Headache with Duane`s Syndrome?

[rainspeck]

Hello,

I have Duane`s Syndrome in my left eye, and at the age of 18 months had surgery on that eye`s muscles, and for the most part have lived with very few limitations due to my Duane`s.

I am near-sighted in both eyes, less so in the left eye, and have worn contacts/glasses since the age of 14. Since the past 3 years or so, the local optomotrist hasn`t been able to get my left eye to 20/20 with either, he says because my eye affected with Duane`s Syndrome is slightly weaker and cannot focus enough.

Since the past year or so I`ve been starting to experience headaches stemming from my left eye, terrible ones that aren`t easy to cure (and are rather debilitating when they do occur.)  

I am wondering if this is due to the weaker vision in my affected Duane`s eye (and so in effect are eye strain headaches) or something else.  

Can I exercise my affected eye with eye patches, to make it stronger again (and have the problem at the Optomotrist therefore be reversed?)  If so, how do I prevent the subsequent headache that follows after exercising the eye for something longer than 5 minutes?

When I was a small child, I was told that if I did not use my affected eye enough, I would eventually become essentially blind from the lack of use.  Is this still thought to be true? Is this what`s happening now to my eye?

Any advice and information would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

[Sarah2355]

I have duanes syndrome i also get these terrible headaches which stem from behind my right eye nothing stops it other than sleep. My doctors explained it as the muscle strain caused by over use of my good eye for example when I've been reading a lot or spend too much time infront of a computer especially when tired. I noticed recently that i had a sudden increase my specialist stated that as we age duanes can deteriorate slightly which can cause an increase in headaches double vision and other symptoms associated with the condition

[JohnHaganMD]

What changes most about age 39-45 but difficulty with near work, it's cause presbyopia and effects everyone sooner or later. It is most problematic to hyperopic (farsighted) individuals and most Duane's Syndrome patients are hyperopic. Also remember there are also 6 types of Duanes Type 1,2, 3 and each has A, B, C.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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JCH MD

[Rednite]

I am 23 and I to have Duane syndrome. I don't know you but I feel like we are related in the way we were diagnosed and feel. I to have horrible headaches starting with the back of my right eye ( eye with Duane syndrome). Regular headache medicine doesn't work however I found that migraine medicine works.bad news is I have to take 2 a day.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

It is not likely that Duane's syndrome which you were born with would suddenly cause bad headaches.

See an ophthalmologist, ideally a neuroophthalmologist to look for a cause. Find one near you at www.aao.org

JC HMD