Can poor eyesight cause headaches?
By See Better · Updated · 5 min read
The short answer
Yes. Uncorrected long-sightedness, astigmatism, an out-of-date prescription and eyes that struggle to work together can all cause headaches. These headaches are usually felt across the forehead or around the eyes, build up during the day and follow reading, driving or screen work. Most headaches have other causes, but an eye test is an easy way to rule eyesight in or out.
Key points
- Eye-related headaches follow visual tasks and are usually worse later in the day.
- Long-sightedness and astigmatism are the most common culprits.
- A headache that is there when you wake up is unlikely to be caused by eyesight.
- A sudden, severe headache or one with vision loss is an emergency.
How eyesight causes headaches
Seeing clearly takes muscle work. Tiny muscles inside the eye change the shape of the lens to focus, and six muscles around each eye keep both eyes pointed at exactly the same spot. When your prescription is slightly out, or your eyes do not line up easily, those muscles work overtime. You may also squint and tense your forehead, face and neck without realising. Hours of that effort end in an ache.
The vision problems most likely to cause headaches
- Long-sightedness. The eyes have to focus constantly, and harder still up close. It is a frequent cause of headaches in children and young adults who "see fine". See short-sighted or long-sighted?
- Astigmatism. The eye keeps trying, and failing, to sharpen a picture that is blurred in one direction. See what is astigmatism?
- Presbyopia. In your 40s, straining to read small print without glasses. See why it is harder to read up close after 40.
- An out-of-date or incorrect prescription, including ready-made readers that are too strong.
- Eyes that do not work together easily. A common example is difficulty turning both eyes inwards for reading, called convergence insufficiency.
- Digital eye strain. Long screen sessions with few blinks and no breaks. See digital eye strain and the 20-20-20 rule.
Mild short-sightedness is less likely to cause headaches. It mainly causes blur and squinting at distance.
What an eye-related headache feels like
| More likely to be your eyes | Less likely to be your eyes |
|---|---|
| Felt across the forehead, the brow or around the eyes | One-sided and throbbing |
| Comes on after reading, screens or driving | Present when you wake up |
| Worse in the afternoon and evening | Comes with nausea or vomiting |
| Eases when you rest your eyes | Made worse by light, noise or smells |
| Comes with tired, sore or blurry eyes | Wakes you from sleep |
| Better at weekends and on holiday | Not linked to how you use your eyes |
The right-hand column describes migraine, tension-type headache and other causes. These are far more common than eye-related headaches, and glasses will not fix them.
Other eye causes of headache
Some eye conditions cause pain in or around the eye rather than a typical strain headache:
- Dry eye, which gives a burning, tired ache.
- Acute angle-closure glaucoma, which causes severe pain in one eye with a red eye, blurred vision, halos around lights and nausea. It is an emergency. See glaucoma: symptoms and testing.
- Inflammation inside the eye or of the optic nerve, with pain, sensitivity to light or pain when the eye moves.
When a headache is an emergency
Get emergency medical help for a sudden, severe headache that is the worst you have ever had; a headache with loss of vision, double vision, weakness, numbness, confusion or slurred speech; a headache with fever and a stiff neck; a headache after a head injury; a painful red eye with blurred vision and vomiting; or, if you are over 50, a new headache with a tender scalp or jaw pain when you chew.
What to do about ordinary headaches
- Notice the pattern. When do they start, what were you doing, and what helps? A week of notes is useful to any professional you see.
- Have an eye test if the headaches follow visual tasks, or if your last test was more than two years ago. The test checks your prescription and how your eyes focus and work together.
- Fix your screen habits. Take regular breaks, keep the screen at arm's length and reduce glare.
- Look at the basics. Dehydration, skipped meals, poor sleep, too much caffeine and tight neck and shoulder muscles are all common headache triggers.
- See your doctor if the eye test is normal and the headaches continue, if they are getting more frequent or more severe, or if you need painkillers on most days.
If you already wear glasses
Headaches can return when a prescription drifts out of date. They can also appear for a few days with new glasses while your eyes adjust. That should pass within a week or two. If it does not, have the glasses checked. Getting used to new glasses explains what is normal.
Rule your eyes out at home
An eye test is quick and painless, and it settles the question either way. See Better tests your eyes at your home or workplace in Gauteng for R450. If you need glasses, complete pairs start at R1199 including the test.
Frequently asked questions
Where are eye strain headaches felt?
Usually across the forehead, in the brow or around and behind the eyes. They tend to be a dull ache on both sides, and they build up during visual tasks.
Will glasses stop my headaches?
If your headaches are caused by an uncorrected prescription or by eye strain, the right glasses often relieve them within days. If they are migraines or tension headaches, glasses will not help, and you should see your doctor.
Can too much screen time cause headaches?
Yes. Long screen sessions cause eye strain, dry eyes, and neck and shoulder tension, all of which can produce headaches. Regular breaks, a good screen position and an up-to-date prescription help.
Can children get headaches from poor eyesight?
Yes. Long-sightedness, astigmatism and focusing problems commonly cause headaches in schoolchildren, typically after school or homework. A child who has regular headaches should have an eye test.
This article is general information and is not a diagnosis or a substitute for an eye examination. If you are worried about your eyes or your sight, see an optometrist or a doctor. Sudden loss of vision, eye injuries and severe eye pain are emergencies.
