A headache is described as an achy pressure in the forehead, temples and even the upper part of the neck.

A migraine is a severe headache that generally causes more debilitating symptoms. Migraines can cause nausea and make it difficult to speak and think clearly.

Can headaches and migraines cause visual problems?

Yes.

Headaches and migraines are common symptoms of binocular vision problems. They can also be symptoms of other types of visual conditions as well, such as computer vision syndrome (CVS) or near point visual stress (NPVS).

Vision problems can cause fatigue or eye strain that lead to a headache, especially after reading, or using the computer.

If you experience headaches or migraines often, contact a vision therapy eye doctor who can determine whether a binocular vision disorder is causing your pain.

What are binocular vision disorders?

Binocular vision disorders are conditions where the eyes are unable to align properly. This causes the eyes to overcompensate and overcorrect for the misalignment. This strains the eye muscles because they are constantly trying to re-align the eyes to eliminate blurriness and double-vision.

Two types of binocular vision disorders are binocular vision dysfunction and convergence insufficiency.

What is binocular vision dysfunction?

Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD) is a condition where the two eyes struggle to send one clear image to the brain due to a slight misalignment of the eyes.

Headaches occur as the brain attempts unsuccessfully to merge the images from each of the eyes.

What is convergence insufficiency?

Convergence insufficiency (CI) affects near vision and eye muscle coordination. Convergence of the eyes occurs when the two eyes need to focus on a close object, such as a book, computer, or smartphone.

Convergence insufficiency means the eyes struggle to focus easily for near tasks, affecting attention, school work, and office performance in adults.

If you experience severe headaches or migraines, contact an eye doctor near you, who can diagnose and treat the visual issues of this condition.

SEE RELATED: 2021 Update: BVD and Neck Pain

What are the best treatments for binocular vision problems?

Vision therapy and micro-prism lenses successfully treat BVD and CI.

1. Micro-prism Lenses

Prismatic (prism) lenses work to correct eye misalignment by manipulating incoming light before it enters the eyes so that when the images from the two eyes reach the brain, the brain can fuse them into a single image.

The prisms in the glasses ‘trick’ the brain into thinking the eyes are properly aligned, causing them to see just one object and preventing eye muscle strain that can cause headaches.

Micro-prisms are a very low amount, usually under 2 dioptres, however their impact can significantly reduce the headaches suffered by many people.

2. Vision Therapy 

Patients with CI or BVD are also often treated with a customized program of vision therapy.

Vision therapy is a program to improve the communication between the brain and the eyes, further supporting the visual system and alleviating the symptoms of BVD or CI.

Usually, patients find that their symptoms gradually subside or completely disappear when they wear prescribed prism lenses, which can be even further helped by completing a program of vision therapy.

Contact a vision therapy eye doctor near you to start a vision therapy program to give your eyes the relief they deserve.

Other Visual Problems

Computer vision syndrome and near point visual stress are common vision problems that cause headaches and migraines. These eye conditions occur when looking at a digital device for too long.

Computer vision syndrome

Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) is an eye condition caused by staring at a digital device, especially after many hours. This condition presents itself through eye strain, dry eyes, or headaches.

Near point visual stress

When the visual system struggles to meet the demands that learning and reading place on the eyes, symptoms like eye strain, fatigue, and headaches can occur— this is known as near point visual stress (NPVS).

When sitting in front of the TV screen or computer for too long, symptoms of NPVS may appear.

What is the best way to prevent CVS and NPVS?

An effective way to relieve and even prevent CVS or NPVS is to allow yourself some “visual stress relief” from digital devices.

This can be achieved by:

• Adjusting the screen angle. Make sure the screen is 20-28 inches from the eyes and that the center of the screen is 4-8 inches lower than eye level.
• Taking breaks and blinking often. Follow the 20-20-20 rule to prevent staring at a screen for too long. Take a break from the computer or device for 20 seconds, every 20 minutes, and look at something 20 feet away.
• Reducing glare. When there is glare reflecting off a screen, the eyes need to work harder to read. Make sure the screen is positioned in a way that prevents glare from indoor lighting or windows. A glare filter can also be added to the screen to prevent glare.

LEARN MORE:  Guide to Binocular Visual Dysfunction (BVD)

Schedule an appointment with an eye doctor near you who can help diagnose the cause of your headaches and recommend the best treatment options for you and your eyes.

The post 2021 Update: BVD and Headaches appeared first on Optometrists.org.

If you’re experiencing vision problems or it’s simply time for you to schedule your next eye examination, here are a few tips to get the most out of your eye exam with your friendly eye doctor.

The more information you can give your eye doctor during your checkup, the more they will be able to accurately assess your vision and eye health and discuss the many options available to you.

SEE RELATED: Are Dilated Eye Exams Important? 

Here are 4 quick tips to ensure better results when visiting your eye doctor.

1. Bring a list of symptoms

Any time you notice a change in your vision or other eye-related symptoms, jot them down, along with how long you’ve been experiencing them.

Symptoms to take note of include:

• Headaches
• Dry, itchy, or watery eyes
• Eye pain
• Flashes of light or floaters
• Blurry vision
• Distorted vision
• Poor depth perception
• Sensitivity to light
• Difficulty seeing objects up close

2. Bring a list of medications

Make a note of any medications you take – whether over-the-counter and prescription.

