Eye health resource
Can Dry Eyes Cause Headaches?
Dry eye and headaches often occur together, especially with migraine and prolonged screen use, but one does not automatically cause the other. Learn what can overlap and when an eye exam may help.
Reviewed for accuracy by Justin Bazan, OD on .
Dry eye and headaches can occur together, but it is usually too simple to say that dry eye directly “causes” a headache. Research has found an association between dry eye disease and headache disorders, especially migraine. They can also share triggers and symptoms, including prolonged screen use, light sensitivity, eye discomfort, and reduced blinking.
If you have both symptoms, an eye exam may help determine whether dry eye, an outdated prescription, contact-lens issues, eye strain, or another eye problem is contributing. Recurrent or severe headaches may also need evaluation outside eye care.
Why Dry Eye and Headaches Can Feel Connected
Dry eye can cause burning, stinging, grittiness, fluctuating vision, redness, excessive tearing, and sensitivity to light. Migraine and other headache disorders can also cause light sensitivity and discomfort around or behind the eyes.
That overlap can make it hard to tell which condition is responsible for a particular symptom. Studies have found that people with headaches, including migraine, are more likely to have dry eye disease than people without headaches, but an association does not prove that treating one condition will automatically eliminate the other.
Screen Time Can Contribute to Both Problems
Long periods of concentrated near work can reduce how often and how completely you blink. Less blinking allows the tear film to evaporate more quickly and can make dry-eye symptoms worse.
At the same time, prolonged screen tasks can be associated with eye strain, neck and shoulder tension, visual fatigue, and headaches. That means a long workday at a computer can aggravate several problems at once without dry eye being the sole cause of the headache.
Helpful habits may include regular visual breaks, conscious blinking, an ergonomically comfortable screen position, appropriate room lighting, and making sure your glasses or contact-lens prescription is current.
Other Dry-Eye Contributors
Dry-eye symptoms can be influenced by many factors, including:
- meibomian gland dysfunction or eyelid inflammation;
- dry air, wind, smoke, or other environmental exposure;
- contact lens wear;
- allergies;
- medications such as some antihistamines and antidepressants;
- age and hormonal changes;
- autoimmune or other medical conditions; and
- prolonged screen use and reduced blinking.
How Park Slope Eye Evaluates Dry Eye
A dry-eye evaluation looks at your symptoms, tear film, eyelids, ocular surface, contact lens use, medications, environment, and other factors that may be contributing. Treatment depends on what we find rather than assuming every patient needs the same product.
Current treatment options at Park Slope Eye may include:
- over-the-counter artificial tears;
- lid-hygiene cleansers;
- prescription eye drops; and
- punctal plugs when appropriate.
We do not currently provide in-office procedural dry-eye treatments. Environmental changes, screen habits, contact-lens adjustments, or other individualized recommendations may also be part of the plan.
Will Treating Dry Eye Stop My Headaches?
Not necessarily. If ocular-surface irritation or visual strain is contributing to your overall discomfort, improving that problem may make you feel better. But migraine, tension-type headache, sinus disease, medication effects, high blood pressure, neurologic conditions, and many other causes of headache are outside the scope of a dry-eye diagnosis.
Do not assume a new, severe, or changing headache is “just your eyes.” Seek appropriate medical evaluation when headache symptoms are intense, recurrent, unusual for you, or accompanied by neurologic symptoms, sudden vision loss, severe eye pain, or other concerning changes.
When an Eye Exam Makes Sense
If headaches seem to occur with burning, gritty eyes, fluctuating vision, contact-lens discomfort, or long periods of near work, a comprehensive eye exam can help determine whether an eye or vision issue is part of the picture.
If dry-eye symptoms are affecting your comfort or vision, book an appointment with Park Slope Eye.
Originally published . Substantially updated .