headache from glasses

[snowgirl956]

Whenever I wear most eyeglasses I get a severe headache.  It seems to be caused by the nerves around my ears.  I can't wear headbands, etc., because that area is sensitive.  However, I did get one pair of glasses that does not give me a headache but they are only for distance vision.  I bought a new pair of progressive lenses, but they give me a terrible headache.  I have had them adjusted several times and it hasn't gotten any better.  Can the length of the earpieces make a difference?  The glasses that don't hurt have shorter earpieces.  I am desperate!  I can't find anything that works to help me see.  Does anyone have a solution?  Soft contact lenses aren't working either.



This discussion is related to headache with certain new eyeglasses.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

That plan sounds like
it will be very time consuming and expensive with very low success rate. Also astigmatism should not cause headaches that last to the next day and require imitrex.  

I suggest you see a neuro-ophthalmologist as you may have an eye muscle disorder like convergence insufficiency. You can find one near you at www.geteyesmart.org

JCH MD

[tim120]

I too am experiencing headaches from wearing glasses.  I need to use the computer many hours a day.  I have astigmatism.  The glasses do what they're supposed to bu they give me a headache.  I sometimes switch to lesser strength readers to give my eyes a rest...but really doesn't stop the headaches.  The headaches are bad and sometimes carry over into the following day..can only be relieved by imitrex.  The optometrists I've seen have been no help.  I'm wondering if I could get the minimal prescripttion to correct the astigmatism in a contact lenses, then use readers on top, as needed?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

It is highly unlikely that you cannot be fitted by an optician with comfortable glasses (using different styles) your other options are: contacts, no glasses, refractive surgery like lasik

JCH MD