A migraine can cause intense pain, nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound. It causes your head to throb and pulsates on one side of the head. Migraines can be due to several issues. These include stress, hormonal changes, exercise, and eye problems. If you suspect that your migraines result from eye problems, you need to seek help from an optometrist.

Who Is an Optometrist?

Optometrists provide primary vision care. They will examine your eyes and prescribe lenses to help you deal with your eye problems. They also diagnose abnormalities in the eye and can treat certain eye diseases.

How Can an Optometrist Help?

They will first perform a comprehensive eye exam to establish if you are having a migraine. They will also check if your eyes may be causing your migraine. When they present with auras, flashes, and floaters in the eyes, it signifies a retinal issue. 

As the migraines continue, they can increase in frequency and cause temporary vision loss or blindness in one eye. An optometrist can diagnose the cause of the migraine and start you on treatment before vision loss.

Here are some ways an optometrist can help your migraine:

Diagnosis

When you experience a headache, you may not know the cause. You may describe it as an intense headache and describe other symptoms. An optometrist can find the underlying cause and find out the type of headache. The diagnosis will help you deal effectively with the headache.

Treatment

If the migraine results from eye problems, the optometrist will further establish the eye problems. They will start you on treatment to prevent you from losing your eyesight. If the condition needs surgery, they will refer you to an ophthalmologist. But if they can handle it, they will take your medical history, prescribe medication, and propose lifestyle changes.

Guide to Appropriate Care

If the migraine is not a result of eye problems, they will refer you to the appropriate care. The referral doctor can investigate the other causes like hormonal changes, stress, or exercise. 
 

If the migraine is a symptom of an eye problem that requires surgery, they will refer you to an ophthalmologist. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who deals with eye problems. They have the license and skill to perform surgeries.

Follow Up

If you remain under the optometrist, they will follow up on your condition. They will ensure you get treatment and keep up with the lifestyle changes. If you need prescription lenses, they will ensure you have the correct prescription lenses for your eye condition. They will also ensure that you keep up with exams and always have the right prescription.

Conclusion

Migraines are not always a condition by themselves. Many times, they indicate other underlying conditions. It is crucial to get to the underlying cause to deal effectively with migraines. Optometrists help you do this.

For more information on optometrists and how they help with migraines, visit Look! Optometry at our office in Manhattan Beach, California. You can call (310) 796-5665 today to schedule an appointment.