How are headaches and vision associated?

Kenneth Wright, MD Pediatric Ophthalmologist, shares advice for parents on why it can be important to have your child's vision checked if he or she is having headaches
How Are Headaches And Vision Linked?
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How are headaches and vision associated?

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Headaches can be caused by an eye problem such as farsightedness. In farsightedness, children have to over-focus. That constant over-focusing can lead to eye strain which is often interpreted as a headache. I looked at a series of patients in my practice who had headaches and looked at the incidence of eye problems. The good news is that the incidence is actually relatively low, but the vast majority of the headaches in these children were tension headaches, usually occurring after school, when they were tired. So the good news is that most of the headaches are not eye related but yes, headaches can indicate a possible eye problem.

Kenneth Wright, MD Pediatric Ophthalmologist, shares advice for parents on why it can be important to have your child's vision checked if he or she is having headaches

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Kenneth Wright, MD

Pediatric Ophthalmologist

A caring physician, Dr. Kenneth Wright is devoted to the health of children’s eyes. He is an internationally respected pediatric ophthalmologist, and is included in “The Best Doctors in America” and “Who’s Who in Medicine and Health Care.”  Dr. Wright is a Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the USC Keck School of Medicine.  He has developed novel surgical techniques for pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus.  Dr. Wright received his medical degree from Boston University and fellowships in pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus at Johns-Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, and Children’s Hospital, Washington, DC.  Following his fellowships, he then accepted a full-time faculty member position at USC School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles where he served for 10 years.  He was later appointed Director of Pediatric Ophthalmology at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, before returning home to Los Angeles to establish a pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus center of excellence.  

Dr. Wright has authored of over 100 published scientific papers, seven textbooks including his renowned textbook, Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus and has lectured worldwide.  He founded the non-profit Wright Foundation with a mission to reduce blindness and suffering in children with eye disorders through research, education, and clinical care. He has established a pediatric eye clinic for underprivileged children.  Important to the Wright Center is the principle that patient care always comes first.  

An interesting personal note is that Dr. Wright’s youngest son developed crossed eyes as an infant requiring surgery and Dr. Wright operated on his own son.  The outcome was excellent and years later his son served in the United States Marine Corps as a top marksman.

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Transcription: 
Headaches can be caused by an eye problem such as farsightedness. In farsightedness, children have to over-focus. That constant over-focusing can lead to eye strain which is often interpreted as a headache. I looked at a series of patients in my practice who had headaches and looked at the incidence of eye problems. The good news is that the incidence is actually relatively low, but the vast majority of the headaches in these children were tension headaches, usually occurring after school, when they were tired. So the good news is that most of the headaches are not eye related but yes, headaches can indicate a possible eye problem.