What should you know about eye strain headache?

Focusing on small text, glare, poor contrast, dry eyes, or an uncorrected prescription can make the muscles around the eyes work harder. The resulting discomfort is often a pressure or ache around the brow, temples, or behind the eyes and may improve after rest. Headache with sneezing or nasal blockage can occur with Allergic Rhinitis, while facial pressure may accompany Chronic Sinusitis or a Common Cold. Fever and body aches can occur with COVID-19 or Dengue Fever. Dehydration, Heat Exhaustion, missed meals, poor sleep, and stress can also contribute. Eye strain is one possible explanation, not a diagnosis from the symptom alone.

Take regular pauses from close work, look farther away, blink fully, and adjust text size so you are not squinting. Position the screen to reduce reflections and keep lighting comfortable. Use prescribed glasses as directed and arrange an eye test if blur, double vision, or focusing trouble persists. Rest, drink fluids, eat regularly, and avoid working through worsening pain. Keep a brief record of screen time, sleep, congestion, fever, heat exposure, and the location and character of the headache.

Seek emergency help for a sudden explosive headache, weakness, confusion, fainting, seizure, stiff neck with fever, severe vomiting, or sudden loss of vision. Prompt assessment is needed for a painful red eye, severe eye pain, headache after injury, or a new headache that is rapidly worsening. Arrange a medical or eye review when headaches recur, last despite rest, occur on waking, or interfere with ordinary activities.

Ask whether you need an eye examination, a prescription change, or assessment for migraine, sinus symptoms, infection, or another headache cause. Explain the timing, screen or reading triggers, one-sided or two-sided location, nausea, light sensitivity, nasal symptoms, fever, medicines, sleep, and hydration.