In rare cases, these could be a sign of a medical emergency like astrokeormeningitis.
Eye Strain
Eye strainis one of the most common causes of headaches and blurred vision.
Overusing the focusing muscles of your eyes can cause headaches and vision changes lasting an hour or more.
Zero Creatives / Getty Images
When overusing these devices, people tend to stop blinking, causing eye dryness and vision changes.
Migraine
Amigraine headachecan cause intense one-sided head pain along with vision changes.
Stress management and avoidance ofmigraine triggersare also key to managing migraine symptoms.
If your hypoglycemia is severe, you may need a glucagon injection.
Glaucoma
Glaucomais a group of eye disorders that damage theoptic nerve.
It is an aging-relatedeye diseasethat is the second leading cause of blindness in the United States aftercataracts.
Symptoms of glaucoma include:
The treatment of glaucoma includes prescription eye drops and oral drugs likebeta-blockers.
Laser eye therapy and surgery may also be needed.
Oral or intravenouscorticosteroids(steroids) may also be given in the meantime to reduce optic nerve inflammation.
It is triggered by the reactivation of the same virus that causeschickenpox.
Oral or intravenous steroids may also be needed.
Shingles can prevented with a two-dose vaccine calledShingrix.
Meningitis
Meningitisis an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, called themeninges.
Less commonly, meningitis is due to a fungus or parasite.
The most often affect females in their childbearing years, especially those who have recently gained weight.
This, in turn, can reduce the risk of optic nerve damage.
Symptoms of GCA include:
GCA is considered a medical emergency.
If left untreated, it can cause vision loss in one or both eyes.
The treatment typically involves oral corticosteroids likeprednisoneandimmunosuppressantslike Actemera (tocilizumab).
Brain Aneurysm
Abrain aneurysmis a bulging of the wall of an artery in the brain.
The bulging can place pressure on nearby structures of the brain, causing vision problems and other neurological symptoms.
Unruptured brain aneurysms that do not cause symptoms may be left alone and monitored with routinebrain imaging tests.
For severe or symptomatic brain aneurysms, surgery may be needed.
After a patient has been stabilized, recovery and rehabilitation can begin with a team of care providers.
Summary
There are many reasons why you might have headaches and sudden vision changes.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Dehydration and heat stroke.
2019;20(1):64. doi:10.1186/s10194-019-1008-x
American Diabetes Association.
Low blood glucose (Hypoglycemia).
National Institutes of Health.Hypoglycemia.
Wilhelm H, Schabet M.The diagnosis and treatment of optic neuritis.Deutsches Arzteblatt Int.
2015;112(37):616-625. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2015.0616
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Herpes zoster ophthalmicus.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Meningitis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About bacterial meningitis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About viral meningitis.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pseudotumor cerebri.
2018;147(1):51-57. doi:10.4103/ijmr.IJMR_1665_15
Brain Aneurysm Foundation.Warning signs & symptoms.
2022;13:182. doi:10.25259/SNI_1112_2021
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Stroke symptoms.
Richards LG, Cramer SC.Advances in stroke: therapies targeting stroke recovery.Stroke.
2021;52(1):348-350. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.033231