Archive for category: Eye Care

Headaches can have a number of causes you wouldn’t expect, like an uncorrected vision problem.

If you live with frequent headaches, it would be well worth your time to schedule an eye exam, if only to rule out a vision problem as the cause. Not all headaches are tied to vision and not all vision problems cause headaches, but there is a significant amount of overlap between the two.

Headaches and Digital Eye Strain

We enjoy many benefits from modern technology, but it can also cause us problems. One of those can happen after hours of staring at bright screens every day (whether for fun or work), and that’s digital eye strain. Symptoms of digital eye strain include blurred vision, tired and aching eyes, difficulty focusing, and even frequent headaches.

Screens aren’t the only way to get eye strain. An untreated vision problem like farsightedness (hyperopia), astigmatism, or age-related farsightedness (presbyopia) can put a lot of stress on the eye, forcing it to try to compensate for the problem. In the case of astigmatism, the cornea is abnormally shaped, bending light in ways it shouldn’t and forcing a lot of squinting. The excessive squinting alone can contribute to headaches.

With hyperopia and presbyopia, the eye’s lens makes nearby objects look blurred by focusing images slightly behind the retina instead of directly against it. Trying to read small print with either of these eye problems can become a literal headache, and the older we get, the less flexible the lenses of our eyes become, making it an increasing issue even for people who never needed glasses before.

Even Kids Can Get Headaches From Eye Problems

A child with an undiagnosed vision problem is just as vulnerable to frequent headaches as an adult. That’s just one reason why every child should receive a comprehensive eye exam from an actual eye doctor before starting school (as opposed to a vision screening from the school nurse). Kids are even less likely to make the connection between their headaches and an eye problem than adults, and it could drastically impact their education and development.

The Right Prescription Makes a Difference

Changes in vision tend to happen so gradually that we don’t notice for months or even years that our old glasses aren’t doing the trick anymore. Most of the time, vision-related headaches could be due to something as simple as an outdated contact lens or glasses prescription.

Sight-Threatening Conditions and Headaches

A link between eyes and headaches might not always be as simple as an outdated prescription. Headaches are also a symptom of glaucoma, an eye disease in which pressure building up against the optic nerve causes permanent vision loss. Cataracts can also cause headaches. The best way to stop sight-threatening conditions in their tracks is by catching them early through regular eye exams.

If you’re experience headaches often, that’s a sign to schedule a Comprehensive Eye Exam.

For inquiries, questions, and appointments, call our Patient Care Lines: 

📱 (+63) 917 862 7454

📱 (+63) 921 217 0517

📞 (+632) 7-368 5238

🖥 Talk to our Consultants via Livechat: https://shinagawa.ph/

📱 Instagram: https://instagram.com/shinagawa_ph/

Men and women don’t always see eye to eye.

There are many differences between men and women — even when it comes to vision and eye health.

Men, for example, are more likely to experience sight-threatening eye injuries than women, whereas women tend to be more vulnerable to certain eye diseases. So what can men and women do to address their different eye health concerns?

How Eye Diseases Affect Women

Glaucoma (a group of conditions that cause permanent vision loss through damage to the optic nerve) and age-related macular degeneration (the slow deterioration of central vision) are much bigger problems for women than men. Why are women more vulnerable? Because they have longer life expectancies. The longer we live, the more likely we are to develop vision problems. The best weapon against sight-threatening conditions is early detection.

Other eye problems women are more vulnerable to are chronic dry eye and basic refractive errors (the ones we correct with glasses or contact lenses).

Risk Factors for Eye Disease

Age isn’t the only risk factor that can make women vulnerable to eye diseases. Others include the major changes in hormones that come with pregnancy, menopause, and birth control use. Hormone changes can also lead to dry eye.

One overlooked factor is neglect. Many women tend to prioritize their family’s health needs over their own. So our message to all the busy moms out there is this: don’t forget to schedule your own eye appointments when you’re scheduling them for your kids!

Men’s Eyes Can Fall Victim to Hormones Too

Men don’t go through as many dramatic changes in hormone levels as women, but during puberty, boys can sometimes become temporarily nearsighted as their eyes grow along with the rest of them, and that effect doesn’t go away in every case. Luckily, this is a problem we can easily correct with glasses.

Men’s Risk of Eye Injuries

The reason men are more likely to experience eye injuries than women is that they more often work in dangerous jobs and play dangerous sports. Compounding this risk is that they are generally less willing than women to wear protective gear — while being more willing to try to “tough it out” after an injury. Medieval knights wore full suits of armor; it’s not unmanly to wear eye protection! Please see an eye doctor if you suspect a problem with your eyes.

What About Differences in Vision Between the Sexes?

Yes, men and women literally see the world differently. Women are better at distinguishing subtle differences in color (while men are sixteen times more likely to be colorblind than women). Men, on the other hand, are better at tracking motion. If you’ve ever argued over paint swatches with your significant other, you might be able to blame biology!

We Look Forward to Seeing You

We urge our female patients to make their personal eye health needs a priority and we encourage our male patients to overcome the temptation to tough an eye injury instead of seeking treatment. 

Early treatment is crucial, as is early detection of sight-threatening conditions. Whether you’re due for a prescription update or it’s simply time for your next regular exam, we’re excited to see you!

For inquiries, questions, and appointments, call our Patient Care Lines: 

📱 (+63) 917 862 7454

📱 (+63) 921 217 0517

📞 (+632) 7-368 5238

🖥 Talk to our Consultants via Livechat: https://shinagawa.ph/

📱 Instagram: https://instagram.com/shinagawa_ph/