Can Dry Eyes Cause Headaches?

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EyeQue Team

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April 12, 2021

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Dry Eyes and Headaches

Dry eye disease (DED) is a condition that occurs when your eyes aren’t able to produce enough tears to stay lubricated. DED is very common in the U.S. – according to the AAO, an estimated 3.2 million women age 50+ and 1.68 million men age 50+ are affected by dry eye syndrome.

Chronic dry eye can lead to many different symptoms, including headaches.

Do Dry Eyes Lead to Headaches?

Woman with headacheA 2015 study suggests that dry eyes may be related to migraines and may even lead to different migraine symptoms such as sensory sensitivity and nausea. There may also be a correlation between dry eye syndrome and the frequency of migraines.

A 2017 study that focused on the link between migraines and dry eye revealed a correlation between tear osmolarity (the salt content of tears) and the frequency of migraines – as the frequency of migraines increased, tear osmolarity increased as well.

Even if you do not suffer from migraines, chronic dry eye can lead to mild headaches. DED can cause eye strain and make eyes feel gritty, which leads to a general achy feeling in the head and face.

Help for Dry Eye

There are plenty of over-the-counter artificial tears that can be used to help manage dry eyes. You can also try some other easy remedies to relieve dry eye. However, if your symptoms are severe, you should consult your eye doctor to discuss additional treatment methods.

In addition to artificial tears, your eye doctor may recommend lid hygiene, a decrease in screen time, and adding fatty fish to your diet. Taking a fish oil supplement may also help with dry eye symptoms. If you require frequent artificial tear use, a preservative-free brand may be recommended.

If issues persist, there are prescription medications that help alleviate the symptoms of dry eye as well.

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