Headache is the most common pain experienced by people worldwide and is usually nothing to worry about. Therefore, sometimes associated symptoms experienced with the headache can indicate a serious underlying condition that can in return have serious complications. Headache and Blurred Vision is one such condition that requires serious medical attention. Some of the possible causes are:
- Migraine
- Hypoglycemia
- Post-Traumatic Headache
- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
- Alcohol Induced Headache
- Eye Strain Headache
- Orthostatic Headache
- Hypotension Headache
- Spinal Headache
- Glaucoma
- Hypertension Headache
- Brain Aneurysm
- Brain Hemorrhage
1- Migraine
Auras come up as warning signs 15 to 20 minutes ( in some cases) a day before a Migraine, these include visual symptoms like photophobia, Blurred vision, and phonophobia and are followed by a migraine attack.
Symptoms:
- Severe headache, throbbing in character.
- Nausea and vomiting
- Auras: Fortification spectra , teichopsia .
- Blurred Vision
- Shimmering, silvery, zigzag lines marching across the visual fields.
- A temporary visual field loss (in some cases).
- Ringing in the ears.
- Photophobia and phonophobia
Causes:
Auras in a Migraine occur due to dysfunctional ion channels causing depolarization and hyperpolarization at cortical front. This process spreads over the cortex at the rate of about 3mm/min which is roughly the time of aura’s symptomatic spread.
Treatment:
- Analgesics: Aspirin, Paracetamol, Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
- Antiemetic for nausea : Metoclopramide, Domperidone
- Triptans: Sumatriptan is administered by oral subcutaneous or nasal route
2- Hypoglycemia
Skipping meals, rigorous dieting, and taking meals at longer intervals can all cause Hypoglycemia that can result in a Fasting Headache and Blurred Vision along with several other associated symptoms.
Symptoms:
- Nausea and Dizziness
- Tremors
- Hunger pangs
- Blurred Vision
- Loss of coordination
- State of confusion
- Low mood and Energy levels
Causes:
As the body goes into Fasting, the Blood Glucose levels drop too low with the passage of time. Some people eat food with high carbohydrate content before the fast begins giving a spike up to their blood-glucose levels when their body goes into fasting mode, a sharp decline in blood sugar levels might trigger a Fasting Headache.
Treatment:
- Over the counter Analgesics: Acetaminophen, Aspirin, Ibuprofen can help.
- Oral Rehydration Solution: can overcome the electrolyte depletion very fast.
3- Post-Traumatic Headache
People who undergo a Traumatic Brain Injury develop a Headache and Blurred Vision very often due to injury to the brain structures or nerve.
Symptoms:
- Dizziness
- Insomnia
- Blurred vision and Concentration Problems
- Dementia
- Sensitivity to light and sound.
- Decreased Reaction time
- Anterograde Amnesia
- Tinnitus
Causes:
The violent shaking of the body can damage the nerves or even the blow to the brain can also prove fatal at times. Any sort of injury to the Ophthalmic nerve or edema due to swelling of brain structures can result in a blurred vision.
Treatment:
- Anti-Inflammatories: Aspirin, Acetaminophen.
- Anti-Hypertensives: B-blockers, Calcium channel blockers.
- Anti-Depressants: SSRIs
4- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Exposure to carbon monoxide can lead to the development of a sudden headache and other symptoms like dizziness and a Blurred vision.
Symptoms:
- Sudden onset of a throbbing Headache
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Suffocation and shortness of breath
- Cyanosed skin
Causes:
Carbon monoxide has a higher affinity than oxygen and binds more readily to red blood cells impairing the oxygen perfusion. This causes suffocation and other functions to get impaired once an adequate amount of oxygen is not delivered to the cells.
Treatment:
Early treatment with oxygen is done to reduce the length of time red blood cells are exposed to CO.
5- Alcohol Induced Headache
Drinking excessive alcohol-containing beverages often results in a Headache and Blurred Vision that are characteristic traits of a hangover.
Symptoms:
- Headache and Diarrhea
- Loss of coordination
- Blurred vision
- Photophobia and phonophobia
- Loss of appetite but increased thirst
Causes:
- Alcoholic drinks contain Histamine which causes inflammation in the body. It provokes the immune system to make more histamine thus excessive inflammation runs throughout the body.
- Red wine particularly increases the Serotonin levels that are important triggers for a migraine.
- Vasodilation in skull and brain vessels is also one reason for Headaches.
Treatment:
- Anti-inflammatory substances block the production of enzymes that cause headaches.
- Vitamin B6 help gets rid of Alcohol faster from the body.
- N-acetyl cysteine reduces the effect of Alcohol on the Liver making your hangover less severe.
6- Eye Strain Headache
Eye Strain Headache is mostly present in people who work on a computer screen or try to focus on bright or dim lights for too long and makes it difficult for them to focus on work due to Headache and Blurred Vision.
Symptoms:
- Blurred vision
- Dry or watery eyes
- Photophobia
- Redness of eyes.
- Burning and itching in the eyes
- Difficulty in concentration
Causes:
- Being exposed to bright lights
- Driving for too long
- Reading without taking rest
- Being stressed out and fatigued
Treatment:
- Over the counter, analgesics can be taken such as Aspirin, Acetaminophen, and Ibuprofen.
- Natural tears can be used as a lubricant for dry eyes.
- Muscle relaxants for fatigue.
7- Orthostatic Headache
Orthostatic Headache worsens when you stand up and subsides upon lying down. The pain usually becomes debilitating when a person stands up but goes away slowly in a duration of 20 to 30 minutes upon lying down but associated symptoms such as Dizziness and Blurred Vision persist for another half an hour.
