Do you have frequent headaches? Are your eyes feeling strained, tired, or achy? If so, you may be suffering from digital eye strain. In addition to causing blurred vision and difficulty focusing, digital eye strain can also lead to frequently occurring headaches. Even children can experience this issue. Fortunately, an eye exam from an optometrist or ophthalmologist could help save you from these headaches. Let’s take a closer look at this connection between headaches and eye problems.
What is Digital Eye Strain?
Digital eye strain is caused by spending long periods of time staring at screens—including computer monitors, televisions, and cell phones—without taking breaks for rest or relaxation. Common symptoms include blurred vision, difficulty focusing, eyestrain, dry eyes, headache, neck pain, and even shoulder and back pain. Our eyes are not designed to stare at screens for long periods of time without taking breaks; as a result, they become strained and tired more quickly than they should. The squinting alone can contribute to headaches—especially in people who are already prone to them—and the older we get the less flexible our lenses become which makes it increasingly difficult to read small print without getting a headache!
A comprehensive eye exam with an optometrist or ophthalmologist will help diagnose any underlying issues that could be contributing to your headaches or strained vision. Certain medical conditions like glaucoma can cause severe headaches if left untreated; therefore it is important that you visit an actual doctor rather than simply buying over-the-counter glasses from a store as those cannot diagnose medical conditions like glaucoma. By visiting the doctor for regular check-ups we can identify any issues early on before they become more serious problems down the line.
Headaches often have multiple causes but if your problems persist then it might be worth exploring whether there are any underlying eye problems causing them. Digital eye strain is becoming increasingly common due to increased screen time but luckily there are ways of dealing with it such as taking regular breaks throughout the day and limiting screen time where possible. Visiting an optometrist or ophthalmologist for annual exams is essential in order to properly diagnose any underlying issues that could be causing your headaches or other symptoms of digital eye strain such as, difficulty focusing or blurred vision. With the right care plan you can avoid further complications down the line so make sure you don’t neglect your eyecare! Call Lentz Eye Care today and schedule your exam.