I am wearing 170° lenses instead of 180°. Is this why I have headaches while studying for long?

Question

Hi doctor,

When I study for a long time, my eyes and head start to have pain and I showed it to the doctor but they found nothing. But when I showed my glasses of -0.50 to a specs shop he told me that I am wearing 170 to 175 degree lenses instead of 180 degrees. Does this difference in degrees affects my eyes?

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Headache can occur due to numerous causes including stress, migraine, refractive errors, sinusitis, glaucoma, and high blood pressure. You have a condition called astigmatism. In this condition, the cornea is not completely spherical but they are oval-shaped like an egg. If your axis is 180 degrees, and if you are wearing 170-degree lenses, then it can cause headaches in some people irrespective of whether it is minus or plus. Sometimes even if the frame is bent or if the lens falls out of the frame and if you replace it yourself, it can cause a change in the axis. I suggest you check your power and wear a new pair of spectacles. After studying, take frequent breaks using the 20/20/20 rule. During every 20 minutes focus on the object 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This gives rest to the eye muscles responsible for the accommodation. You can use lubricating eye drops like Lubrex (Carboxymethylcellulose) four times a day and it keeps your eyes moist and comfortable.