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Strong headaches from computer use, reading, etc..
Hello all,
So I last had an eye exam in December when I was having headaches due to extended computer use and reading, mostly because I had just begun grad school. The optometrist told me I had strong eyes and good vision (I'd had 20/20 for most of my life, I am 24 now), and only had an extremely mild prescription, so he wouldn't recommend glasses at the time. I was informed that sometimes the eyes need time to adjust to a greater strain and it should subside in time.
More recently however, I have begun having extremely strong headaches after even a few hours of consecutive computer use. They mostly begin in my temples, and once they get ramped up, it's extremely difficult to get rid of them. A few times they have gotten bad enough that I was forced to lie down and close my eyes for a while before they would go away as my eyes were feeling sensitive to light and I was experiencing strong pounding in my temples. The sensation can most closely be described as it feeling like sometimes is tightening all the muscles in my temples so they ache extremely bad.The strangest thing about this new development is that they do not seem to fully go away even overnight (which they used to always) and I've had on and off headaches for the last few weeks, that seem to come on much more easily than they used to.
I should mention that I never have issues focusing my eyes, and my vision doesn't seem to get blurry even when the headaches are really bad. Only sometimes a screen of pure white (like text or whatnot) will seem really difficult to focus on. I try to take breaks at least once an hour to get water, use the restroom, etc. Any help or advice would be extremely appreciated, as the headaches are starting to interfere with school and my ability to relax when I do have free time.
Thanks in advance,
Kevin M
So I last had an eye exam in December when I was having headaches due to extended computer use and reading, mostly because I had just begun grad school. The optometrist told me I had strong eyes and good vision (I'd had 20/20 for most of my life, I am 24 now), and only had an extremely mild prescription, so he wouldn't recommend glasses at the time. I was informed that sometimes the eyes need time to adjust to a greater strain and it should subside in time.
More recently however, I have begun having extremely strong headaches after even a few hours of consecutive computer use. They mostly begin in my temples, and once they get ramped up, it's extremely difficult to get rid of them. A few times they have gotten bad enough that I was forced to lie down and close my eyes for a while before they would go away as my eyes were feeling sensitive to light and I was experiencing strong pounding in my temples. The sensation can most closely be described as it feeling like sometimes is tightening all the muscles in my temples so they ache extremely bad.The strangest thing about this new development is that they do not seem to fully go away even overnight (which they used to always) and I've had on and off headaches for the last few weeks, that seem to come on much more easily than they used to.
I should mention that I never have issues focusing my eyes, and my vision doesn't seem to get blurry even when the headaches are really bad. Only sometimes a screen of pure white (like text or whatnot) will seem really difficult to focus on. I try to take breaks at least once an hour to get water, use the restroom, etc. Any help or advice would be extremely appreciated, as the headaches are starting to interfere with school and my ability to relax when I do have free time.
Thanks in advance,
Kevin M
I am a 47 year old female with migraine. I have severe problems with all kind of fluorescent lighting, ie the light present in most TV screens/all computer monitors, compact energy saving light fittings. Many people with sensitive central nervous systems (ADHD/Autism/Aspergers etc) and people with migraines, epilesy or narcolepsy are very sensitive to this kind of light that emits constant flickering that strains the brain. Many people experience migraines, brain fog, dizziness, nausea and fatigue from being exposed to it. Pay attention to how you react under this kind of light (symptoms may take time before appearing and may only show up when you are under stress or pressure. I have changed my home lighting to LED, halogene or oldfashioned light bulbs. Since I could no longer work using a normal monitor I changed to a projector which has helped me a lot, but may not be necessary for you...
All the best...
All the best...
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with a doctor.
Without the ability to examine and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of the symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.
There are many causes of headaches. They are typically grouped as being primary headaches (such as a migraine) or secondary headache (i.e., headaches with an underlying cause).
Migraines are described as being unilateral, throbbing, worsen with movement, and will typically affect daily activities. There may be nausea and/or vomiting and light and/or sound sensitivity. Often times there is a family history of migraines.
Other causes of headaches can also affect the temporal region. For example, a concerning cause of unilateral headache, usually with neck pain, is a dissection: a small tear in the blood vessels that travel up the neck to the brain. The pain is often but not always associated with some sort of neurologic deficit as a dissection can often lead to a stroke. A dissection is diagnosed with a specific type of MRI test (MRA with fat saturation) or a CT angiogram.
