. This helps ensure that the person has the correct prescription. An ophthalmologist may need to adjust a person’s prescription over time, depending on how their vision changes. The eye doctor can also make sure the glasses are comfortable, not too tight, and don’t put too much pressure on the temples.

Blocking the eyes can also help reduce headaches. The best way to do this is to change the computer and the way people use it. To do this, it is necessary

place the screen 15-20 degrees below eye level
place reference materials above the keyboard and below the screen
avoid glare from windows and lights
consider using an anti-descriptive filter
sit on a chair so that the legs are flat on the floor and the arms are at 90 degrees and rest comfortably on a table or desk.
follow the 20-20-20 rule, which is to look at something 20 meters away for 20 minutes for every 20 minutes of computer use
make sure to blink often.

When to consult a doctor?

It is best to consult your ophthalmologist if you suffer from frequent or persistent headaches when wearing your glasses. An ophthalmologist can ensure that the prescription and fit of the glasses are correct. It can also tell when glasses should be worn, such as when reading or working on the computer, and recommend ways to reduce headaches.

Other causes of headaches

Many eye conditions can cause headaches other than wearing glasses. These are also important

angle-closure glaucoma, which refers to fluid in the front of the eye that cannot drain properly
giant cell arteritis, which results in swelling of the arteries that run along the temples
cerebrovascular accident (CVA), which can lead to:
generation changes, such as double generation
droopy eyelids
severe headache
People should contact their doctor if they have concerns about any of the above conditions. These can be serious conditions that require immediate treatment.

Finally

Wearing glasses can lead to headaches due to the wrong fit or prescription. It can also be inappropriate eye contact, such as wearing glasses to work closely at a computer. Eye strain can also cause headaches. Regular eye exams help ensure that a person wears properly prescribed and well-fitting glasses. They also help identify and treat any eye conditions that may cause headaches. People with symptoms should see their eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam. Other serious conditions can cause headaches; So it is important to consult a doctor to inform him of your symptoms.

* blokus strives to spread health knowledge in a language accessible to all. IN NO EVENT, THE INFORMATION GIVEN CANNOT REPLACE THE OPINION OF A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL.
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