Headaches Specialist

What are headaches?

Headaches involve pain or discomfort in any part of your face or head. While headaches commonly occur in most people from time to time, severe or chronic headaches might be the sign of an underlying medical problem requiring immediate treatment. If this is the case for you, see the experts at Suburban Eye Associates for an evaluation as soon as possible.

What causes headaches?

Headaches have numerous causes, and often the underlying cause isn’t entirely clear. Eye problems associated with headaches include:

• Blurry vision
• Double vision
• Vision loss
• Glaucoma
• Idiopathic intracranial pressure
• Papilledema
• Eyestrain
  
  

Idiopathic intracranial pressure is pressure inside your skull that happens without a known cause. It can lead to severe head pain, often behind the eyes, and even cause blindness. You might also experience nausea, vomiting, or ringing in the ears.

Papilledema is a condition associated with optic nerve swelling. It can occur with a buildup of pressure near your brain and cause vision problems. Early detection and treatment of idiopathic intracranial pressure and papilledema can save your vision.

What are the risk factors for idiopathic intracranial pressure?

While anyone can develop idiopathic intracranial pressure, certain factors increase your risk of experiencing it. Examples include obesity, taking certain medications, sleep apnea, and having a chronic disease. Head trauma or a tumor can also result in idiopathic intracranial pressure.

How is the underlying cause of headaches diagnosed?

To diagnose the cause of headaches and screen for idiopathic intracranial pressure and papilledema, experienced eye specialists at Suburban Eye Associates, review your medical history and symptoms. They complete a comprehensive, dilated eye examination.

Your eye doctor screens for optic nerve swelling in the back of your eyes. You undergo vision field tests to check for blind spots. Imaging tests measure the thickness of the retina layers. Brain imaging procedures, such as MRIs and CT scans, detect or rule out blood clots and brain tumors. A spinal tap can also help diagnose idiopathic intracranial pressure.

How are headaches treated?

Your eye doctor can treat the underlying cause of headaches related to vision problems, eye strain, idiopathic intracranial pressure, or papilledema. 

They might recommend contacts, glasses, or laser treatment to correct vision problems — and weight loss, dietary changes, mediations, or surgical procedures. The Suburban Eye Associates specialists tailor each treatment to your personalized needs.

Don’t let the underlying cause of severe or chronic headaches go undetected and untreated. Schedule an eye exam with the experts at Suburban Eye Associates by phone today.