Have blurred vision/blind spots for 10-15 minutes, then a headache for hours; what's causing them - Symptoms

5/28/08 6:42pm

Marion,

Thanks for your interesting question. Your symptoms could be the result of many different causes, and the best person to help sort things out is your doctor. Because of your prior surgery, it's very important that you consult with your physician in the near future, as there might be a connection between your symptoms and your aneurysim/surgery. There are other possible causes such as medication, migraine, eye disorders, fluctuations in blood pressure, and many more. Not all causes are serious, and, again, your doctor is the best person to get to the bottom.

Martin

aly

7/ 8/08 6:03am

hi there. i too have the same problem and it started last year and i was 21years old at that time. however i did not have any surgeries. And the only problem i think that was causing it was the old mattress and pillow which affected my neck. But i do realise i also get it when my eyes get strain, for e.g, if i were watching a movie in the cinema and later on i look into a bright light. I've gone to the hospital to have few check ups but they couldnt find the problem.This always frightens me when ever I'm out driving or just shopping and not knowing when it would hit me. sigh~ life sucks.

Michael

8/ 7/08 8:07pm

I have the same issue and my doctor diagnosed it as migrane headaches. the headaches aren't necessarily severe like what some people report from migraines and according to my doctor there are circumstances where you never actually get the headache at all. The migraine vision problems without the headache are called ophthalmic migraines. You can find an overview of this condition here: http://eugeneeyecare.com/conditions/Ophthalmic_Migraine.html.

The good news is that it generally isn't a very big deal, and if it starts happening enough to make life suck, there are treatments.

Good luck!

Chris

4/25/09 5:34pm

I have had the same thing, trying to get used to it. My had a cad-scan of my head and all was found to be OK. I work a lot on the computer and also my vision changes as I am getting older (53 years old). I think we will all live long and perhaps one day our problem will go away

DianeA

6/26/09 12:53am

This happened to me today and terrified me. I am in my early 50's, female, in good health. I don't have (or didn't last visit) high blood pressure and eyes were fine last eye doc visit (9 mo ago). I wear contacts and work at the computer 8+ hrs a day but wasn't at one much early today.

After a 2 hr drive, I walked into a corporate building today which had bright lights and suddenly lost my peripheral vision and had bright white 'spots' in my front focus. I couldn't see anything well, couldn't focus on anything directly. I didn't feel sick or anything else. After a half hour it went away, and immediately afterwards (not during) I had a bad - but not severe- headache. I rarely get headaches but I do get sharp pains above one eye occasionally. However, this was in both eyes. I did a search for my symptoms - I was expecting results like "signs of heart attack" or "Stroke," but found your post instead; it's good to know I'm not alone.
Please also see this person's post which is quite similar in symptoms:
http://ehealthforum.com/health/sudden-blurred-and-patchy-vision-lasted-about-minutes-t187742.html

D. Fagley

6/15/11 10:10pm

I have experienced the spotty, 'watery' vision several times a year for about 3 years now. Today was the first time it was followed by a bad headache. The only thing that helped was sleeping.

The first time I experienced the spotty, blurry vision, I thought of my mother who was hypo-glycemic (?). Whenever she felt bad, she would eat something with sugar in it. I thought perhaps that was what I was experiencing so I ate a piece of hard candy which did nothing. Symptoms continued until I ate an apple. The spotty vision cleared within 4-5 minutes and has worked for me every time I've had this problem. Now I carry an apply with me in my purse at all times. Today, the apple again did the trick and cleared my vision. Unfortunately, the headache followed.

J. Thomson

7/ 7/11 7:43pm

Thank you for the "apple" advise. We tried this today when one of our employees started complaining of spotty vision, watery eyes, and a headache. The headache proceeded to get worse within minutes. I logged on to the internet and read the posting about eating an apple. I ran out to the store and bought some apples. When I got back she was sitting in a dark room holding her head. I gave her the cut up apples and told her to try and eat them. 15 minutes later she was feeling great! I was amazed! Thank you so much for the great advise. Do you know what is in the apples that helps aleve these symptoms?

