Headache and Eye Strain from Putting on Makeup?
 

Does anybody else experience this?

I am using natural cosmetics without harmful chemicals, so I don't believe it is the makeup itself. I think the pain comes from the act of putting the makeup on.

I get terrible eye strain shortly after applying makeup, plus a headache in my forehead area and the top of my scalp. During the application process, my eyes hurt and I feel slightly dizzy. I only wear makeup once or twice a week, so I am certain this pain is caused by applying cosmetics.

I have similar issues after using the computer or reading a book. I'm wondering if the makeup issue is associated with the same vision problems.

I used to get the same. But, it was from my wife slapping me silly for using her make-up. LOL

I wonder if you are tensing up as you put your make-up on. I have had to learn to relax when I try to do detail work. If I don't, the tension causes problems.

I'm not a makeup wearer, so can't speak from firsthand experience.

However, in addition to the muscle tightening, in neck and face, Mark suggested, I wonder if the tendency to force the eyes upward while applying liner, and the inevitable head tilting, could be culprits, too? Then there's just keeping one's arms elevated that long, if there is any instability in the neck.

Applying makeup does force one to focus, up close, and intently, on a small area. If the problem is your vision, perhaps, looking into the distance, every few seconds, would help.

My guess would be that you are having trouble with convergence. That is coordinating the eyes to look at a point close to your face.

You might want to get checked for convergence insufficiency by a provider listed at http://www.braininjuries.org or http://www.nora.cc

You could do an informal test by holding your finger out and trying to follow it close in to the point of your nose. If that hurts or you are unable to do it, you probably are having convergence problems.

This type of problem could also show up in close activities like reading.

I went to my eye doctor today, and it definitely hurt when he had me watch his pen move. However, since I was PHYSICALLY able to do it (even though it hurt and made me dizzy), he said that everything was fine anatomically (I think that's the word he used).

Have any of you ever had a sinus infection in your eyes? Today, the eye doctor said, "You have a severe sinus infection in your eyes, and it's one of the worst ones I've seen in years. You also have Computer Vision Syndrome, but I do not believe that is the reason you're in pain. This is all from your sinuses".

Huh? I have no congestion, no runny nose, no sneezing, nothing...I had no clue!

Could a sinus infection really be causing all these problems that I've been experiencing? That just doesn't sound right to me, but who knows. I guess I should take the meds and see (haven't picked them up yet - getting them tonight).

Also, I'm pretty sure the eye doctor thought I was nuts. All of the tests he did caused eye pain and head pressure, but he was like, "Well, that shouldn't be happening". He said I have a lot of pressure in my eyes, plus the sinus infection and CVS, but that none of that should cause a feeling of pressure in my head. Well, alright then.

I think you may need to see a neuro opthamologist.

What kind of an eye doctor did you see? It's very important to see the right kind of practitioner or they won't check for the right things. My eyes were perfect anatomically and I had better than 20/20 vision but I still had convergence insufficiency and binocular vision problems after my TBI. Vision therapy helped.

Are you putting eyeliner and tracing your eyes? Or eyeshadow? I would think that that type of concentration and eye strain is typical of convergence.

If you use a mirror that magnifies it may help reduce your eye strain. I just use a tinted moisturizer these days but even then, I get a bit double vision just looking at my eyes. I have convergence and accommodation issues.

You should have your eyes looked at by a behavioral or neuro-opthalmologist. It is about your eyes working together to converge on a close point and then at a distant point.

Accommodation insufficiency. Convergence Dysfunction. Binocular Vision. These are all keywords to describe the type of headaches and eyestrain from computer work or reading--or makeup application!

I know-we still want to look our best - even when our brain doesn't behave!

Even after my eye therapy and convergence issues had been fixed trying to put on make up or pluck I still had issues. It is a strain to look in the mirror at that close of a distance...actually painful to my eyes. Plus if you consider the concentration and hand eye coordination it takes there is a lot more brain involvement than one might think. Stick to the easy stuff, stay away from mascara and eye liner till you are feeling better would be my advice.