Symptoms:
- Severe pain at the back of the head
- Vision problems such as Blurred vision
- Low blood pressure
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Confusion
Causes:
Orthostatic Headache is mainly due to low pressure exerted at the brain by Cerebrospinal fluid. This can be due to many reasons such as CSF leak, and others. As the CSF volume decreases, brain buoyancy decreases, and the brain along with other skull contents shifts downwards stretching the Dura along with it, causing a headache.
Treatment:
- IV fluids: for low blood pressure and Hypovolemia.
- Anti-Emetics: Metoclopramide for nausea.
- Epidural Blood Patch: to seal the CSF leak.
8- Hypotension Headache
Hypotension, also known as Low Blood pressure can cause Headaches if the blood pressure drops too low. The hypoxia associated with low B.P is the main cause of Headache and Blurred Vision.
Symptoms:
- Headache at the back of Head
- Confusion
- Lethargy
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision and Nausea
- Palpitations and A weak pulse
- Cold and sweats
Causes:
As the blood pressure drops down, the blood supply towards the brain decreases and it does not get enough oxygen and nutrients. This creates a state of hypoxia. Very less blood flow toward the brain can lead to ischemic shock which releases inflammatory mediators that cause Hypotension Headache. The pain usually increases upon bending forward or lying down.
Treatment:
- Fluids and electrolytes such as oral rehydration serum are given to combat dehydration.
- Hypovolemia due to blood loss can be treated by giving IV fluids and blood transfusions.
- Any sort of medicine that might be causing Hypotension can be adjusted by stopping the medicine for the time being.
9- Spinal Headache
This is common in around 50% of the people who undergo Spinal Anaesthesia or lumbar puncture but the pain may vary in intensity and symptoms, from person to person. Some individuals experience Spinal Headaches alone while others have dizziness, nausea, and blurred vision along with several other symptoms.
Symptoms:
- A dull, throbbing headache
- Dizziness and nausea
- Tinnitus
- Hearing loss
- Blurred or double vision (diplopia)
- Neck stiffness
Causes:
Spinal Headache occurs due to a decrease in pressure exerted by the spinal fluid on the brain and spinal cord when a spinal tap, epidural block, or lumbar puncture is performed.
Treatment:
- Caffeine: a strong coffee or any other drink high in caffeine.
- Complete bed rest: Bed rest for 24 to 48 hours is mandatory.
- Analgesics: to relieve the pain.
- Epidural blood patch
10- Glaucoma
Glaucoma is the major cause of blindness in people over the age of 60 years. This is characterized by a Severe debilitating Headache and Blurred vision due to angle closure.
Symptoms:
- Severe eye pain
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Blurred vision
- Halos around the eyes
Causes:
Abnormally high Intraocular pressure can lead to compression of the Optic Nerve that leads to loss of vision and development of glaucoma.
Treatment:
Laser eye treatment and Surgery are the only treatment options along with ocular pressure-lowering drugs
11- Hypertension Headache
Hypertension causes increased pressure on the brain and leakiness of blood vessels in the brain, disrupting the blood-brain barrier and resulting in a Headache along with other significant problems like nose bleeds and blurring of vision.
Symptoms:
- Feeling of pressure at the back of Head and shoulders.
- Nose bleeds
- Facial Flushing
- Subconjunctival hemorrhages.
- Blurred vision.
- Nausea and vomiting
Causes:
Hypertension causes the leakiness of blood vessels in the brain. This disrupts the blood-brain barrier and causes a headache.
Treatment:
- Beta-blockers: Propanolol
- Potassium channel blockers: Amiodarone.
- Antidiuretics: Chlorpromazine.
- Vasodilators: Captopril.
12- Brain Aneurysm
A weakened blood vessel wall can sometimes dilate and form an aneurysm inside the brain. This is generally asymptomatic but becomes life threatening once it ruptures.
Symptoms:
- Sudden onset of severe headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Blurry vision and photophobia
- Loss of consciousness and seizures
Causes:
A ruptured aneurysm causes pooling of blood and increased intracranial pressure. This can compress the ophthalmic Nerve and result in blurred vision along with other serious symptoms.
Treatment:
In case of an emergency, your doctor might give you an NSAID to reduce the swelling (inflammation) before carrying on with the rest of the treatment.
If the headache is caused by a thrombus- anticoagulants would be given.
In case of a ruptured vessel or severe hemorrhage, your doctor might have to operate on you to treat the cause.
13- Brain hemorrhage
An Aneurysm can sometimes rupture and cause Subarachnoid Hemorrhage which leads to the severe onset of a Headache and other associated symptoms such as vomiting and blurred vision with it.
Symptoms:
- Severe throbbing headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Blurred vision
- Loss of consciousness
- Lack of coordination
Causes:
Internal bleeding in the brain leads to decreased oxygen supply to the brain cells. The constant bleeding creates pressure in the brain and causes ischemic necrosis which results in Headache and Blurred vision.
Treatment:
- A surgical process would be required to treat the cause.
When should I consult the doctor?
Below are some situations that indicate a serious medical condition where you should consult the doctor as soon as possible. If the headache is severe in character abrupt in onset you don’t have any vision problems and the blurred vision is new to you if the symptoms only worsen with passing time.
FAQ
If the blurred vision is accompanied by other symptoms it can indicate an underlying cause. However, blurring alone indicates a refractive error.
Hemorrhage results in hypoxia and eventually cell death, that causes headache. Also, the lack of blood supply to cells results in blurring of vision.
Complete loss of vision can occur if not treated at initial stages.
There are several conditions that cause headaches and also affect the nerve to the eye, along with that eyes are in close proximity to the head and any sort of pressure can affect the eyes and thus Blurred vision.