Other causes of unilateral headache, particularly if you are older than 55 years of age, is a condition called giant cell arteritis or temporal arteritis. This condition is due to an inflammation in the temporal artery and other arteries in the body. Symptoms include one sided headache pain in the temple and jaw that may be triggered by chewing, touching of hair, combing of hair, etc. This condition can be diagnosed by a blood test called an ESR and a biopsy of the artery. It is very important to rule this diagnosis out as it is highly treatable and if left untreated it can lead to vision loss. It is exceedingly rare in people younger than 55, and is more common in even older age groups.
Another potential cause of temple pain is inflammation or arthritis of the temporo-mandiublar joint, commonly called the TMJ. This can sometimes occur due to bruxism, biting down at night or during the day, and other stresses to the joint. This is best diagnosed/managed by an orthodontist or an ENT, and treatment includes braces and other dental fixtures and sometimes muscle relaxants, depending on the exact cause.
I should also mention that there are some other forms of headaches that are unilateral that may be associated with autonomic findings such as tearing of eye, redness of eye, running nose, or facial flushing. These types of headaches usually respond to a medicine called indomethacin.
I suggest you follow up with your primary care physician to obtain a better history in order to accurately diagnose your headache. Management often is dictated by the type of headace.
I suggest that if your neck pain/ headache persists and/or becomes more severe, and/or if you develop neurologic signs like weakness on one side of the body, slurring of speech, double vision, difficulty speaking, and so on that you be seen immediately by a doctor. You should keep your appointment with the neurologist. He/she will decide if you have a primary headache disorder (such as migraine or a migraine variant) or a secondary headache (such as the conditions discussed above, but also including tumors, vascular disease, or medication induced). An MRI would be helpful in some cases, but it will depend on the examination findings the neurologist uncovers when you visit him/her.
Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.
Without the ability to examine and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of the symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.
There are many causes of headaches. They are typically grouped as being primary headaches (such as a migraine) or secondary headache (i.e., headaches with an underlying cause).
Migraines are described as being unilateral, throbbing, worsen with movement, and will typically affect daily activities. There may be nausea and/or vomiting and light and/or sound sensitivity. Often times there is a family history of migraines.
Other causes of headaches can also affect the temporal region. For example, a concerning cause of unilateral headache, usually with neck pain, is a dissection: a small tear in the blood vessels that travel up the neck to the brain. The pain is often but not always associated with some sort of neurologic deficit as a dissection can often lead to a stroke. A dissection is diagnosed with a specific type of MRI test (MRA with fat saturation) or a CT angiogram.
Other causes of unilateral headache, particularly if you are older than 55 years of age, is a condition called giant cell arteritis or temporal arteritis. This condition is due to an inflammation in the temporal artery and other arteries in the body. Symptoms include one sided headache pain in the temple and jaw that may be triggered by chewing, touching of hair, combing of hair, etc. This condition can be diagnosed by a blood test called an ESR and a biopsy of the artery. It is very important to rule this diagnosis out as it is highly treatable and if left untreated it can lead to vision loss. It is exceedingly rare in people younger than 55, and is more common in even older age groups.
Another potential cause of temple pain is inflammation or arthritis of the temporo-mandiublar joint, commonly called the TMJ. This can sometimes occur due to bruxism, biting down at night or during the day, and other stresses to the joint. This is best diagnosed/managed by an orthodontist or an ENT, and treatment includes braces and other dental fixtures and sometimes muscle relaxants, depending on the exact cause.
I should also mention that there are some other forms of headaches that are unilateral that may be associated with autonomic findings such as tearing of eye, redness of eye, running nose, or facial flushing. These types of headaches usually respond to a medicine called indomethacin.
I suggest you follow up with your primary care physician to obtain a better history in order to accurately diagnose your headache. Management often is dictated by the type of headace.
I suggest that if your neck pain/ headache persists and/or becomes more severe, and/or if you develop neurologic signs like weakness on one side of the body, slurring of speech, double vision, difficulty speaking, and so on that you be seen immediately by a doctor. You should keep your appointment with the neurologist. He/she will decide if you have a primary headache disorder (such as migraine or a migraine variant) or a secondary headache (such as the conditions discussed above, but also including tumors, vascular disease, or medication induced). An MRI would be helpful in some cases, but it will depend on the examination findings the neurologist uncovers when you visit him/her.
Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.
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