Assessment of Ophthalmological Causes of Headaches in a Tertiary Care Center in South India

Ch M Subramanyeswara Rao; Seshu Babu Ponnada; R Thilagavathi

Ch M Subramanyeswara Rao Associate Professor, Department of Opthalmology
Seshu Babu Ponnada Postgraduate Student, Department of Opthalmology
R Thilagavathi Lecturer, Department of Bio statistics

Keywords: Headache, Ophthalmology, Pain

Abstract

Background: Headache is the most common ailment of mankind. There is a popular notion that is prevailing in the society,
that all persons should undergo ophthalmic examination for headache.
Objective: The aim was to assess the various ocular causes of headache among patients attending the outpatient and inpatient
wards.
Methods: A sample of 100 consecutive patients with ocular causes of headache were selected from the inpatient and outpatient
wards of Government Medical College were evaluated in detail by taking the detailed history and doing proper systemic and
local examination.
Results: Most ocular headache is insidious in origin, intermittent in nature, predominantly evening occurring, and usually
periorbital or global in nature. Eyestrain is the most leading cause of headache, which constitutes about 75%. The major cause
of eyestrain is refractive errors, which contributes to about 58.9%. The predominant refractive error leading to ocular headache
is astigmatism against the rule type, which contributes to 41%.
Conclusion: The major cause of ocular headache is eye strain, which is mainly contributed by the refractive errors, especially
astigmatism.

Author Biographies

Ch M Subramanyeswara Rao, Associate Professor, Department of Opthalmology

Rangaraya Medical College, Government General Hospital, Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, India

Seshu Babu Ponnada, Postgraduate Student, Department of Opthalmology

Rangaraya Medical College, Government General Hospital, Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, India

R Thilagavathi, Lecturer, Department of Bio statistics

School of Public Health, SRM University, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, India

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