Whether you’re taking eye drops for glaucoma or prescription medication for high blood pressure, bring the name and dosage — or the medications themselves — to your next eye appointment.

This will give your eye doctor insights into your eye health and your overall health, and prevent the doctor from prescribing medication that could worsen a preexisting condition or  negatively interact with what you are already taking.

If you have any questions about the side effects of medications, don’t hesitate to ask your eye doctor.

3. Bring in all your eyeglasses and contacts lenses

Try to bring your prescription contact lenses or glasses to your appointment. This will allow the  eye doctor to assess your prescription and make adjustments if needed.

The doctor may ask you questions related to your eyewear to determine whether you need an update.

4. Know your family medical history

Knowing your family medical history is vitally important as many eye conditions have a genetic cause.

Many eye diseases and conditions run in families, so the more information you can provide about your family’s medical history, the better.

You don’t need to know every single family member’s detailed medical and history of eye conditions. Start with your close family — parents, grandparents, and siblings.

Some genetic eye conditions and diseases you should mention:

• Cataracts
• Glaucoma
• Color blindness
• Macular degeneration
• Strabismus
• Retinitis pigmentosa

Getting the most out of your next eye exam starts with preparation.

LEARN MORE:  Guide to Eye Exams

When you schedule your eye exam, you will be ready by following these tips.

The post What to Do Before an Eye Exam? appeared first on Optometrists.org.

This presentation, called Concussion Guidelines Step 2: Evidence of Subtype Classification, is referenced in the Journal of Neurosurgery.

The visual system plays a crucial role in the diagnosis and treatment of concussions. 

According to Dr. Ghajar, the eyes and the visual system play an essential role in understanding the nature, cause and treatment for a concussion.

Examination of the eyes, specifically the oculo-motor functioning, includes the evaluation of binocular vision, eye focusing, eye teaming, and visual perception skills.

Any type of oculo-motor or visual dysfunction can result in difficulty acquiring, understanding, and processing visual stimuli.

A visual system dysfunction can trigger or worsen visual symptoms following a brain injury, and lead to an impaired ability to interpret and  process visual information.

Oculo-motor impairments may be identified and measured by assessing specific visual skills, including:

• Saccades
• Smooth pursuit
• Conjugate gaze
• Convergence
• Accommodation
• Fixation assessments

An ocular-motor deficit can appear similar to a functional cognitive impairment and is frequently diagnosed in conjunction with symptoms of a vestibular dysfunction.

Symptoms of oculo-motor dysfunction

Patients diagnosed with oculo-motor dysfunction typically display difficulty concentrating or focusing during near vision tasks as a result of:

• Impaired near vision
• Blurred or double vision
• Photophobia
• Eye strain or fatigue
• Impaired depth perception
• Difficulty shifting focus between distances
• Headaches or pain/pressure behind the eyes
• Nausea
• Anxiety in crowded or visually complex environments
• Significant worsening of pre-existing visual impairments

This new discovery, that the visual system plays a critical role in the diagnosis and treatment of concussions, will help doctors to understand the extent and severity of a brain injury. 

If you know someone who has recently suffered a concussion, it is essential that they be examined by an eye doctor who has experience in treating oculo-motor and visual dysfunction following a brain injury.

A comprehensive assessment of the visual system is the first step to recovering clear and comfortable vision for all aspects of daily life.

The post Stanford University: Concussions and Oculo-Motor Dysfunction appeared first on Optometrists.org.

Headaches and binocular vision dysfunction

Binocular vision dysfunction (BVD) is a condition that occurs when the eyes are misaligned.

Eye misalignment causes brain “confusion”. When the two eyes transmit two distinct images for visual processing, the brain has a difficult time interpreting the two images and processing a single, clear image that you can recognize.

Eye misalignment can lead to BVD and result in eye strain, blurred vision, and frequent, severe headaches.

Common symptoms of BVD include:

• Headaches and migraines
• Blurred vision
• Double vision
• Eye strain
• Photophobia
• Poor depth perception
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Anxiety
• Motion sickness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Neck, upper back or shoulder pain

Symptoms of BVD typically surface during near vision tasks, specifically during prolonged reading activities— whether you’re reading your favorite novel, surfing the web on your computer, or scrolling through your smartphone.

Fortunately, you don’t need to suffer with headaches for much longer— BVD can be treated by a neuro-optometrist.

Your eye doctor can prescribe specialized lenses with prisms, called BVD lenses, to help improve eye alignment, and provide you with the much needed relief from your uncomfortable symptoms.

How do BVD lenses help?

Prism lenses for BVD enable your eyes to work together to produce an image that your brain can process more effectively.

These specialized lenses will alleviate eye strain and blurred vision, and thus eliminate the tension that is causing your headaches.

If you suffer from frequent headaches, schedule a functional vision evaluation as soon as possible. 

The earlier a vision problem is detected, the sooner you can achieve clearer, more comfortable vision…without the headaches! 

The post Do You Suffer From Headaches? appeared first on Optometrists.org.