Eye Conditions That Trigger Blurry Vision and Migraines

  Last Updated on July 18, 2022 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 a bad eyesight.

The result can be blurry vision and migraine. Read on to understand what cause migraines that are vision related.

Migraine Triggers: Eye Conditions That Are Responsible for Blurred Vision and Migraines

 

• Strain on your eyes

 

 

 

1. Improper focusing or improper alignment of the eyes causes eye strain. Eye conditions such as farsighted, nearsighted or

astigmatism

1. 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 of time, make sure you get prescription glasses. The eye strain will reduce and also your migraine.

 

1. 1. Inflammation of your eyes

Eye inflammation may cause blurry vision and migraine. Other symptoms of eye inflammation may include as follows:

1. 1. • 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 tumor inside or behind the eye.

If a tumor is present behind the eye, it is usually accompanied with 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 defect in the peripheral vision.

 

1. 1. 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 and 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.

 

1. 1. 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 the young and overweight women. The symptoms may include the following:

1. 1. • 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 examined by the ophthalmologist, who may use an ophthalmoscope to diagnose the condition.

 

1. 1. 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:

1. 1. • 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!