What Causes Headache Due to High Intraocular Pressure?

Headache associated with elevated intraocular pressure may result from increased intracranial pressure, hypertension, glaucoma, or other causes.

1. Increased Intracranial Pressure

Pathological changes in brain tissue or excessive cerebrospinal fluid within the cranial cavity can elevate intracranial pressure, thereby compressing surrounding nerves and blood vessels. Under such pressure, impaired ocular venous return or slowed venous drainage from the eye may lead to elevated intraocular pressure accompanied by headache.

2. Hypertension

Prolonged elevation of blood pressure slows blood flow and promotes atherosclerotic plaque formation. These plaques cause arterial stiffening, narrowing, or even complete occlusion, resulting in ischemic injury. If ocular venous return is compromised, it may manifest as elevated intraocular pressure and headache.

3. Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a pathological condition characterized by chronically elevated intraocular pressure. In addition to increased intraocular pressure, it commonly causes optic nerve atrophy, visual field defects, decreased visual acuity, and ocular redness. When adjacent neural tissues become inflamed, an inflammatory response may develop, leading to referred neuralgic pain and headache.