Dee

2/ 1/12 6:59pm

wow thts crazy u mentioned an apple because I had been craving an apple all thru my episode today after i saw sum1 cutting one up in front of me an too embarressed to ask for a piece but next time im going to listen to my body...I was thinking that this could of been related to my arrythmia problem i have because a couple times thru out i had fast heart rate w/ blood pressure dropping became pale and VERY tired and weak the whole day after the lights in my eyes for 10-15 mins then the massive headache came, rate it 7/10 an then took extra strength Tylenol 600mg an lied down for an hour an still felt horrible but my vision was back to normal an headache went to a 2/10 but now still very tired an weak, never had migranes in my life and im 30yrs old...did any1 else experience all those symptoms as well?

laura wilcox

9/ 7/09 9:12pm

1 week ago on a Friday, my blood pressure had gone up to 186/120, it oscilated for 5 days between 176/95 and so on. However, it went back to normal after a few days with the right medication dosage. However, my company dr. did no like some of the symptons I was experiencing and run an EKG which resulted abnormal with 'possible anterior infarction' However, my blood pressure has been 140/85 and I have no other symptons. Should I go to the ER or just set up an appointment with a cardiologist?

Zr388

11/ 5/10 11:39pm

I have clustered headaches, and I have for years. I'm eighteen, but take my response seriously! I've seen a number of doctors for this. Funny enough, my symptoms started up in 08. I was diagnosed with epilepsy for this after extensive EKG/EEG tests, an MRI, and sleep exams. If you start to feel lightheaded, or your vision begins fading SIT DOWN IMMEDIATELY. You -can- hurt yourself when this happens.

treyduke22

2/ 2/11 2:50am

I have had this problem for about 6 years now...the first time it happened it REALLY worried me, but it happens about 2-3 times per year, normally followed by a headache that lasts a long time. Not super severe, but very nagging. The blurry spots come completely random. I can feel it coming before it actually does, and then a small tiny spot becomes slightly blurry in the center of my vision, then it starts expanding outward towards the out edge of my vision. The spots look like a pulstating dull light, it kind of looks like when you press on your eyeballs with your eyes closed and it makes those weird patterns in your vision, but when your eyes are open, and smaller. It eventually works its way completely out of vision and then the headache starts. Sleep seems to fix it...so maybe it's a lack of sleep or sleep disorder, I have lots of trouble falling asleep...all I know is, I thought it was something much more severe, but it's been happening to me for years now, since I was only 22, so I doubt it's a heart issue or anything major or I would have probably died by now. I never saw a doctor about it, and I just deal with it when it happens. Im also allergic to aspirin...and I have a lot of stomach issues (probably irrital bowel syndrome)...maybe they are related??? Just don't freak out about it, see a doctor if you're stressing. But I've had no real health problems in my life, so it's probably just migraines symptoms brought on by all sorts of different things.

tblevins28

3/29/11 11:45am

I had that exact problem when I was a teenager and now my 16 year old daughter is experiencing the same thing. I took her to the eye dr and his said when we are young there is a thick gel type substance behind our eyes that becomes more liquid as we get older but in some people the gel liquifies faster causing these migrane type headaches. My headaches stopped in my late twenties and the eye dr said while it is uncomfortable it is not life threatening, so maybe soon you will "grow" out of it too! Hope its helpful!

treyduke22

2/ 2/11 2:53am

Oh, and I also worried it may be diabetes or high blood pressure....my wife is a nurse and she actually checked my blood pressure at home manually and with a machine while I was having the blurry vision and headaches, it was 118/78.....and my wife's grandfather checked my blood sugar during the episodes, and it was normal. Clearly no diabetes or high blood pressure....my guess is definately migraines if you aren't having any other symptoms.

xrb07

4/ 5/11 11:14am

Hi, I also have the same problem - a blurry spot that turns into a fizzy line across my vision, then i get blind spots at the corner of my eyes followed by a headache. I'm 21 and i first started getting this around the age of 16/17. they only happen rarely and last for around 30 minutes. I've mentioned it to my optician and he's done a few tests and has put it done to opthalmic migranes which isnt anything serious. Only advice i can give is when you feel it coming on, if you can, go and lay down with your eyes shut until the blurred vision stops. This prevents the headache that comes after it. It works for me.

