Headache at the Ophthalmology Clinics

Abstract

Aim: To determine the types of headache disorders presenting at the Ophthalmic Outpatient Clinics of 
the University of Benin Teaching Hospital.
Methods: A 2 year retrospective review of patients presenting with headache as a principal symptom at 
the Ophthalmic Outpatient Clinics of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital was conducted.
Results: Eighty-five patients comprising 18 males and 67 females with a primary complaint of headache 
were seen during the study period, with a male to female ratio of 1:3.7. The mean age of the patients 
was 35.9 ± 18.8 years (age range 7-83 years). The highest incidence of headache 19 (22.4%) was in the 
age group of 21-30 years. Fifty-four (63.5%) of the patients had headache of ophthalmic origin, 20 (23.5 
%) had primary headache disorders while 11(13.0%) cases had secondary headache disorders. Overall, 
the most common causes of headache were refractive error 51(60%), migraine headache 15 (17.6%) and 
tension-type headache 5 (5.8%).
Conclusion: Headache disorders other than those of ophthalmic origin may present to the 
ophthalmologist. It is the responsibility of the ophthalmologist to be able to identify the etiology of 
headache, treat the ophthalmic disorders and refer other cases appropriately.