The underlying causes of headache among college students attended the eye clinic-Phcc-khormaksar- Aden, 2005-2007

Abstract EN

Purpose : To determine the underlying causes of headache among groups of college students visiting the eye clinic.

Methods : One ophthalmologist researcher administered a study of full eye examination for groups of college students of Aden University, in the eye clinic at The Primary Health Care Center twice a week, over a period of 3 academic years (2005-2007).

All students received an ocular examination which included measurement of visual acuity ; best spectacle corrected VA (BSCVA), extra ocular movement, slit lamp examination, intraocular pressure and fundoscopy.

Students suffering from headaches were prospectively evaluated and asked to respond to specific questions about clinical features of headache.

They were divided into three groups ; group A those who had ocular cause of headache, the second group B with non ocular cause of headache and the third group C with headache without abnormal finding.

Results : One hundred twenty six college students (54 % female, 46 % male) out of 338 visiting the eye clinic suffered from headache.

The causes of headache that is related to the eye were refractive errors15.9 %, convergent insufficiency 7.9 %, and those causes of headache which were not related to the eye were migraine10.3 % sinusitis 2.4 % tension headache 57.9 % and 7(5.6 %) students were with out abnormal finding.

Conclusion : The majority of students who suffered from headache and visited the eye clinic did not have ocular problems.

Further research is needed to determine the incidence and causes of headache and tension headache in particular among adolescents and adult.