Have you ever decided to forgo wearing your eyeglasses, only to find yourself squinting at your phone or feeling an ache behind your eyes after staring at your computer screen? You’re not alone. For many eyeglass wearers, neglecting to wear glasses can cause headaches on top of blurry vision, even with mild prescriptions. Headaches are a common but often overlooked symptom of uncorrected vision problems.
Why Does Not Wearing Glasses Cause Headaches?
When you skip wearing your glasses, your eyes work extra hard to focus. Like any other muscle in your body, your eye muscles can tire. This increased effort causes eye strain, which is a leading trigger for headaches.
Essentially, your eyes are overworking to compensate for the lack of corrective lenses, resulting in muscle fatigue, which manifests as a headache.
Your brain plays a significant role in processing visual information. When your eyes struggle to see clearly, your brain has to work harder to interpret the blurry signals it receives. Most commonly, people experience tension headaches that can feel like a tight band around the forehead.
What Are These Headaches Like?
- Tension headaches are the most common headache associated with not wearing glasses. They typically start at the back of the head and move forward, creating a sensation of tightness or pressure around the forehead. These headaches can last from a few hours to several days and often worsen with prolonged visual tasks.
- Not wearing glasses can cause migraine-like symptoms. These headaches may include sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, and visual disturbances such as aura. While not true migraines, they can be just as debilitating.
- Though less common, some people may experience cluster headaches due to not wearing their glasses. These are severe, one-sided headaches that occur in cyclical patterns or clusters. They can be incredibly painful and disabling, often requiring medical intervention for relief.
Symptoms Alongside Headaches From Ditched Glasses
Headaches are bad enough–but worse when accompanied by other symptoms. If you do not wear your glasses when you need them, you may also experience:
- Blurry or Double Vision. Since the light entering your eye is not filtered through corrective lenses, images can get blurry or doubled because your eye isn’t receiving the help it needs to interpret images correctly.
- Fatigue. Attempting to see without prescription lenses can force you to squint, contracting the muscles around the eye. Over time, this tension causes stress, pain, and fatigue. Persistent eye strain can lead to chronic fatigue, making it difficult to concentrate on tasks and reducing your overall productivity.
- Increased Risk of Accidents. Without clear vision, your ability to judge distances and perceive depth is compromised. This increases the risk of accidents, whether navigating stairs, crossing the street, or driving a car.
- Stunted Eye Development. This is particularly relevant for young eyeglasses wearers, but neglecting to wear prescription lenses can stunt your ability to focus on an object, which impacts general eye development.
- Long-Term Vision Problems. Conditions like myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness) can worsen over time if left uncorrected. Regular eye exams and wearing your prescribed glasses can help manage these conditions effectively.
- Behavioral Changes. You may find yourself avoiding activities that require clear vision, such as reading or socializing, which can impact your lifestyle and mental well-being.
Going without your glasses for an afternoon may not seem like a big deal, but it can become a slippery slope of forgoing something meant to support you. Regularly wearing your glasses can significantly reduce risks, ensuring your safety (and that of others) and comfort.
How Do You Get Rid of a Headache From Not Wearing Glasses?
The most straightforward solution is to wear your glasses consistently. This will immediately reduce the strain on your eyes and help alleviate the headache.
If you use a lot of electronic screens in your day-to-day life, try taking regular breaks from screens and other visually demanding tasks. The 20-20-20 rule is a great practice to adopt: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This helps to relax your eye muscles and reduce strain.
Sometimes, dehydration can exacerbate headaches. Make sure you’re drinking enough water throughout the day. Additionally, consider practicing relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga to help relieve tension and stress.
Most importantly, make it a habit to wear your glasses during all activities requiring clear vision.
What If I Decide to Forgo Glasses?
Eyeglasses aren’t for everyone, and that’s okay!
Contact lenses are a viable alternative to glasses if you find them uncomfortable or inconvenient. Modern contact lenses are designed for comfort and ease of use, providing clear vision without the need for glasses. Consult with your eye care professional to find the best option for you.
Laser eye surgery is an option worth exploring for those who prefer a more permanent solution. Procedures like LASIK can correct vision issues, reducing or eliminating the need for glasses. However, discussing the risks and benefits with a qualified eye surgeon is essential.
Regular Eye Exams
Regardless of your choice, regular eye exams are crucial. They help monitor your vision health and ensure that any changes in your eyesight are promptly addressed. Keeping your prescription up to date can also help alleviate headaches caused by wearing old prescriptions. Moreover, early detection of issues can prevent more severe problems.
Total Vision understands that everyone has different preferences for caring for their vision needs and aims to help everyone find the best solution for them. Contact us today to book a comprehensive eye exam and see how we can help you relieve headaches caused by your eyeglasses.
