Eye Pain: A Neurologic Perspective - Primary Headache Disorders

Headache is one of the most common disorders presenting to the physicians office. Epidemiologic studies show that in a given year, the majority of people within the United States will have headache, and approximately 5% will seek medical attention. It is estimated that 25% of all new visits in a neurologists office is for headache. Over 90% of headaches are primary headache disorders that are they have no underlying secondary cause. As physicians, our main concern is finding the underlying disease or disorder that is causing headache. The primary headache disorders by definition have no significant abnormalities on their examination, nor relevant findings on neuroimaging. The key to making a diagnosis in the primary headache disorders taking a thorough history.