Differential Diagnosis for Blurry Vision and Headache
- Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Migraine: This is a common condition that often presents with headache and blurry vision, which can be unilateral or bilateral. The blurry vision can be due to the migraine aura or the headache itself.
- Other Likely Diagnoses
- Tension Headache: Similar to migraines, tension headaches can cause blurry vision due to the pain and tension in the head and neck.
- Dry Eye Syndrome: This condition can cause blurry vision and eye discomfort, which may be accompanied by a headache due to eye strain.
- Refractive Errors: Uncorrected or under-corrected refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism can cause blurry vision and may lead to headaches due to eye strain.
- Sinusitis: Inflammation of the sinuses can cause headaches and blurry vision due to the pressure and congestion in the face and head.
- Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention, characterized by a sudden, severe headache (often described as "the worst headache of my life") and blurry vision due to bleeding in the brain.
- Giant Cell Arteritis: An inflammatory condition that can cause blindness if not treated promptly, presenting with headache, blurry vision, and jaw claudication.
- Pituitary Apoplexy: A rare but life-threatening condition that occurs when a pituitary tumor suddenly hemorrhages or infarcts, causing severe headache, blurry vision, and other neurological symptoms.
- Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA): A sudden onset of blurry vision and headache can be a sign of a stroke or TIA, which requires immediate medical attention to prevent further brain damage.
- Rare Diagnoses
- Multiple Sclerosis: An autoimmune condition that can cause a wide range of neurological symptoms, including blurry vision and headache.
- Optic Neuritis: Inflammation of the optic nerve that can cause blurry vision, pain, and headache.
- Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: A condition characterized by increased pressure in the brain, causing headache, blurry vision, and other neurological symptoms.
- Brain Tumors: Although rare, brain tumors can cause a variety of symptoms, including headache and blurry vision, depending on their location and size.