Blurred vision and headaches go hand in hand. It’s a classic chicken and egg scenario. If you’ve been suffering from both blurred vision and headaches, there are a variety of underlying factors that may be the cause. Determining the exact cause is crucial for creating a treatment plan. 

Think blurred vision is at the root of your headaches? You’ve come to the right place. As optometrists, we often treat people suffering from vision-related headaches. Here is what you need to know: 

What are some potential vision-related causes of headaches? 

Strain on Eye Muscles: One of the primary reasons blurred vision can cause headaches is related to the strain on your eye muscles. Many environmental and age-related factors can cause the muscles in our eyes to become strained. When your eyes struggle to focus correctly due to refractive errors or fatigue, the muscles in your eyes work harder to compensate. This extra effort can lead to eye strain, which often radiates to your head, resulting in a headache.

Accommodative Problems: Accommodation is the ability of your eyes to adjust their focus on objects at various distances. If you have difficulties with accommodation, such as presbyopia (difficulty focusing on close objects with age) or accommodative insufficiency (difficulty maintaining focus), it can lead to blurred vision when viewing objects up close. Struggling to maintain clear vision can cause eye strain and, subsequently, headaches.

Refractive Errors: Refractive errors, such as nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism, can cause blurred vision. When light entering your eye does not focus correctly on the retina, it can result in distorted or blurry images. Constantly adjusting your focus to compensate for these errors can lead to eye strain and, in turn, headaches.

Digital Eye Strain: Prolonged use of electronic devices like computers, smartphones, and tablets has become commonplace. Staring at screens for extended periods can lead to digital eye strain. Symptoms include things like blurred vision, dry eyes, and headaches. The blue light emitted by screens may also disrupt your sleep patterns and contribute to headaches. 

Eye Fatigue and Dryness: Prolonged periods of reading, writing, or any activity that requires intense focus can lead to eye fatigue and dryness. When your eyes become fatigued and dry, they may struggle to maintain clear vision, leading to blurred vision. This discomfort can escalate into a headache over time.

If your blurred vision and headaches are the result of one of these causes, there are often simple solutions. Most eye strain and refractive or accommodative errors can be fixed with corrective lenses like glasses or contacts that help our eyes to work without excess strain. Your optometrist can also treat dry eyes through a variety of non-invasive procedures. If digital fatigue or eye strain is the cause of your headaches, you and your optometrist can determine an effective care plan together. 

Sometimes, headaches and blurred vision are caused by other underlying conditions.

Headaches and blurred vision can also sometimes be the result of underlying health issues that are not directly related to the eyes. These include things like migraines or other factors such as high blood pressure or diabetes. 

The good news is that an optometrist will be able to rule out eye-related factors. Additionally, your optometrist will likely gain a pretty good idea of what the underlying cause of headaches may be from examining your eyes. From there, you’ll be able to see the right healthcare professional  to treat the cause. Addressing an underlying medical condition may alleviate both headaches and blurred vision.

Your optometrist will work with you to determine the best course of action, which may include prescribing corrective lenses, recommending vision therapy, suggesting lifestyle changes, or referring you to a specialist for further evaluation if necessary. Don’t hesitate to discuss your symptoms and concerns with them to find the most suitable solution for your specific situation.

To address your concerns effectively, it is crucial to consult with an optometrist who can conduct a thorough eye examination and identify any underlying causes of your blurred vision. Remember, taking care of your eye health is essential for overall well-being. Regular eye check-ups, adopting proper eye care habits, and seeking timely treatment can help you enjoy clear vision and reduce the likelihood of experiencing headaches due to blurred vision.