Headache and Ocular Migraine

Overview

Headaches may occur for any number of reasons- sinus conditions, high blood pressure, allergies, hormonal changes, tumors, and most frequently, stress. They are not usually associated with problems related to the eyes. To help your physician diagnose the cause of your headache, it is very useful to make detailed notes of your symptoms and what you were doing when the headache began.

Eye-related Headaches

Eye-related headaches typically occur after extended periods of reading, watching television, computer work, or other close work that requires intense concentration. This type of headache usually disappears after a period of rest. In some cases, headaches may be caused by eyestrain related to eyeglasses. A tendency for eyes to cross or drift outward may also bring on headaches due to attempts to control this tendency.

An attack of acute angle-closure glaucoma may bring on an intense headache. Patients usually also experience nausea, intense pain around the eye, blurred vision, and halos around lights.

Migraine Headache

Migraine is a type of headache, often hereditary, that usually begins between the ages of 15 and 30. They are most common in women, and take on several different forms. The classic perception of a migraine is a severe headache, often accompanied by nausea.

Ocular migraines involve the appearance of visual disturbances such as flashes of light, blurred vision, or temporary blind spots, usually occurring in one eye. When visual symptoms occur, they usually start in the central vision and move off to one side. These symptoms may occur by themselves, or may be accompanied by a headache.

It is usually difficult to pinpoint the cause of the migraine headache for most patients. Some causes include stress, and certain foods and additives such as chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, dairy products, and MSG.

In the vast majority of cases, no serious complications occur as a result of ocular migraines. Occasionally, if frequent and severe, treatment may be considered, usually in consultation with a neurologist.