Blurry Vision and Headaches: Common Causes, Warning Signs and When to See an Optometrist

Blurred vision and a headache can turn up together, and the pairing can have an everyday cause such as eye strain, an out-of-date prescription or eyes that struggle to work together at close range. Sometimes the same two symptoms point to something that needs help the same day. This article explains the common causes, the warning signs that need urgent care, and what an optometrist checks when you book an eye examination for blurry vision and headaches.

Key Points About Blurred Vision and Headaches

• Healthdirect lists headaches among the symptoms that can come with blurred vision, and lists blurred eyesight and headache among the symptoms of eye strain.
• Common eye causes include refractive errors, eye strain from long periods of close work, eye teaming problems and dry eyes.
• Sudden blurred vision with dizziness, weakness or numbness on one side, a drooping face, loss of balance or slurred speech can be a sign of stroke. Call triple zero (000).
• Blurred vision that keeps coming back, or symptoms that do not settle after resting your eyes, are a reason to book an eye examination.

When Are Blurred Vision and a Headache an Emergency?

Healthdirect describes eye strain as common, but some combinations of blurred vision and headache need help straight away. According to healthdirect’s guide to blurred vision, any sudden loss of vision should be investigated right away. Get medical help immediately if your vision suddenly blurs and you also have:

• dizziness or loss of balance
• weakness or numbness on one side of your body
• a drooping face
• slurred speech

Healthdirect explains that blurred vision with these symptoms may be a sign of a stroke. If you think you or someone else is having a stroke, call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.

Sudden eye pain and redness with blurred vision is also urgent. Healthdirect’s glaucoma page describes acute angle-closure glaucoma as an emergency, with symptoms that can include sudden, severe eye pain, headache, nausea and vomiting, watery eyes, blurred vision and halos around bright lights. If you have these symptoms, go to your nearest emergency department or call triple zero (000).

What Causes Blurred Vision?

Blurred vision means the things you see do not look sharp and clear. Healthdirect notes that it can affect one or both eyes, and part or all of your vision, depending on the cause. The eye conditions it lists include refractive errors such as short-sightedness, long-sightedness, presbyopia and astigmatism, as well as dry eyes, cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, eye infection or injury, and problems with the retina such as diabetic retinopathy.

Blurred vision can also come from conditions outside the eye. Healthdirect’s list includes diabetes or low blood sugar, migraine, head injury or concussion, pre-eclampsia, multiple sclerosis, stroke and brain tumour, and it notes that some medicines can blur vision as a side effect. The sections below look at three causes that can bring on blurry vision and headaches together: eye strain, eye teaming problems and migraine.

Can Eye Strain Cause Blurred Vision and Headaches?

Yes. Healthdirect’s eye strain page lists blurred eyesight or double vision, headache, sensitivity to light, difficulty concentrating, and a sore neck, shoulders or back among the symptoms of eye strain. You may also find it hard to focus on something far away after a long stretch of near work.

Eye strain is not a disease. Healthdirect says it can follow long periods of using computers, phones, tablets or gaming consoles, as well as long drives, long reading sessions, poor lighting, tiredness or stress, and glasses or contact lenses that are missing or no longer suit you. When you concentrate on a screen or a page you tend to blink less, which can dry the surface of your eyes and leave them feeling tired. Our article on how screen time can affect your vision covers this in more detail.

Resting your eyes usually eases the discomfort. Healthdirect suggests the 20/20/20 approach: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet (about 6 metres) away for 20 seconds. If your symptoms do not improve after rest, or they get worse, healthdirect recommends seeing your doctor or an optometrist, because some serious conditions can cause symptoms that feel like eye strain.

How Do Refractive Errors Cause Blurry Vision and Headaches?

A refractive error happens when the shape of the eye stops it from bending light properly, so vision is blurred. Healthdirect describes refractive errors as the most common eye problem, and they include short-sightedness (myopia), long-sightedness (hyperopia), astigmatism and presbyopia. Working with an uncorrected or out-of-date prescription is one of the eye strain causes healthdirect lists, and eye strain can bring on a headache.

Healthdirect notes that refractive errors can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses, and that surgery may also be an option. If your glasses are not helping as much as they used to, healthdirect suggests having an eye check-up.

Can Eye Teaming Problems Cause Headaches and Blurry Vision?

Both eyes need to aim, focus and move together to give you single, clear vision. When that coordination is weak, close work takes more effort. The American Optometric Association describes convergence insufficiency as a common eye coordination problem in which the eyes drift outward during reading or other near work. The symptoms it lists include eye strain, headaches, blurred vision, double vision, trouble concentrating and frequently losing your place while reading.

The American Optometric Association also notes that most routine eye exams do not include specific testing for convergence insufficiency. A behavioural optometry assessment looks at more than sight: it also checks functional skills such as eye teaming, tracking, focusing and processing. You can read more about these problems in our article on binocular vision dysfunction. For children who rub their eyes or lose their place while reading, our article on visual stress and learning is a helpful place to start.

