You are about to leave Excedrin.com.

Clicking on this link means that you have chosen to leave our website. While we believe that the website which you have selected to visit may be of interest to you, it is an independent web site which is not under our control. As a result, we do not endorse its content and we have no responsibility for its content or privacy practices.

If you do not wish to leave this site, click Cancel.

Or, click OK to continue.

Do You Have a New Glasses Headache? Find Out Why

Better sight shouldn’t leave you in pain.

Eyestrain is often associated with headaches and can even be a migraine trigger. And a common symptom of eyestrain is a headache. So those supercool new specs you’ve been eyeing (pun intended) should ease the pain, right?

It’s All About Your Eye Muscles

“Any time you wear glasses or contacts, your prescription changes the demand put on your eye muscles,” says optometrist Eric T. Brooker, O.D., of the Advanced Vision Institute in Las Vegas. The muscles in your eyes are continually adjusting to focus. If they have trouble adjusting to the different demand caused by your new prescription, those muscles can become overworked, creating pain around the eyes and across the forehead and temples.

Couple smiles while cooking in a kitchen

Save on Excedrin

Get printable coupons and special offers to save on Excedrin.

Get coupons

Check Your Prescription

It’s also possible that your prescription just isn’t correct. “It’s remarkable how many people are walking around with outdated prescriptions,” says Pamela Gallin, M.D., F.A.C.S. Professor of Ophthalmology at New York Presbyterian-Columbia University Medical Center.

One thing to keep in mind: If you use your glasses other than as prescribed, your eyes will have to pull overtime duty to compensate for blurred images created by the glasses. According to Gallin, one common misuse is wearing reading glasses when on the computer. Reading materials and computer monitors sit at different distances from your eyes, and reading glasses are only meant for in-your-face reading of books, tablets, or menus.

Tips for Prevention

You can talk to your doctor about other ways to prevent eyestrain headaches. Wearing glasses with high-grade anti-reflective lens coatings when you’re on the computer can help minimize strain on your eye muscles. You could also get bifocal lenses or a weaker pair of reading glasses for the computer. When performing close-up tasks such as reading or computer work, try looking up from the material every 15 minutes to focus on an object in the distance, Brooker says. Then, every 60 minutes, stand up and focus on objects in the distance. “By changing your focal point regularly, you prevent your eye muscles from going into spasm,” Gallin explains.

And if you find yourself experiencing headaches after receiving a new prescription, visit your eye care provider.

More from Excedrin

tips to de-stress at work in less than 3 minutes

3 Ways to Relax at the Office – in Less Than 3 Minutes

Can Weather Changes Cause a Migraine?

Woman getting a massage to relieve headache pain

Could Positive Touch Help With Headache Pain?

PM-US-XCDRN-22-00121, PM-US-XCDRN-22-00170, PM-US-XCDRN-24-00070

Haleon Huddle unlocks exclusive savings on brands including Excedrin, Advil, Sensodyne and more.

*indicates required field.

I consent to the Haleon group of companies and brands (“Haleon”) collecting my Consumer Health Data. Continue reading...I understand that my Consumer Health Data may be used by Haleon as described in our Washington Consumer Health Data Notice, where I can find the categories of data collected, the purposes of collection, and with whom we may share your information. I understand that if I choose not to consent to Haleon’s collection of my Consumer Health Data, I may not be able to receive certain marketing or informational materials or other forms of communication directly from Haleon or participate in surveys and focus groups. I further understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time as described in the Haleon Washington Consumer Health Data Notice or the Haleon Privacy Notice.

I consent to the Haleon group of companies and brands (“Haleon”) sharing my Consumer Health Data with third parties Continue reading... as described in the Washington Consumer Health Data Notice. I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time as described in the Haleon Washington Consumer Health Data Notice or the Haleon Privacy Notice.

By signing up for Haleon newsletters, you are certifying you are 18 years of age and older.