Headaches are a common issue that many people experience, but did you know that your vision could be the culprit behind them? While we often associate headaches with stress, dehydration, or lack of sleep, vision problems can also play a significant role in causing these painful episodes.
Understanding the connection between your eyes and headaches can help you find relief and prevent future discomfort.
How Do Vision Issues Trigger Headaches?
Your eyes are closely linked to your brain, so when they experience strain or difficulty, your brain works harder to compensate, often resulting in headaches.
Here are some common vision-related causes of frequent headaches:
1. Eye Strain
Eye strain, also known as digital eye strain or computer vision syndrome, is one of the most common causes of headaches today. Spending long hours in front of screens — for work, school, or leisure — can overwork the eye muscles, leading to discomfort and headaches.
Symptoms often include dry eyes, blurred vision, and headaches, especially after extended periods of focusing on a screen.
2. Uncorrected Vision Problems
Conditions like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism can cause the eyes to work harder than necessary to focus on objects. This constant effort leads to eye fatigue and headaches, particularly around the forehead and temples.
Even minor vision problems that have not been properly corrected with glasses or contact lenses can result in these types of headaches.
3. Poorly Fitted Glasses or Contacts
Wearing outdated or improperly fitted glasses or contact lenses can strain your eyes. For example, if your prescription is too strong or too weak, your eyes will have to adjust constantly, leading to headaches.
This is why regular eye exams are crucial to ensure your prescription is up to date and correctly suited to your needs.
4. Presbyopia (Age-Related Farsightedness)
Presbyopia is a common age-related condition where the lens of the eye becomes less flexible, making it difficult to focus on close objects. This natural change usually begins around age 40 and can lead to headaches, especially when doing activities that require close-up work like reading or using a smartphone.
5. Binocular Vision Dysfunction
Binocular vision dysfunction (BVD) occurs when the eyes are not properly aligned, causing them to work overtime to correct the misalignment.
This can lead to double vision, dizziness, and frequent headaches. BVD can often be overlooked but can be diagnosed during a comprehensive eye exam.
When to Consider an Eye Exam for Headaches
If you’re experiencing frequent headaches and haven’t considered an eye exam as a potential solution, it might be time to do so.
Vision problems that lead to headaches can often be easily corrected with the right prescription lenses, proper screen habits, or other targeted treatments.
Some signs that your headaches could be vision-related include:
- Headaches that occur after reading, using a computer, or watching TV
- Headaches accompanied by eye discomfort, such as soreness or redness
- Blurred vision, double vision, or difficulty focusing
- Headaches that worsen after visual tasks or near work
Preventing Headaches with Proper Eye Care
One of the most effective ways to prevent vision-related headaches is by ensuring your eyes are in good health.
Regular eye exams at can help detect any underlying vision problems and provide you with the appropriate prescription or treatment.
Here are some tips to reduce headaches caused by vision issues:
- Take Regular Breaks from Screens: The 20-20-20 rule is a great way to reduce eye strain: every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break to look at something 20 feet away. This helps relax your eye muscles and prevent fatigue.
- Update Your Prescription: If you’ve noticed an increase in headaches, it could be time to update your glasses or contact lenses. Regular eye exams can ensure your prescription is accurate and effective.
- Consider Blue Light Glasses: For those who spend a lot of time in front of screens, blue light glasses can help reduce eye strain by blocking harmful blue light emitted from digital devices.
- Practice Good Lighting: Poor lighting can exacerbate eye strain, so make sure your workspace is well-lit to reduce the effort your eyes need to focus.
Get Relief from Headaches at
If you're struggling with frequent headaches and suspect your vision may be contributing, the team at is here to help. Our comprehensive eye exams will assess your vision health and identify any underlying issues that could be causing your headaches.
With the right diagnosis and treatment, you can reduce or even eliminate headaches caused by vision problems.
Request an appointment today to get to the root of your headaches and protect your vision.