Do you get headaches if you don't wear your glasses?

[OneRedSandal]

I have astigmatism and am very slightly long sighted. I have glasses but they're not very strong and I very rarely wear them because I mostly can't be bothered to stand up and go find them once I'm settled.

Lately I've been having horrible migraines along with bad eye pain whenever I move my eyes. My eyes will also shake whenever I'm trying to focus on small details. I'm going to start making an effort to wear them when reading or using screens, but just wondered if there's a chance that not using them could be causing the problems?

Yes.

Yes, if I don't wear my glasses for driving or watching TV I get terrible head and eye strain. My eyes get sore and achy and dry etc. I always find if I wear my glasses all the time I feel much better.

It's possible that's part of the cause, yes. That's why they so often tell you to have your eyes tested if you have headaches.

That said, I have chronic migraine and can't see without my glasses so the longest I go is about 3 mins in the morning when waking up!

You're probably not taking enough regular breaks- general rule is every 20mjns, look 20ft away for 20 seconds. Helps the muscles in the eyes relax (they have to work harder when focussing on screens etc).
But also, the glasses will help.

I have astigmatism and very mild prescription reading glasses and driving glasses (one eye short sighted and the other longsighted) but often don't use them and it doesn't give me headaches. Perhaps may be sensible to get an eye test or see your GP.

Yes, I get bad migraines every time my prescription changes. I'm also long sighted with astigmatism in one eye, and have needed to wear my glases all the time for several years plus reading glasses the last few years too (and my reading glasses prescription changes every year or two). Sounds like time to get your eyes tested, if only to rule it out.

No, I wear at various times contact lenses, contact lenses with reading glasses, contact lenses with driving glasses, two slightly different pairs of full strength glasses and often read on my phone with no correction at all for an hour or two (phone held close to my face as I am very short-sighted with astigmatism). I have never suffered any of these symptoms, I think it is entirely possible though and would definitely be going to the optician for a check up .