Last Updated on December 20, 2024 by Aaron Barriga
An American Migraine Study conducted in 1999 says that in the U.S., 38 million people are living with migraines, out of which 44% people suffer from migraines due to vision changes and blurred vision.
It’s normal for our vision to deteriorate as we age. However, not many people realize that their eyesight may have gone from bad to worse with age.
When we have trouble seeing, we may either squint or hold things too far or too close to them. While doing so, we may weaken our eye muscles and nerves without the slightest inkling that we may be having bad eyesight.
The result can be blurry vision and migraine. Read on to understand what causes migraines that are vision-related.
Migraine Triggers: Eye Conditions That Are Responsible for Blurred Vision and Migraines
Strain on your eyes
Improper focusing or improper alignment of the eyes causes eye strain. Eye conditions such as farsighted, nearsighted, or astigmatism cause vision changes that are responsible for eye strain.
Migraine due to eye strain starts after using your eyes for a long time to do a variety of tasks. Activities such as reading, looking at the computer for long periods (computer vision syndrome), and sewing can trigger a migraine.
If you indulge in activities that require you to use your eyes for long periods, make sure you get prescription glasses. The eye strain will reduce and also your migraine.
Inflammation of your eyes
Eye inflammation may cause blurry vision and migraine. Other symptoms of eye inflammation may include as follows:
- Swelling and redness of the eyes and eyelids
- Eye pain when you move your eyes
- Extreme sensitivity to light
It is important to visit an ophthalmologist to examine your inflamed eyes. The eye doctor may use the slit lamp method to see if there is evidence of a tumor inside or behind the eye.
If a tumor is present behind the eye, it is usually accompanied by a lot of eye pain as it will cause the eyes to bulge out. A tumor in the eye can also cause loss of vision or a defect in the peripheral vision.
Glaucoma attack
Most people suffer from open-angle glaucoma, which is usually painless. However, an angle-closure glaucoma can be painful.
An acute attack of angle closure glaucoma can result in eye pain, blurry vision migraine, and bulging red eye. However, a mild attack may just cause pain in and around the eye.
A glaucoma migraine may be instigated when there is intense pressure on the eye. For example, when a person moves from darkness to light (leaves a movie theatre). Glaucoma migraine attack needs urgent attention because it is crucial to get the eye pressure back to normal.
Optic nerve conditions
The optic nerves are part of our brain. If the pressure in the brain is high, the optic nerves become swollen. If there is a tumor present in the brain, it puts pressure on the optic nerves making them swell or produce double vision.
However, a disorder called Pseudotumor cerebri (also called idiopathic intracranial hypertension) produces high pressure in the brain with no tumor. This disorder usually affects young and overweight women. The symptoms may include the following:
- Temporary visual loss, lasting for a few seconds
- Blurry vision and migraine concentrated in or behind the eyes
- Double vision
- Whooshing sound in the ears
Optic nerve swellings have to be examined by an ophthalmologist, who may use an ophthalmoscope to diagnose the condition.
Temporal arteritis
This blurry vision and headache-causing disorder typically occurs in people above 65 years. If it is left untreated, it can cause permanent blindness.
In this condition, there is inflammation of the blood vessels that block the blood flow. The onset of this disorder can be painless, sudden, and dramatic. Some of the symptoms of temporal arteritis are as follows:
- Blurry vision and migraine
- Tenderness of the scalp
- Weakness and pain while chewing
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Joint and muscle soreness
- Night sweats
- Depression
Temporal arteritis can occur in one eye but if left untreated can rapidly progress to the other eye as well.
If you have blurry vision and migraine, you need to see an eye doctor to rule out serious possibilities. A careful evaluation of your symptoms and a comprehensive eye exam will reveal the reason behind your blurry vision and headache.
If you experience blurry vision and migraine, don’t take chances. Visit an ophthalmologist in Fresno, CA today. Make an appointment with Insight Vision Center now!
Aaron Barriga is the online marketing manager for Insight Vision Center. With a knack for understanding medical procedures, and an interest in eye and vision health, Aaron loves to share what he knows and what he learns. He blogs to inform readers about the latest eye care technology and other topics related to eye care, especially LASIK.
