You may have experienced dry eyes in the morning or dry eyes at night; you may wonder if it is just a typical eye problem due to overspending time in front of the screen. But can dry eyes cause blurry vision? Both dry eyes and extreme tearing can conduct blurred vision.
Some other reasons and crucial reasons are also involved. Once, I had blurred vision and headache all of a sudden. I thought it was just a consequence of my sleepless night.
But I was wrong. When I again suffered this, I rushed to my eye doctor. And I got to know what are the reasons for blurred vision and headaches. I intended to write this article about blurred vision and headache based on my own experience and research.
Common Symptoms Of Blurry Vision
If a persistent headache occurs with blurred Vision or sudden wavy Vision, then it may be due to another underlying condition or a severe medical condition itself. Migraine and low blood sugar can be the reasons.
Though I didn't have a sudden wavy double vision problem, I had blurry vision in one eye. Let's see the common and warning signs of blurry vision:
- Blurry vision in one eye.
- Binocular vision dysfunction.
- Double or triple vision in both eyes or one eye.
- Sudden squinty eyes or squinting.
- Cloudy Vision
- Sharp pain behind eye or sharp eye pain.
- Pain in inner corner of eye.
- Headache.
- Joint pain
- Bleeding from eyes.
- Red Eyes.
- Itchy eyes.
- Burning eyes.
- Redness around eyes.
- Sensitivity to eyes.
- Dry eyes at night.
- Poor night vision.
- Seeing spots.
- Central or peripheral vision loss.
Causes Of Blurred Vision And Headache
From my doctor and deep research, I found these basic causes of blurred vision and migraine headaches;
Migraine
39 million people in the USA suffer from migraine headaches. Blurred vision is one of the common symptoms that are related to migraine aura and Cluster headaches. Changes to nerve signaling and blood vessels in the eye may play a vital role in Migraine development.
Other ocular and visual symptoms of migraine aura include:
- Blind spots
- Temporary vision loss
- Light sensitivity
There is no possible cure for migraine. The doctor can develop a treatment plan that includes the following:
- Medications
- Hormonal therapy
- Lifestyle changes
- Relaxation training
Myopia
Myopia, or nearsightedness, sometimes creates other visual problems and blurred distance vision. Causes of prompt treatment of Myopia include:
- Genetics
- Lots of reading
- Some medications
- Diabetes
- Trauma
- Cataracts
- Infection/inflammation
Hyperopia causes
If you have farsightedness or Hyperopia, then it can cause blurred near vision. Causes of Hyperopia include:
- Trauma
- Inflammatory disorders
- Some medications
- Macular degeneration.
Eyestrain
Eyestrain happens when you spend too much time in front of a digital device. Eyestrain comes with headache and blurry vision. It is also named computer vision syndrome. Struggling to maintain focus or overworking your eyes in any capacity can bring on a splitting headache.
Including cluster headaches, you can experience-
- Strain or squinting to see
- Dry eyes
- Neck and shoulder pain.
- Jaw pain.
To avoid eyestrain, eye doctors and healthcare providers suggest following the 20-20-20 rule. It means to take 20 seconds to break from the screen and look into something 20 feet away.
Low blood sugar
If you have too low a blood sugar level, then it may cause you headaches and blurred vision.
And this can be very dangerous over time. Other signs and symptoms include:
- Feeling anxious or nervous
- Sweating, clamminess, and chills
- Confusion
- Feeling shaky
- Fast heartbeat
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Irritation or impatience
- Pale skin
- Sleepiness
- Clumsiness or coordination problems
- Weakness
- Lack of energy
- Hunger
- Nausea
- Facial numbness
Stroke
When a blood clot hinders a blood vessel from carrying blood to the brain, you are going through a stroke. Doctors call this an ischemic stroke. Stroke can cause sudden wavy vision, sharp pain behind eye, and severe headache. Other symptoms could be:
- Weakness in the arm, face, or leg.
- Body confusion difficulty speaking.
- Trouble walking and dizziness.
Without immediate medical treatment, strokes may cause life-threatening complications.
Thunderclap headache
It is a sudden severe cluster headache, that comes all of a sudden and can be reached its peak within a minute. But this severe pain doesn't last for long. Within 5 minutes, the pain may vanish. One potential cause of a thunderclap headache is bleeding into the brain or subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Though thunderclap headaches are uncommon. You may feel sharp eye pain, neck, shoulder, and back. Also, you may feel nausea and vomiting.
Thunderclap headaches come out of nowhere, and their pain is so intense that people describe them as the worst headache ever.
