Children's Vision and Headaches

By Dave Parmee

 

Children frequently complain of headaches. Usually the first consideration in the diagnosis of its source is at the optometrist. Over 80% of our sensory input is fulfilled though our vision, naturally there is a prevailing effort to maximize visual efficiency. This effort can exceed the comfort boundary in cases where there are uncorrected visual defects. Children have no references to make themselves aware that their visual input does not meet the necessary criteria. An eye examination will include testing for an imbalance in the coordination between the eye movements, and differences in the visual performance of each eye. Nowadays we are well aware of the fact that inefficient vision contributes to learning difficulties, low achievement levels at work, failure in sports and other recreational activities. Symptoms other than personal frustration include red and uncomfortable eyes, tension headaches, and unusual head posture when concentrating.

Tension headaches are common in children. It may be difficult to distinguish tension headache from migraine headache.

Characteristics of tension headaches - they occur during times of obvious stress and the pain is continuous without nausea. They can be classed as periodic. Tension headaches are caused by muscle tension in the neck, shoulders, and head. Muscle tension is caused by remaining in one position for a long period of time.

Other types of headache include the sinus headache - a throbbing headache that is worse in the morning or that occurs at the same time each day and may vary with changes in head position. Also fever may be present.
Children with a migraine headache often complain of neck pain. Migraine headaches begin as pain in a localized area, such as around one eye or temple. The pain gradually spreads down one side, or to both sides. As the migraine develops, any movement or sound can cause more severe, throbbing pain. Migraines occur when the arteries in the brain narrow, then widen.

Headaches caused by brain tumor or brain infection can range from mild to severe, and often occur intermittently without any obvious reason. in the presence of a brain tumor the child may begin to experience weakness on one side of the body with uncharacteristic visual problems. Eventually symptoms of brain damage arise such as convulsions and speech problems. The headaches may become progressively more severe. These headaches are usually worse in the morning and get better as the day goes on.

Headaches that follow a blow to the head, especially when accompanied by loss of consciousness, disorientation, or vomiting, can indicate concussion or other serious brain injury. Finally headaches will accompany fever, also in the
presence of raised body temperature.

Once a quick check list of symptoms has been followed through, the most common source tends to be the tension headache, which will lead us back to confirming or eliminating the cause as one of visual defects at your Optometrist.

Dave Parmee is an Optometrist and health and fitness advisor living on the south eastern coast of South Africa. With other medical professionals he has created a comprehensive web-site that makes for easy access and clear concise descriptions of a wide range of common ailments, their cause, symptoms and treatment. This site, Medical directory, can be found at - [http://www.medicalexplain.com/]

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