5 Ways to Stop a Headache Behind the Eyes

Everyone gets headaches. It’s just a matter of how often and how severe they are. But when headaches become almost constant and regular activities become difficult, it’s time to get serious about finding solutions. If you have visual stress or display-related headaches, you’re not alone. Many people who work in front of screens for extended periods of time experience these issues. They can range from mild to very painful and have wide-ranging effects on your daily life. Fortunately, there are many ways to manage them so that they no longer control your life. Here are five ways to stop a headache behind the eyes:

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Make Working Conditions More Visually Comfortable

Is your workstation set up for visual comfort? If not, it’s time to remedy that. Here are some quick fixes to start with: - Distance: Ideally, your eyes should be looking slightly downward when focusing on a computer screen. Ideally, you should be sitting at a distance from the screen that allows you to maintain this position. Unfortunately, many people sit too close to their screens. If you sit at a desk, you can use a keyboard tray to pull your keyboard out so that you’re sitting at a more comfortable distance from the screen. - Lighting: We’re all aware that too much light is bad for visual comfort – but too little is also a problem. If you’re working indoors in normal room lighting, you may be squinting or have your eyes closed most of the time. If you’re working indoors, try increasing or adding light to provide more visual comfort. If you’re working outdoors, squinting or blinking excessively can be an indication of not having enough light. - Screen brightness: Many people habitually work with the screen brightness set too high. If this is you, try adjusting the brightness level to provide visual comfort. Ideally, you’ll be able to find a setting where you can see the screen without straining. If you are experiencing extreme pain or sensitivity to light, it’s possible that you are experiencing some type of migraine. If this is the case, you should consult a medical professional immediately.

Change Your Distance From the Screen

If your visual discomfort is accompanied by eye strain, it’s likely that you’re working at too close a visual distance. Working at a more comfortable visual distance can often eliminate the visual discomfort associated with eye strain. In general, you want to work at a distance where you can see the screen without straining to focus. If you are experiencing visual discomfort, try moving your chair or your body away from the screen to see if that helps. You can also adjust the brightness setting on your computer screen to increase contrast to make the screen easier to look at.

Try Eye Care Strategies

If working conditions are good but you’re still experiencing visual discomfort and visual stress, there are several eye care strategies you can try: - Lip reading: When your eyes are glued to the screen, it’s easy to lose track of time. But if you’re in a situation where you have to look away from the screen periodically, it’s easy to experience eye strain and discomfort. Try lip reading a colleague or a phone call for a few minutes at a time. This will let your eyes relax and rest, and will also prevent your eyes from getting tired. - Eye breaks: Every hour or two, take a short break from looking at the screen. This can be as simple as closing your eyes or focusing on an object in the distance for a few minutes. Make sure that you’re not looking up close when taking an eye break – this can create more eye strain.

Take a Break and Stretch

There’s a lot of evidence showing that taking regular breaks and stretching can help prevent visual discomfort and eye strain. Make sure to take a break every hour or two. Ideally, this break should include both visual and non-visual activities. For example, you might take a break to walk outside for 10 minutes or take a quick break to go to the bathroom and get some water. During your break, make sure to do some gentle stretching exercises. You can also take a break to engage in restorative activities that help you to relax. Try listening to music, meditating, or taking a short walk outside.

Treat with Medication

If your visual discomfort and eye strain are extreme, it’s possible that you’re experiencing a migraine. In this case, it’s best to consult a medical professional and consider treating the symptoms with medication. If your visual discomfort is extreme and is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, or a sudden increase in headache pain, it’s possible that you could be experiencing a retinal migraine. Retinal migraines can become an emergency situation, so it’s important to see a medical professional immediately. If you are experiencing visual discomfort, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your symptoms. If you notice any changes, it’s important to be aware of what they might mean and what you can do to manage them.