Childhood headaches
Reviewed by Fiona Rowe

The goal of this study was to compare headache resolution in children receiving or not receiving refractive correction. The authors conducted a retrospective review of 158 patients: 78 male and 80 female aged three to twelve years (mean eight). Twenty-seven percent had clinically significant refractive errors or had previously been prescribed glasses. It showed 30.4% had ophthalmic history other than refractive error including strabismus, convergence insufficiency, Duane’s retraction syndrome, amblyopia, nasolacrimal duct obstruction, functional visual loss, allergic conjunctivitis, retinopathy of prematurity, nystagmus, optic disc anomaly, anisocoria and ectopic lentis. Eighteen percent had a family history of migraine. Fourteen percent had temporal association of headache with reading, TV, computer use and homework. Nine and a half percent complained of blurred vision or diplopia. A new or altered prescription was given to 21% and prior glasses stopped for 2.5%. Follow-up information was obtained for 110 patients. It showed 76.4% had resolution or significant improvement. Migraine was later diagnosed for five patients. No significant difference in resolution was found for those who received a change in prescription versus those who did not. The authors concluded that most children with headache do not have ophthalmic abnormalities. 

Headache and refractive errors in children.
Roth Z, Pandolfo KR, Simon J, Zobal-Ratner J.
JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGY AND STRABISMUS
2014;51:177-9.