Migraine With Aura and Blurred Vision

Some people get an aura before or during a migraine. Healthdirect’s migraine page describes an aura as a disturbance of vision, speech or sensation that can start up to an hour before the headache. During an aura you might see flashing lights or zigzag lines in your vision. The aura goes away by itself, and some people have an aura without a headache afterwards.

Triggers differ from person to person, and healthdirect suggests keeping a migraine diary so you and your doctor can see when attacks happen and what sets them off. Healthdirect explains that your doctor can diagnose migraine and talk with you about a migraine management plan. An optometrist can check whether a vision problem, such as eye strain from an outdated prescription, is adding to your headaches.

Blurry Vision in One Eye and a Headache

Blurred vision in only one eye with a headache needs prompt attention, because some of its causes can be serious. Healthdirect describes ocular migraine as changes in vision, or even temporary total loss of vision, in one eye, while vision stays normal in the other eye. These changes go away by themselves and usually happen before a headache, but not always.

Healthdirect’s optic neuritis page lists blurred vision in one eye and pain in, around or behind the eye that feels worse when you move it. Optic neuritis usually affects one eye, and healthdirect advises seeing your doctor as soon as possible if you have these symptoms. Any sudden loss of vision, in one eye or both, should be checked straight away, and the emergency signs listed earlier in this article apply here too.

Other Causes of Blurred Vision and Eye Discomfort

Dry Eyes

Healthdirect lists dry eyes among the eye conditions that cause blurred vision, and notes that tear supplements may help when dryness is the cause. Long periods of screen work also reduce blinking, which can dry the eye surface. If dryness comes and goes with hormonal changes, our article on dry eye and menopause explains the link.

Eye Infection and Inflammation

Healthdirect includes eye infection among the causes of blurred vision. Conjunctivitis can be caused by a virus, bacteria, allergy or irritation. Uveitis is inflammation inside the eye, and healthdirect’s uveitis page lists redness, eye pain, sensitivity to light and blurred vision among its symptoms. Healthdirect advises immediate medical attention for sudden, severe eye pain, significant vision changes, persistent redness or intense sensitivity to light.

Eye Diseases That Blur Vision Over Time

Some causes of blurred vision develop slowly. Healthdirect notes that age-related macular degeneration usually starts in one eye and then moves to the other, and that glaucoma can cause vision loss through damage to the optic nerve. You can read more in our articles on macular degeneration and glaucoma.

What Happens at an Eye Examination for Blurry Vision and Headaches?

Healthdirect recommends seeing your doctor, optometrist or ophthalmologist if you notice any change in your vision or keep having blurred vision. It also suggests making notes on when your eye strain happens so you can tell your optometrist. Before your appointment, write down when the blurring and headaches start, how long they last, which eye is affected and what you were doing at the time.

At the examination, your optometrist checks your vision and prescription and looks at the health of your eyes. A behavioural optometry assessment also looks at how your eyes focus, team and track during close work. Depending on what the examination finds, your optometrist may discuss:

• Glasses or contact lenses: these correct refractive errors, and healthdirect notes that glasses with coatings and tints may be discussed for eye strain.
• Eye exercises and vision therapy: healthdirect lists eye exercises among the options for eye strain, and vision therapy can help train eye teaming and focusing skills.
• Changes to screen and reading habits: regular breaks, the 20/20/20 approach, good lighting and time outdoors.
• Lubricating eye drops: healthdirect notes that artificial tears from a pharmacy may help tired, dry eyes feel better.
• Referral: if the examination points to a medical cause, your optometrist can refer you to your GP or an ophthalmologist for further assessment and treatment.

Healthdirect also recommends having your eyes checked by an optometrist or ophthalmologist every 2 years if you do not have any eye disease, and at least every two years if you are living with diabetes.

Frequently Asked Questions About Blurred Vision and Headaches

Why do I get blurry vision and a headache after using a screen?

Long periods of screen use are one of the causes of eye strain that healthdirect lists, and blurred eyesight and headache are both symptoms of eye strain. You blink less while concentrating on a screen, which can dry your eyes. Healthdirect suggests regular breaks and the 20/20/20 approach to help prevent eye strain. If the symptoms keep returning, have your prescription and eye teaming checked.

Can the wrong glasses prescription cause headaches?

Healthdirect lists not wearing your glasses or contact lenses, or wearing ones that no longer suit you, among the causes of eye strain, and headache is a symptom of eye strain. If your glasses are not helping as much as they used to, healthdirect suggests an eye check-up.

Should I see an optometrist or a doctor for blurred vision and headaches?

For sudden blurred vision with any stroke warning sign, or sudden eye pain and redness with blurred vision, call triple zero (000) or go to an emergency department. For blurred vision that comes and goes with close work or screens, an optometrist is a good first step. Your optometrist can refer you to your GP or an ophthalmologist if the examination points to a medical cause.

Book an Eye Examination in Kincumber on the Central Coast

If you keep getting blurry vision and headaches, an eye examination can show whether your prescription, your eye teaming or another eye condition is involved. Dr Nicholas Altuneg (Dr Nick) is a behavioural optometrist at Eyes by Design in Kincumber. At your appointment he will explain what the examination found and the options that suit your eyes.

You can book an appointment online or call the practice to arrange a time.