Can Cataracts Cause Headaches?
It can be difficult enough to navigate the vision issues associated with cataracts. After all, cataracts cause things to look blurry, hazy, or dull. They might make you see double and increase your sensitivity to light. But can a clouded lens in your eye give you headaches too?
Headaches and Your Vision
Headaches are not usually a symptom of untreated cataracts. The main symptoms are cloudy vision and trouble seeing at night. However, headaches can sometimes occur alongside eyesight changes.
If your cataracts have altered your refractive error, you may experience a headache without the right glasses prescription. This happens because your eyes have to work a lot harder to focus. Overusing the focusing muscles in your eyes is a common cause of eye strain and headaches.
Similarly, a loss of vision can make you adopt unconscious behaviors that lead to discomfort. For example, you may squint your eyes. You might also raise your eyebrows to open up your eyes. After some time, these behaviors create discomfort and tension resembling a headache.
Treatment for Cataracts
There are several lifestyle changes that may help you manage cataracts and their effects. Make sure to get the right eyeglasses or contact lenses to accommodate changes in your prescription.
To minimize strain, try using brighter lights for reading. A magnifying glass can also be helpful. And limit driving at night once you begin to have problems with night vision, glare, or halos.
At some point, these measures may not be enough to keep cataracts from affecting your life. When it becomes hard to participate in your regular activities, consider getting cataract surgery.
Schedule Your Eye Appointment Today
Our eye doctors can explain how cataract-related changes to your vision may be leading to discomfort and headaches. And if it’s time for surgery, rest assured that our board-certified ophthalmologists has performed over 25,000 cataract operations.
Contact SightMD to schedule an appointment at one of our offices. We are conveniently located throughout New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.
