Migraine and Glaucoma: Is There a Connection?

Medically reviewed by Federica Polidoro, M.D.

Written by Carrie Madormo, RN, MPH

Posted on August 4, 2026

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Key Takeaways

Living with migraine can affect many parts of daily life, including your vision, and some research suggests there may be a link between migraine and glaucoma.

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Living with migraine can affect every aspect of your life, including your eyesight. Many people experience vision changes such as blurred vision or seeing blind spots or flashing lights during a migraine with aura. You may wonder if chronic migraine could affect your vision long term.

There may be a connection between migraine and glaucoma, but more research is needed.

Glaucoma refers to a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain. Without treatment, glaucoma can lead to permanent vision loss or blindness.

🗳️ Have you talked with a doctor about vision changes with migraine?

Yes, and it was helpful.

Yes, but it wasn’t helpful.

No, but I plan to.

No, and I don’t plan to.

In this article, we’ll discuss the possible link between migraine and glaucoma and review what the research says. We’ll also cover warning signs and explain when to see your doctor.

Is There a Link Between Migraine and Glaucoma?

Migraine and glaucoma share certain characteristics and risk factors. These similarities suggest a possible relationship between the two conditions.

Some people with chronic migraine are later diagnosed with glaucoma as well. A member of MyMigraineTeam said, “I was just diagnosed with glaucoma in one eye. The doctor used a needle to extract fluid, and now I use drops twice a day.”

What the Research Says

A 2025 population-based study found that people with migraine were more likely to be diagnosed with glaucoma than people without it. However, the study authors noted that people with migraine usually receive more eye exams than those who don’t have chronic headaches.

This means that people with migraine may not be more likely to have glaucoma — they may just get diagnosed more because of close monitoring. This study also found that people diagnosed with glaucoma tended to need less medication and fewer surgeries than most people with glaucoma.

A 2024 study of medical records found that people with migraine were more likely to be diagnosed with open-angle glaucoma than people without migraine. However, this type of study can only show a possible link. It can’t prove that migraine causes glaucoma.

Open-angle glaucoma is the most common type of glaucoma. In open-angle glaucoma, the drainage angle where the clear front part of the eye, called the cornea, meets the colored part, called the iris, stays open.

However, fluid may drain too slowly. This can raise pressure inside the eye and damage the optic nerve. Some people develop open-angle glaucoma even when their eye pressure is in the normal range.

The 2024 study noted that past research hasn’t found a significant connection between migraine and open-angle glaucoma. Because the research is so mixed, it’s difficult to determine if there’s a relationship and how strong the link is.

Shared Characteristics and Risk Factors

Doctors and researchers are still trying to understand the relationship between migraine and glaucoma, since there may be a link. A member of MyMigraineTeam said, “Recently I got news that I’m considered a glaucoma suspect, and with some of the symptoms from my migraine, there is a good chance I already have a little optic nerve damage.”

Migraine and glaucoma share some of the same characteristics and risk factors.

Blood Vessel Problems

Migraine is a complex neurological disease involving changes in the brain and nervous system. Changes in blood vessels may play a role, but migraine is not considered only a blood vessel disorder.

Problems with blood flow and circulation may play a role in some cases of glaucoma. However, researchers have not shown that blood vessel problems directly cause glaucoma in everyone who has them.

Researchers are studying whether changes in blood flow may help explain a possible link between migraine and glaucoma. One theory is that changes in blood flow to the eye could affect the optic nerve. However, this has not been proved, and researchers do not know whether migraine could represent a risk factor for glaucoma.

Some research has found that people with chronic migraine experience damage to the inner lining of the blood vessels, known as the endothelium. This damage is also seen in the blood vessels of people with glaucoma. People who experience an aura with their migraine attacks may be at an increased risk of stroke — a serious vascular event.

Similar Risk Factors

Migraine and glaucoma may also share some of the same risk factors, including conditions that affect the blood vessels, such as:

Diabetes
Heart disease
Hypertension (high blood pressure)

These conditions also raise the risk of glaucoma.

While several research studies have found that there may be a connection between migraine and glaucoma, no study has shown that having migraine directly causes glaucoma.

When To Talk to Your Doctor

Talk with your healthcare provider or eye doctor if you’re concerned about your risk of glaucoma. Open-angle glaucoma usually has no symptoms at first. As it gets worse, it may cause blind spots or a gradual loss of side vision, sometimes called tunnel vision.

Because early glaucoma often cannot be felt or noticed, regular comprehensive eye exams are the best way to find it early. Symptoms include:

Eye pain
Double vision
Blurred vision
Bloodshot eyes
Headaches
A loss of vision (low vision)
Blind spots
Tunnel vision

Glaucoma doesn’t usually cause any symptoms in its early stages. Once a person notices signs of it, the condition may be more advanced. Seeking care as soon as you notice any changes in vision is an important way to protect your eyesight.

Some types of glaucoma cause sudden, intense symptoms. Seek emergency medical care for symptoms that may be caused by acute angle-closure glaucoma, including:

Sudden, intense eye pain
A red eye
Blurred vision or rainbow-colored halos around lights
A severe headache
Nausea or vomiting

New flashes, many new floaters, or sudden vision loss are not typical signs of glaucoma, but they can be signs of another serious eye problem. Seek urgent eye care if they occur.

Glaucoma Diagnosis and Treatment

If you develop new vision changes, your healthcare provider will likely refer you to an eye care specialist, such as an ophthalmologist. Your eye doctor will perform a thorough eye exam and run several tests to diagnose glaucoma. The doctor will need to dilate your pupils to see inside your eye.

Regular eye exams can catch glaucoma before it begins causing symptoms. This is important because there’s no cure for glaucoma.

The goal of treatment is to prevent it from getting worse. Treatment may include prescription eye drops, laser treatment, or surgery to lower pressure inside the eye and protect the optic nerve.

While it’s not possible to prevent glaucoma, you can take steps to catch it early and protect your vision. Consider the following tips:

Get regular eye exams — A routine eye exam can detect glaucoma before it causes symptoms. Early detection allows you to start treatment sooner.
Have ocular hypertension monitored — Ocular hypertension means that pressure inside the eye is higher than normal, but the optic nerve has not been damaged. Not everyone with ocular hypertension needs treatment, so an eye doctor will consider your pressure level and other risk factors when deciding whether you need medicine or closer monitoring.
Manage chronic conditions — Some chronic health conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension, raise the risk of glaucoma. Work with your primary healthcare provider to manage these conditions to lower your risk.