High Eye Pressure and Migraines: What’s the Real Link?

Picture this: your temples are throbbing, your eyes feel heavy, and you’re squinting at your phone, hoping for the pain to settle. If you’ve been stuck in this cycle, you’re not alone. High eye pressure and migraines can go hand-in-hand—sometimes, in ways that aren’t so obvious.

Most people think eye pressure is just an eye thing and migraines are all in your head. Turns out, that line isn’t so clear. The pressure inside your eye (docs call it intraocular pressure or IOP) can trigger pain that feels just like a migraine, or even set one off if you’re already sensitive. If you’ve got a history of glaucoma in the family or those classic halos around lights, high eye pressure means more than just a trip to the optometrist. Paying attention now can save your vision—and your sanity—down the road.

• What Is High Eye Pressure?
• How Migraines and Eye Pressure Interact
• Symptoms to Watch Out For
• Tips to Manage and Prevent Problems

What Is High Eye Pressure?

High eye pressure means the fluid inside your eyeball—called aqueous humor—isn’t draining like it should. This makes the pressure in your eye (aka intraocular pressure or IOP) stronger than normal. Most healthy adults have an IOP between 10 and 21 mmHg (millimeters of mercury). Anything above that is what doctors flag as higher than normal.

Here’s a quick breakdown of eye pressure numbers:

Lots of people don’t know they have high eye pressure because it usually doesn’t cause obvious symptoms. But if it sticks around or climbs, it can start to damage the optic nerve—a condition called glaucoma. And that’s a big deal, since glaucoma can mess with your vision for good.

What makes the pressure go up? Sometimes it’s genetics, sometimes it’s age, steroids, or eye injuries. Even certain health conditions, like diabetes, can inch those numbers higher. But get this: you don’t have to feel pain or notice problems to have high IOP.

"High intraocular pressure is a major risk factor for glaucoma, but it often goes unnoticed until vision loss begins. Regular eye checks are the best defense." – American Academy of Ophthalmology

Here’s the bottom line: having your eye pressure checked during every eye exam isn’t just a box to tick—it’s the only way to catch it early. There’s no way to lower your risk if you don’t know your numbers. So, when your eye doctor gives you that quick puff of air test, take it seriously.

How Migraines and Eye Pressure Interact

Here’s where things get interesting. Most people see high eye pressure and migraines as totally separate problems. But your head and eyes are way more connected than they seem. When the pressure inside your eye rises—even a bit above normal—it can push on the optic nerve. That’s the cable sending signals from your eye to your brain. If this nerve gets stressed, you might feel a dull ache in or around your eyeball, which sometimes blends right into a migraine.

Now, if you already deal with migraines, your nervous system is more reactive than most. That means changes in your body—even subtle ones like eye pressure climbing—can push your brain into headache mode. Some people report that their migraines get worse when their eye pressure spikes, especially with glaucoma or after eye injuries. It’s not just anecdotal: eye doctors spot patients whose migraines ease up after their eye pressure gets under control.

It’s not always a two-way street, though. Migraines don’t directly cause high eye pressure, but attacks can make your eyes extra sensitive. During a migraine, blood vessels in your head—including the ones around the eyes—can swell or tighten, changing how your eyes feel. If you get the type of migraine with aura, flashing lights or fuzzy vision might last even after the headache lets up. That makes it even harder to tell if the problem is coming from your head or your eyes.

Check out this quick look at the overlap between eye pressure and migraine symptoms:

If this overlap sounds confusing, you’re not alone—plenty of patients get bounced between eye doctors and neurologists before someone connects the dots. If you struggle with chronic headaches and weird vision changes, don’t just assume it’s another migraine. Getting your eye pressure checked can help rule out glaucoma or other eye issues before they cause bigger problems.

Symptoms to Watch Out For

So how do you know if your high eye pressure and headache are connected? It’s not always cut and dry, but there are symptoms that should make your antenna go up. The tricky part is that migraines and high eye pressure sometimes share the same warning signs.

Here’s what to watch for if you’re worried your eye pressure isn’t just normal:

• Eye pain or pressure: Not just a mild ache, but a deep, almost throbbing pain, especially behind or around the eye.
• Blurred vision: Things might look fuzzy, almost like someone smeared Vaseline on your glasses.
• Halos around lights: Not just at night—some folks see rainbow-colored circles around light bulbs or headlights.
• Frequent headaches: These might feel more like migraines than the typical tension headache. If your head throbs when you bend over, take note.
• Nausea or vomiting: No, it isn’t just a stomach bug. High eye pressure mixed with migraine can make you queasy.
• Eye redness: One or both eyes look bloodshot—sometimes with no clear reason.

Pay attention if the pain gets worse when you move your eyes or in low light. If you ever notice sudden vision loss or a big increase in headache frequency, that’s a red flag—don’t try to tough it out, see a doctor asap.

Here’s something practical: a lot people get caught up in just the headache, missing that subtle eye stuff. Remember, untreated high eye pressure can sneak up and cause permanent vision loss, especially with glaucoma. Don’t shrug off repeated symptoms—track them on your phone, so you can show your eye doctor specifics.

Catching these signs early gives you a shot at stopping further damage. Your eyes won’t warn you twice—take the hints seriously.

Tips to Manage and Prevent Problems

You don’t have to just wait around for migraines or high eye pressure to sneak up on you. Taking a few simple steps can make a real difference in both your eye health and your migraine headaches. It’s really about paying attention to triggers and making smart choices every day.

• Regular Eye Checks: If you’ve got a family history of glaucoma or high eye pressure, don’t skip your yearly eye doc visits. Catching changes in pressure early can stop bigger problems before they start.
• Stay Hydrated: Dehydration can make both migraines and eye symptoms worse. Keep a water bottle close and sip through your day.
• Watch the Caffeine: It’s tricky—some people find caffeine helps with migraines, while for others it can be a trigger. Notice what works for you, but too much can boost eye pressure.
• Screen Breaks Matter: Hours of staring at screens (phones, laptops, you name it) dry out your eyes and tighten your head. Set a timer to look away every 20 minutes, even for just 20 seconds.
• Manage Your Triggers: Keep a diary of foods, stress, sleep patterns, or lighting changes that lead up to both migraines and eye pain. Patterns usually pop up fast.

Your doctor may recommend eye drops if your intraocular pressure is too high. These aren’t just for older folks—plenty of younger adults use them too. For migraines linked to high eye pressure, a combo of eye medicine and migraine treatment is sometimes best. Here’s what the American Academy of Ophthalmology points out:

“Lowering eye pressure with prescribed treatment can reduce the risk of optic nerve damage and, in some patients, bring relief from associated headache symptoms too.”

If you want to see how common this is, check the numbers below from a recent eye health survey:

If you suddenly have severe eye pain, vision changes, or a headache that won’t quit, call your doctor. Sure, most headaches aren’t an emergency, but when high eye pressure and vision changes join forces, it’s not a time to tough it out. Trust your body and stay proactive.