A nagging headache that won’t go away can be frustrating. You might blame it on stress or a long day, but your eyesight may be the secret culprit.
While a cataract itself doesn’t directly cause pain, the strain it puts on your eyes can lead to frequent headaches, a common concern in eye disease management. The headaches are often a side effect of your brain and eyes working much harder to see the world through a cloudy lens.
What’s a Cataract Anyway?
Think of the lens inside your eye like a camera lens. Its main job is to focus light so you can see things clearly. This lens is composed primarily of water and protein, arranged in a precise manner to maintain clarity. As you get older, some of this protein can start to clump together, creating a small cloudy area—a cataract. Over time, this cloudy area can grow larger, making it harder to see. For many, this is a natural part of aging.
Imagine trying to look through a frosty or fogged-up window. That’s a bit like what vision can be like with a cataract. As the lens becomes less transparent, everyday tasks can feel more difficult.
The Telltale Signs of Cataracts
Because cataracts usually develop slowly over time, you may not notice the changes to your vision right away. Signs can be subtle at first, which is why a comprehensive eye exam is so important for early detection.
You might be developing cataracts if you notice any of the following:
- Your vision is blurry, cloudy, or dim
- Colours look faded or have a yellowish tint
- You have more trouble seeing at night
- Lamps, sunlight, or car headlights seem too bright
- You see halos around lights
- You experience double vision in one eye
- Your prescription for glasses or contacts changes often
The Link Between Cataracts & Headaches
So, how does a cloudy lens in your eye lead to a headache? It’s an indirect connection, similar to how dry eyes can cause headaches. The cataract itself isn’t painful. Instead, the headaches are your body’s response to the vision problems the cataract creates. Your eyes and your brain are working overtime to compensate.
Your Eyes Work Overtime
When your vision is blurry, the tiny muscles in your eyes constantly strain to bring things into focus. This ongoing effort can lead to eye fatigue and tension headaches. You’ll often feel this type of headache as a dull ache around your forehead and temples.
You Squint More Than You Realize
Squinting is a natural reaction when you can’t see something well. You might find yourself doing it without even thinking about it while reading or trying to see something in the distance. This constant muscle tension in your face and around your eyes is a common trigger for headaches.
Bright Lights Bother You
Cataracts can scatter light as it enters the eye rather than focusing it cleanly. This scattering effect makes you more sensitive to glare from sunlight or bright indoor lighting. This new sensitivity can cause you to squint, leading to eye strain—and potentially a headache.
How to Know if Vision Is the Cause of Your Headaches
If you experience frequent headaches, it can be hard to pinpoint the exact cause. A headache related to your vision often feels like a dull, throbbing ache at the front of your head or behind your eyes.
Unlike a sinus headache that comes with pressure around your nose and cheeks, a vision-related headache is tied to visual tasks. You might notice the pain gets worse after you’ve been concentrating on something for a while—like reading a book, using the computer, or driving. The pain often subsides after you rest your eyes. These are common triggers often discussed during adult and senior eye exams.
If your vision starts to get in the way of activities you enjoy, or if you’re dealing with unexplained headaches, it might be time to find out why. Our optometrists in Mississauga can perform a comprehensive eye exam to provide a full picture of your eye health. We can also determine whether cataracts are causing your symptoms and discuss options to help you see more clearly and comfortably, which can also ease associated eye strain.
At Queensway Optometric Centre, the team is ready to help you find answers about your vision and eye health. Don’t let persistent headaches or cloudy vision hold you back. Schedule an eye exam to get the clarity you need.
