Frequent headaches or migraines can make daily activities more challenging to carry out. However, treating these headaches and migraines can be equally tricky since there are many factors to consider before you find the root causes and address them. Numerous conditions like stress, hormonal changes, muscle tension, and allergies can trigger the pain. You may need to look at your lifestyle, too: even aspects of your diet like drinking coffee can cause headaches.
However, one common cause you need to look at is your eyes, particularly if it turns out you’ve been using the wrong glasses prescription. With how crucial your sight is for work and daily activities, it’s vital to address the underlying issues, especially if they can be solved with the right pair of glasses. Here’s how they might be causing your headaches and migraines.
WHY OUTDATED PRESCRIPTIONS CAUSE HEADACHES AND MIGRAINES
Eye-related headaches are often attributed to eye strain triggered by focusing and refocusing on a digital screen. But other vision-related problems can lead to eye strain, too. If you have the wrong prescription or your prescription changed recently, you may suffer from refractive errors that lead to migraines. This can also cause dull pain in the eye area, frontal headaches, or other issues like double vision, hazy vision, or glare.
Even ill-fitting glasses can be a factor since your prescription accounts for the distance between your pupils. If your glasses sit too far or close to your eyes, they can cause headaches. Moreover, if your frames are too tight, they can put more pressure on your nose bridge, temples, or ears, causing significant discomfort. That’s why it’s vital to get precisely the right glasses for you.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO AVOID HEADACHES AND MIGRAINES FROM YOUR EYEGLASSES
GET AN UPDATED PRESCRIPTION
If your current eyeglasses are starting to give you headaches, it may be time to update your prescription. In that case, it’s best to get a comprehensive eye exam to get a new prescription and assess your eyes’ overall health. Though you can get one from your usual optometrist, you can also opt for a free sight test funded by the NHS if you meet specific criteria, like being under age 16, over age 60, or diagnosed with diabetes or glaucoma. Although less comprehensive than eye exams, sight tests can reduce eye strain by addressing refractive errors and making focusing easier.
TRY ON GLASSES BEFORE COMMITTING TO A PAIR
Adjusting to a new prescription can also cause headaches and migraines, especially if it isn’t suitable for you. Fortunately, you can ensure that your new prescription is the right one before committing permanently to a pair of eyeglasses in the long term. Free home trials are available for many purchases, with Glasses Direct offering a service where you can try on glasses at home. The process involves you receiving your eyeglasses a week early so you can get a feel for their fit, weight, and size. They also have an unlimited number of trials and provide next-day delivery and easy and free return procedures, so you’ll have plenty of time to test your updated prescription, too. Surveying the right fit and lenses can help you minimise errors in your eyeglasses.
HOW TO ADJUST TO NEW PRESCRIPTIONS
With a new prescription, it’s normal to have an adjustment period ranging from hours to two weeks. During this time, you may experience dizziness, changes in depth perception, nausea, distortion, and eye strain. To adjust better, stop wearing your old glasses and gradually increase the time you wear your new pair, ensuring you eventually wear them consistently. If this adjustment period lasts longer than three or four weeks, it may be time to contact your optometrist and check if your prescription needs another update.
Good vision is indispensable in today’s world. And although the wrong pair of eyeglasses can cause headaches and migraines, taking measures to ensure you have the right ones can provide greater comfort and ease. For more information about healthy diets and lifestyles, check out the Health Unwrapped series.
