The Hidden Link Between Headaches and Eye Coordination
Wondering why you keep getting headaches? A problem with eye coordination could be the reason. Vision therapy offers an effective way to improve eye coordination and prevent headaches.
Why Is Eye Coordination Important?
Eye coordination is the ability of your eyes to work together as a team. If your eye movements aren't coordinated, your brain won't receive matching information from your eyes. The mismatch makes it harder for the brain to combine signals from the eyes into one clear image.
When eye movements aren't coordinated, your visual system becomes stressed, which increases your risk for headaches. Poor eye teaming strains the muscles that align the eyes and help you focus. Eventually, the strain may lead to headaches.
Is it easier to see if you tilt your head? Although the habit can help you avoid double or blurry vision, constantly tilting your head could strain muscles in your neck and shoulders and cause tension headaches.
You or your child may have an eye coordination problem even if you have 20/20 vision or wear glasses or contact lenses. Although standard eye exams help your optometrist determine if you need eyeglasses or contact lenses, these exams may not include tests that identify subtle vision issues. Vision therapists use a variety of tests and screenings to determine if you have an underlying visual condition that could be causing your headaches. Therapists are optometrists who have special training in vision therapy.
What Causes Eye Coordination Problems?
Eye coordination problems can be caused by:
- Convergence Insufficiency. The eyes struggle to turn inward enough to provide good near vision.
- Intermittent Eye Turn. Although the eyes usually look straight, one may drift occasionally.
- Strabismus (Crossed Eyes). The eyes are misaligned, although misalignments can be subtle.
- Nystagmus. The eyes make involuntary movements.
- Tracking Problems. The eyes struggle to follow moving objects or words in books or on screens.
- Nerve-Related Disorders. The nerves that control eye muscles are weak or damaged.
- Accommodative Dysfunction. Focusing problems and issues shifting vision from near to far distances may occur if you have accommodative dysfunction.
- Brain Injuries. Eye coordination problems can happen after a stroke, concussion or other brain injury.
What Are the Symptoms of an Eye Coordination Problem?
In addition to headaches, symptoms may include:
- Eye Strain
- Fatigue
- Blurry Vision
- Double Vision
- Eye Pain
- Losing Your Place When Reading
- Noticing That Words Seem to Move When You Read
- Poor Reading Comprehension
- Poor Handwriting
- Clumsiness
- Trouble Accurately Judging Distances
- Problems Catching Balls
- Tilting Your Head or Covering One Eye When Reading
- Trouble Focusing
- Tight Muscles in the Neck, Shoulders and Upper Back
- Behavioral Problems in Children
- Sensitivity to Light and Glare
How Can Vision Therapy Improve Eye Coordination?
Vision therapy addresses the cause of eye coordination problems with activities and exercises that improve communication and coordination between the eyes and brain. Therapy can improve eye teaming and alignment, strengthen eye muscles, help the eyes move smoothly, enhance focusing abilities, and reduce visual strain and fatigue.
Vision therapy offers an effective way to treat many visual conditions that affect eye coordination. A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis published in the Open Ophthalmology Journal in 2023 explored the effects of vision therapy on convergence insufficiency. After reviewing peer reviewed studies published between 2000 to 2023, researchers concluded that office-based vision therapy combined with home reinforcement activities was the best way to treat convergence insufficiency.
Therapy may involve computer and virtual reality games and hands-on activities designed to improve crucial visual skills needed for eye coordination. Your vision therapy treatment plan might also include prism lenses that improve eye alignment or handheld flipper lenses that enhance focusing skills.
After vision therapy, you may notice that your eyes feel more comfortable when you read or use screens. Blurry or double vision may decrease or stop entirely. And, of course, you'll finally find a solution for your headaches.
Interested in learning if vision therapy is right for you. Contact our office to schedule an appointment with the vision therapist.
Sources:
The Open Ophthalmology Journal: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Convergence Insufficiency Prevalence and Management Options, 8/3/2023
https://openophthalmologyjournal.com/VOLUME/17/ELOCATOR/e187436412306231/FULLTEXT/
American Optometric Association: Eye Coordination
https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions/eye-coordination
New England College of Optometry: Binocular Vision Dysfunction: Symptoms, Causes & Management
https://www.neco.edu/binocular-vision-dysfunction-symptoms-causes-management/
American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus: Convergence Insufficiency
https://aapos.org/glossary/convergence-insufficiency
American Optometric Association: Accommodative Dysfunction
https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions/accommodative-dysfunction