Differential Diagnosis for Unilateral Headache and Blurry Vision
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Migraine: This is often characterized by unilateral headaches, which can be accompanied by visual disturbances such as blurry vision, photophobia, and sometimes aura symptoms including visual auras.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Cluster Headache: Known for severe, unilateral headaches, often accompanied by autonomic symptoms like lacrimation and nasal congestion. Blurry vision can occur due to the intense pain or associated autonomic features.
- Tension-Type Headache: While typically bilateral, tension-type headaches can occasionally present unilaterally and may cause sensitivity to light, potentially leading to complaints of blurry vision due to discomfort.
- Optic Neuritis: An inflammatory condition of the optic nerve that can cause unilateral blurry vision, pain on eye movement, and sometimes headache.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Giant Cell Arteritis: A condition that can lead to severe, unilateral headaches and visual disturbances, including blurry vision. It's critical to diagnose promptly to prevent permanent vision loss.
- Temporal Arteritis: Similar to giant cell arteritis, it can cause unilateral headache and visual symptoms, including blurry vision, and requires urgent diagnosis and treatment.
- Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA): Though less common, unilateral headache and blurry vision can be symptoms of a stroke or TIA, especially if accompanied by other neurological deficits.
- Pituitary Apoplexy: A medical emergency where a pituitary tumor suddenly hemorrhages or infarcts, leading to severe headache, visual disturbances (including blurry vision), and potentially life-threatening hormonal imbalances.
Rare Diagnoses
- Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH): Characterized by increased intracranial pressure without a detectable cause, leading to symptoms like unilateral or bilateral headache and transient visual obscurations, which might be described as blurry vision.
- Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis: A rare condition involving a blood clot in the cavernous sinus, which can cause headache, visual disturbances, and cranial nerve deficits.
- Ocular Migraine: A condition that causes temporary visual symptoms, including blurry vision, which can be unilateral and may or may not be accompanied by headache.