Eye Strain and Headaches? Your Glasses Might Be the Problem

Image of the author

By Ben Carter

Updated June 22, 2025
Blog Section Image
In-Depth Look

Eye Strain and Headaches? Your Glasses Might Be the Problem

That throbbing pain behind your eyes after a long day of work, the constant need to squint at your screen, and the persistent headaches that follow—these are all-too-common complaints in our digital age. While many of us blame long hours or lack of sleep, the real culprit might be sitting right on your nose. Your eyeglasses, intended to correct your vision, could be inadvertently causing the very discomfort you're trying to avoid.

How to Know if Your Glasses Are the Cause

It’s easy to dismiss recurring headaches as stress-related, but your body might be sending clear signals that your eyewear is off. Key indicators include headaches centered around the eyes and temples, dizziness or nausea, blurry vision that comes and goes, and unusually watery or dry eyes. If you find yourself frequently taking your glasses off to feel a sense of relief, it's a strong sign that your prescription or the glasses themselves are contributing to your eye strain.

The Problem with an Outdated or Incorrect Prescription

Our vision changes over time. Wearing glasses with an outdated prescription forces the muscles in your eyes to work overtime to compensate for the incorrect focus. This constant muscular effort is what leads directly to digital eye strain and tension headaches. Even a minor error in the pupillary distance (the space between your pupils) or lens alignment can create prismatic effects that strain your eyes, forcing them to adjust unnaturally and causing significant discomfort.

Finding the Right Glasses for Eye Strain and Headaches

The solution begins with a current eye exam to ensure your prescription is perfect. Beyond that, modern lens technology offers features specifically designed to combat digital eye strain. Anti-reflective coatings reduce glare from screens and artificial lighting, while blue light filtering lenses can help minimize exposure to the high-energy visible (HEV) light emitted from digital devices. Investing in high-quality glasses for eye strain and headaches is not a luxury; it's a crucial step for your daily comfort and long-term eye health. Choosing the best pair means considering your prescription, lifestyle, and the specific features that will provide the most relief. To make an informed decision, it's essential to understand which options deliver the best results. We've analyzed the top-performing eyewear to help you find the relief you need.

Frequently Asked Questions

Specialized computer glasses or lenses with a blue light filtering coating are highly effective for reducing eye strain and headaches caused by digital screens. These glasses work by blocking a portion of the high-energy visible (HEV) blue light emitted from devices like computers and smartphones. Additionally, lenses with an anti-reflective coating can minimize glare, another major contributor to eye fatigue. For non-digital use, ensuring your prescription is perfectly accurate is the most critical factor.

Featured Reviews

Carousel Logo image
Online Glasses

EyeBuyDirect Review: Affordable & Stylish Glasses Online?

Are EyeBuyDirect glasses worth it? Our expert review covers EyeBuyDirect's quality, pricing, virtual try-on, and customer service. Find out if it's the best online eyewear store for you.

Carousel Logo image
Online Glasses

Warby Parker Reviews: Are They the Best Choice for Your Next Pair of Glasses?

Warby Parker has revolutionized the eyewear industry by offering stylish, prescription glasses and sunglasses at affordable prices, primarily through an online model with a popular home try-on program. They aim to make purchasing eyewear simpler and more accessible.

Carousel Logo image
Best Glasses

The Best Choice for Your Next Pair of Glasses?

Read our expert Warby Parker reviews. Discover if their stylish, affordable glasses and convenient home try-on program are right for you. Consumers Best insights.

Carousel Logo image
Online Glasses

Pair Eyewear Review: Revolutionizing Eyewear with Style & Versatility

Discover Pair Eyewear! Read our expert review on their innovative customizable glasses with interchangeable top frames. Are they right for you? Find out.

Carousel Logo image
Online Glasses

Zenni Optical Reviews: Quality Eyewear Without Breaking the Bank?

Read our comprehensive Zenni Optical reviews. Discover if their budget-friendly prescription glasses and sunglasses offer the best value for your vision needs.

Carousel Logo image
Online Glasses

Liingo Eyewear Reviews: Quality Frames at a Smart Price?

Our expert liingo eyewear reviews cover their frame selection, virtual try-on, pricing, and customer service. Find out if Liingo is your best bet for quality eyeglasses.

Carousel Logo image
Online Glasses

LensCrafters Review: Are They the Best Choice for Your Eyewear?

Comprehensive LensCrafters reviews. Discover if their eyewear, eye exams, and services are the right choice for your vision needs. Pros, cons, and more.

Carousel Logo image
Online Glasses

1800 Contacts Reviews: Is It Your Best Choice for Lenses?

Our comprehensive 1800 Contacts review covers pricing, selection, convenience, and customer service. See if it's the right online contact lens retailer for you.

Carousel Logo image
Hearing Aids & Hearing-Care Tech

Audien Hearing Aids Reviews: Affordable Hearing Solutions?

Audien Hearing aims to make sound amplification accessible with its range of highly affordable hearing devices. These direct-to-consumer products offer a simple solution for those experiencing mild hearing difficulties who are seeking a budget-conscious entry point into hearing enhancement.

Carousel Logo image
Hearing Aids & Hearing-Care Tech

Go Hearing Aid Reviews: Are They Worth It?

Our expert Go Hearing aid reviews cover performance, features, and value. Find out if Go Hearing aids are the right choice for your hearing needs in 2025.

Carousel Logo image
Hearing Aids & Hearing-Care Tech

Lexie Hearing Aid Reviews: Are They Right for You?

Explore comprehensive Lexie Hearing aid reviews. Discover features, pros, cons, and pricing to see if Lexie is the right OTC hearing solution for you.

Carousel Logo image
Hearing Aids & Hearing-Care Tech

Lucid Hearing Aid Reviews: Are They the Right Choice for You?

Looking for Lucid Hearing aid reviews? Consumers Best provides an in-depth look at features, pros, cons, and if Lucid Hearing is right for you.

Carousel Logo image
Hearing Aids & Hearing-Care Tech

MDHearing Aid Reviews: Affordable OTC Hearing Solutions

Explore comprehensive MDHearing aid reviews. Discover if these affordable, FDA-registered OTC hearing aids are the right choice for your mild to moderate hearing loss. Learn about features, pros, and cons.

Stay up to date with the Latest Consumers Best Picks

The use of brand names and/or any mention or listing of specific commercial products or services herein is solely for educational purposes and does not imply endorsement by Consumer's Best or our partners, nor discrimination against similar brands, products or services not mentioned.

Advertising Disclosure: Consumer's Best is a free online resource that operates an advertising-supported comparison service. We may receive monetary compensation when a sponsored product or service is displayed on our site or when you click on certain links contained herein. Such compensation, together with our ranking process which uses advanced AI to analyze public data and the geographic availability of a product, can influence the placement, prominence, and order in which products appear within our listings. Although we endeavor to present a broad spectrum of financial and credit-related offerings, Consumer's Best does not purport to include every product or service available in the marketplace. All products are presented without warranty. When evaluating offers, please review the financial institution's Terms and Conditions. The information, including pricing, that appears on this site is subject to change at any time.