New Daily Persistent Headache Triggered by Cataract Extraction

New daily persistent headache (NDPH) was first described by Vanast (1986), who characterized it as a benign headache syndrome that typically remits without treatment.1 Subsequently, however, it has been found to be a bilateral headache syndrome that is often persistent. Patients are able to identify the exact time their headache began.2 NDPH may be responsive to intravenous migraine medications, high dose corticosteroids, doxycycline, gabapentin, intravenous acyclovir or physical therapy. Studies have identified such triggers for NDPH including infection, chemical exposure, stressful life event and surgery involving intubation. We introduce a patient whose bilateral cataract extraction appears to have triggered her NDPH.