Seek medical help when you experience this headache or admit to the emergency ward because it can develop serious problems in blood vessels.
Pheochromocytoma
Pheochromocytoma is a tumor located in the adrenal glands. These are two glands located on the top of each of our kidneys. It is usually a genetic disease.
The main symptoms are high blood pressure, blurry vision and headache.
Other typical symptoms include:
- Headache
- Blurry vision in one eye
- Sudden wavy vision
- Sweating
- Palpitations and panic attacks.
- Anxiety
- Light sensitivity
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dizziness
If you have pheochromocytoma, then you must need surgery to remove the tumor.
Meningitis and encephalitis
Meningitis and encephalitis are inflammatory diseases. They commonly affect the brain and spinal cord.
These serious diseases are caused by bacterial or viral infections, fungi, or parasites. People of any age can have these diseases. But if your immune system is weak, then you are at higher risk of getting these two diseases.
Fever, dry eyes, and headache are the primary symptoms of both diseases. , but the blurry vision in one eye and cloudy vision can also occur.
Meningitis and encephalitis need immediate medical emergency. There are also some vaccinations to help prevent a few types of meningitis. Talk with your doctor about this and find what suits you best.
Headache with trauma
If blurry vision and headache occur due to another head injury, you may have a brain trauma, skull fracture, or another traumatic brain injury. Falls, motor vehicle accidents, car accidents, and sports injuries commonly cause traumatic brain injury.
Any accident that might impact your vision requires emergency care to prevent possible permanent vision loss.
Symptoms of traumatic brain injury can be mild to severe, depending on the stretch of the damage. Other symptoms contain:
- Dizziness
- Ringing in ears
- Fatigue
- Confusion
- Mood changes, irritability
- Dry eyes blurry Vision
- One blurry eye
- Loss of consciousness
- Partial or complete temporary loss of vision.
- Coma
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide poisoning is an emergency state that demands immediate medical care. It happens from a buildup of carbon monoxide in your bloodstream.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas built by burning wood, gas, or other fuel.
In addition to blurry vision and headache, carbon monoxide poisoning may cause additional symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Confusion
- Loss of consciousness
Carbon monoxide poisoning is preventable. Be sure you have a functioning CO detector installed in your home.
Tension Headaches
Tension headaches are generally mild to moderate pain with sharp eye pain. That's described as feeling like a tight band around the head. If there is no eye problem involved in this type of pain, then it could be a normal headache with throbbing pain.
These symptoms are typically treated with painkillers, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, and prescription medications. Usually, this headache doesn't require any medical emergencies.
But if itchy eyes and burning eyes are involved, then it is something serious.
What Are The Statistics Saying About Blurry Vision
When Do You Need Medical Attention?
It is a matter of getting immediate emergency medical attention and care if you have blurry vision and:
- Loss of feeling in the forehead or cheek.
- Sudden wavy vision
- Severe head pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Stiff neck
- Head trauma
- High Fever
- High blood pressure with low blood sugar.
- Chronic lack of blood flow to the eye.
Take appointments from your ophthalmologist as soon as possible. You need you take proper eye care for you prescribed by your doctor and save your eyes and vision.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Question 1: What is the difference between Myopia vs Hyperopia?
Answer 1: In Hyperopia, an image of a distant object becomes focused behind the retina. It makes the objects up close appear out of focus.
In Myopia, an image of a distant object becomes focused in front of the retina. It makes distant objects appear out of focus.
Question 2: Can dry eyes cause blurry vision?
Answer 2: If your tears lack oil, your eyes will dry out. Dry eyes and prolonged tearing can lead to eye strain and to blurred vision. Dry eyes can make even blinking hard.
Question 3: What is the difference between dry eyes vs pink eye?
Answer 3: Both pink eye and dry eye can cause your eyes to become itchy and uncomfortable. Dry eye is due to a lack of tears and may be chronic. Pink eye causes by inflammation.
Question 4: How long does a viral infection in the eye last?
Answer 4: The infection in the eye will typically clear up in 7 to 14 days without any medical treatment.
Question 5: What are the symptoms of optic nerve damage?
Answer 5: Some common symptoms of optic nerve damage are Eye pain, Vision loss in one eye, blind spots, difficulty focusing, loss of color vision, and sensitivity to bright lights.
Final Thoughts
Eye problems and headache pain can be treated by getting a good eye exam. Also, ensure your glasses and contact lenses are selected by appropriate prescription.
Keep noticing whether you experience visual disturbances with light sensitivity, double vision, eye strain, visual problems, headaches, and blurred vision or not. Immediate medical attention is required if you continue having these vision symptoms.