Dry eyes don’t cause headaches or migraines, but there may be a connection between the conditions.
Research suggestsmigraine attacksmay be longer and more severe in people with dry eye syndrome than those without it.
There are also similarities in the underlying mechanisms that cause dry eyes and migraines or headaches to occur.
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For example, sometimes dry eye syndrome develops due to an underlying medical condition, likeSjogren’s disease.
They looked at the link between chronic pain conditions and dry eyes.
The study found dry eyes were more common in those with a chronic pain condition.
The frequency of dry eyes also increased as the number of chronic pain conditions a participant had increased.
This suggests that having dry eyes may be an indication of a chronic pain condition, such as migraine.
Amongst the most notable findings:
What Is a Retinal Migraine?
Sensory issues and eye pain are common symptoms that migraine and dry eye share.
Having both conditions means that these symptoms may be compounded.
Both migraine and dry eye can negatively affect your quality of life.
It affects about 80% of people with migraines.
Most people with dry eye syndrome also report experiencing light sensitivity.
Somatosensory dysfunction is a faulty response to the way your brain perceives neural impulses.
It may be present in migraine and dry eye syndrome as well.
Dry eye syndrome can cause eye pain with a gritty, irritated, orburning sensation.
Many people with dry eye have excessive eye tearing, a symptom people with migraines may experience too.
Symptoms of dry eye syndrome tend to come and go within different environments.
For example, they can be worse in windy conditions or cold weather.
This is why you need a proper eye examination if you have dry eye symptoms.
Dry Eye Treatment
The first-line treatment for dry eyes isartificial tears.
These are available over-the-counter in liquid, gel, or ointment forms.
Preservative-free artificial tears may be ideal but can be costly.
Your healthcare provider may give you one of these if artificial tears don’t help.
It’s possible that treating dry eye syndrome may improve your migraine headaches.
However, more research is needed to be able to confirm this.
A Word From Verywell
Remember, a link doesn’t mean that one condition causes the other.
That said, talk to your healthcare provider if you suffer from dry eyes with migraines or headaches.
It’s possible that treating your dry eyes could help improve your migraine headaches.
Treating dry eyes has the potential to be another tool in your kit.
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