Unclear vision and persistent headaches: Exploring five potential origins
Headaches and blurred vision can be distressing symptoms, and understanding their causes is crucial for proper treatment. While migraines and low blood sugar are common culprits, several other medical conditions can also lead to these symptoms simultaneously.
Migraines, known for their severe throbbing or pulsing pain in a part of the head, can also cause visual disturbances such as blurred vision. Approximately one-third of people with migraines experience visual problems, including sensitivity to light and sound, nausea and vomiting, and temporary loss of vision.
Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD) is another condition that can cause headaches, blurred or double vision, dizziness, and eye strain. This condition often results from misalignment of the eyes, which can be triggered by congenital misalignment, age-related weakening of eye muscles, concussions, neurological changes, or prolonged visual tasks.
Neurological disorders or secondary headaches, caused by underlying problems such as infections, injuries, tumors, or effects of medications, may also present with visual symptoms like blurred vision. For example, conditions mimicking migraine auras or transient ischemic attacks can produce combined headache and visual disturbances.
Brainstem-related migraine variants, like basilar-type migraine, can cause bilateral visual auras (blurred vision, diplopia), dizziness, and other neurological signs alongside headache. Migrainous infarction, a rare but serious complication, involves migraine aura symptoms coinciding with ischemic brain lesions, leading to simultaneous headache and visual disturbances.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) can cause optic neuritis, leading to blurred vision and headaches due to inflammation affecting the optic nerve and central nervous system.
Carbon monoxide poisoning, caused by breathing in the odorless, colorless, tasteless gas present in the fumes from burning fuel, can also result in headaches, blurred vision, dizziness, upset stomach and vomiting, weakness, chest pains, confusion, flu-like symptoms. People with mild to moderate carbon monoxide poisoning should get away from the poisonous gas and seek immediate medical treatment.
For those experiencing signs or symptoms of a stroke, carbon monoxide poisoning, or TBI, it is essential to contact a doctor right away. Treatment for headaches and blurred vision varies greatly, depending on the underlying cause of these symptoms, and a doctor can diagnose their source and prescribe an appropriate course of treatment.
If a person thinks their blood sugar levels are too low, they may want to consume food with sugar or carbs, such as fruit juice. When blood glucose levels fall below 70 mg/dL, the American Diabetes Association suggests following the 15-15 rule: eating 15 grams of carbs, waiting 15 minutes, then retesting glucose levels.
For those who think they have had a migraine headache for the first time, it is important to contact a doctor, as it is essential to treat the condition as soon as possible. A doctor can help a person learn the warning signs of migraine and know when to take medications.
FAQs about blurry vision and headaches may include what can cause these symptoms to occur together, what causes sudden blurry vision, what kind of migraine starts with blurry vision, and why a person might feel dizzy and have blurry vision.
In summary, beyond migraine and low blood sugar, causes like binocular vision dysfunction, neurological disorders (tumors, infections), brainstem-related migraine variants, and demyelinating diseases like multiple sclerosis can result in headaches with blurred vision. Evaluation by a healthcare provider is important to identify the specific underlying cause.
- Understanding the causes of headaches and blurred vision is crucial for proper treatment, as various medical conditions can lead to these symptoms.
- Migraines are known for causing severe headaches and visual disturbances such as blurred vision.
- Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD) can cause headaches, blurred or double vision, dizziness, and eye strain due to misalignment of the eyes.
- Neurological disorders or secondary headaches can present with visual symptoms like blurred vision, caused by infections, injuries, tumors, or effects of medications.
- Brainstem-related migraine variants, like basilar-type migraine, can cause bilateral visual auras (blurred vision, diplopia), dizziness, and other neurological signs alongside headache.
- Multiple sclerosis can cause optic neuritis, leading to blurred vision and headaches due to inflammation affecting the optic nerve and central nervous system.
- Carbon monoxide poisoning can result in headaches, blurred vision, dizziness, and other flu-like symptoms.
- Contact a doctor immediately if signs or symptoms of a stroke, carbon monoxide poisoning, or TBI are present, as treatment for headaches and blurred vision varies greatly depending on the underlying cause.
- When blood glucose levels fall below 70 mg/dL, consuming food with sugar or carbs can help raise them, following the 15-15 rule.
- For those who think they have had a migraine headache for the first time, it is important to contact a doctor as soon as possible.
- FAQs about blurry vision and headaches may include what causes these symptoms to occur together, what causes sudden blurry vision, what kind of migraine starts with blurry vision, and why a person might feel dizzy and have blurry vision.
- Beyond migraine and low blood sugar, causes like binocular vision dysfunction, neurological disorders (tumors, infections), brainstem-related migraine variants, and demyelinating diseases like multiple sclerosis can result in headaches with blurred vision.
- Evaluation by a healthcare provider is important to identify the specific underlying cause of headaches and blurred vision.
- Maintaining a healthy lifestyle through proper nutrition, fitness and exercise, and taken care of eye health, mental health, and skin conditions can help prevent various chronic diseases like diabetes, depression, and neurological disorders.
