Do you know that dull ache behind your eyes after a long day of staring at screens? Or how a bright light can suddenly make your head throb? Those aren’t coincidences—they could be signs that your eyes are playing a bigger role in your headaches than you realized.
At our practice, we often see patients from Riverbank and Modesto who are surprised to learn that vision problems might be contributing to their migraines. Whether it’s digital eye strain, a missed prescription update, or an underlying eye condition, your eyes could be the missing piece in your headache puzzle.
What Migraine and Headache Month is All About
June is Migraine Awareness Month—a time to raise awareness about migraines, headaches, and the many lesser-known triggers behind them. While migraines are often associated with genetics or hormonal changes, external factors like stress, sleep, and even vision problems can play a key role. We can help people explore new paths toward comfort and better health by bringing attention to these connections.
How Your Eyes Can Affect Headaches and Migraines
Vision is a complex process that involves the brain, eyes, and nerves working together. When one piece of that puzzle is off, it can cause strain—and strain can lead to pain.
Here are some common vision-related triggers:
- Digital Eye Strain: Long hours on screens without breaks can cause your eyes to overwork, leading to headaches.
- Uncorrected Vision: Wearing the wrong prescription—or none—can strain your eye muscles as they try to compensate.
- Dry Eyes: A lack of proper moisture on the eye’s surface causes irritation, contributing to discomfort and headaches.
- Poor Lighting Conditions: Harsh fluorescent lights or dim settings make your eyes work harder to focus.
- Blue Light Exposure: Excessive screen time without blue light protection can disrupt visual comfort and sleep cycles, both of which can trigger migraines.
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): Even a mild concussion can disrupt how your eyes and brain communicate, leading to visual processing problems. Many people with TBI experience sensitivity to light, trouble focusing, and persistent headaches that stem from visual disturbances.
5 Signs That Your Headache Might be Vision-Related
Headaches caused by vision issues are more common than most people realize, and the signs are often subtle initially. Whether you’ve noticed discomfort after screen time or have been putting off your eye exam for too long, it’s worth considering how your vision may affect migraine symptoms. Here are a few red flags to watch for:
1. The Pain Starts Behind Your Eyes
A common sign of vision-related headaches is a deep, aching sensation behind or around your eyes. This kind of pain often happens when your eye muscles are overworking to focus, especially if your vision isn’t as clear as it should be. It can build slowly over the day and become more intense with tasks that require visual concentration.
2. You Feel Worse After Screen Time
If your headache tends to hit after hours of computer or phone use, digital eye strain may be the issue. Staring at screens reduces how often you blink, which dries out your eyes and forces them to work harder. Combined with glare or poor screen positioning, this can quickly lead to tension and discomfort.
3. Your Eyes Feel Tired or Dry
When your eyes are fatigued or irritated, it’s a sign that they are under stress. Dryness, burning, or a gritty sensation can make it harder to focus, which increases the chances of developing a headache. Many people experience this during long workdays, especially in air-conditioned spaces or after extended reading.
4. You Haven’t Had an Eye Exam in a While
Outdated prescriptions can lead to blurry vision and eye strain as your eyes try to compensate for the lack of clarity. Even subtle changes in your prescription can significantly affect how comfortable your vision feels. If it has been over a year since your last comprehensive eye exam, your eyes might be overdue for a checkup.
5. You Notice Blurred or Double Vision
If you are experiencing blurred or double vision—especially when reading, driving, or doing close-up work—it’s a sign that your visual system may not function properly. These visual symptoms force your eyes to work overtime to maintain focus, easily leading to recurring headaches. This is often a sign of a prescription or binocular vision problem that needs medical attention.
How to Get Relief from Vision-Related Headaches and Migraines
At Modesto Optometric Vision Center, we take a personalized approach to identifying the root of your headaches. We look beyond the basics—because understanding your whole visual system is key to long-term relief. Here is how we help:
- Comprehensive Eye Exams: We assess your vision, coordination, and overall eye health to uncover contributing factors.
- Blue Light Blocking Lenses: These lenses help protect your eyes from digital strain, especially if you are on screens throughout the day.
- Dry Eye Treatment Options: If dry eyes are part of the problem, we offer targeted therapies to restore comfort and reduce irritation.
- Vision Therapy: For some patients, especially children or those with focusing challenges, vision therapy can help retrain the eyes to work more efficiently.
- Custom Lens Fittings: We ensure your eyeglasses or contact lenses match your current vision needs, which reduces eye strain.
By finding and treating the vision-related triggers of your headaches, we help you experience fewer disruptions and more days of comfort.
Get Help for Headaches and Eye Strain in Riverbank and Modesto
If you have been battling headaches without clear answers, it’s time to look at your vision. At Modesto Optometric Vision Center, our eye doctors are here to help you connect the dots between eye strain and head pain—and get you back to feeling your best.
Whether you are in Riverbank or Modesto, book your appointment and let our team take a closer look. Your eyes—and your head—deserve relief.
