Differential Diagnosis for Blurry Vision Episode
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Migraine: A common condition that can cause transient blurry vision, often accompanied by headache, nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- Dry eye syndrome: A condition characterized by insufficient tear production, leading to blurry vision, eye irritation, and discomfort.
- Refractive errors (e.g., myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism): Uncorrected or under-corrected vision problems can cause blurry vision.
- Cataracts: A clouding of the lens in the eye, leading to blurry vision, especially in older adults.
- Glaucoma: A group of eye conditions that can cause blurry vision, eye pain, and vision loss if left untreated.
- Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.)
- Stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA): Sudden blurry vision, especially if accompanied by other symptoms like weakness, numbness, or speech difficulties, can be a sign of a stroke or TIA.
- Giant cell arteritis: An inflammatory condition that can cause sudden, severe vision loss, especially in older adults.
- Retinal detachment: A medical emergency that can cause sudden, severe vision loss if not promptly treated.
- Optic neuritis: Inflammation of the optic nerve, which can cause blurry vision, pain, and vision loss.
- Rare diagnoses
- Multiple sclerosis: A chronic condition that can cause blurry vision, among other symptoms, due to demyelination of the optic nerve.
- Thyroid eye disease: A condition that can cause blurry vision, double vision, and eye bulging due to thyroid hormone imbalance.
- Sjögren's syndrome: An autoimmune disorder that can cause dry eye syndrome, leading to blurry vision and eye discomfort.
- Pituitary tumors: Rare tumors that can cause blurry vision, especially if they compress the optic nerve.