Bluett45

3/16/11 4:32pm

I haven't had surgery but i get blind spots every now and then, they just pop up randomly, it starts out as a small blind spot then when it gets bigger my head starts hurting bad, then the spot is big and i can only see things through the corners of my eye, then i feel like i have to throw up and i do, my head dosen't hurt as much after that and the spot goes away. i bumped my forehead when i was playing on a playground, i had ran into a metal bar. does that have something to do with this?

Lil_man

3/16/11 5:43pm

I have had this just today, im 16 and get this every once and a great while. It starts with a blind spot dead center in my vision and the after 10-15 minutes my perephial vison get all bright and i cant see out of it, then i get a migrane but it goes away and leaves a part of my head hurting for a few days, i've gone to the eye doctor and nothing was wrong. Any ideas???

ctreynolds6

3/28/11 10:15pm

I also had an aneurysm on my ascending aorta. I had surgery to fix it in 2006, I was 33. I also get blurry spots in my vision. Over time it happens more often, about 2-3 times a week. My doctor has found nothing to explain. It is really anoying and I dont know what to do?

Jessica Thompson

5/21/11 4:36am

It sounds like most of y'all are suffering from a scatoma. My boss is a psychiatrist and one day I had a spot in my eye, followed by a painful headache. It happened more than once. I discovered I popped an ibuprofen as soon as the scatoma started, I wouldn't have the headache. One time I tried sleeping through the headache and it was way too painful to sleep because I hadnt taken the ibuprofen until it was too late because the headache had already started.

Burt

5/23/11 12:00am

This just happened to me and it has occurred a number of times before. I just took some aleve and smoked some ganj as soon as my vision began to blur and it preempted the migrain strike. The aleve alone has failed to prevent it in the past but the herb is always a relief. It's obviously not for everyone and I'm not trying to spark up a weed debate, that's just what works for me.

pamela

5/25/11 11:06am

This episode just happened to me again. At least this is the 6th time and I don't know what to do during the attack. I want to clarify and put an emphasis on how symptoms start. I know that as soon as I eat something greasy could happen so now I am so afraid to eat Mc Donalds, Wendy's or a fast food restaurant because the attack happened right after I ate a couple of nuggets. The first time happened on black friday probably because I had lack of sleep ( i woke up at 5 am to shop ) and eating a cuban croqueta (greasy ham pastry) after that i couldn't continue with my shopping cause the bright blurry vision and headache started inside the store, I went home and had to induce vomit after that I felt little better. My co-worker told me that the same thing happened to him after he ate a salad and the list continues no matter what or where I eat. I am tracking every single episode and trying to related it with the food but its impossible. I am scare of this because at this point I don't know how to prevent it. Please does anybody help us with this gastro, psycho, cardiac problem?

Linda

7/ 7/11 8:15pm

I had something similar, like flashing lights for 5 - 10 minutes, not able to see well, then a headache. Went to the opthomologist, had a CT scan, nothing showed up.

The Dr. said it's the beginning of a migraine that never actually turns into a migraine. I usually had them when I was really stressed at work. Now that I'm retired, I don't have them anymore.

Christina

7/25/11 7:31pm

I started getting them about three years ago, about once or twice a year. The first time frightened me and I went to a doctor, but it took so long to see one the my headaches weren't as severe when he finally saw me. The next couple of years it was not as bad so I stopped worrying about them. But today had me scared again. I don't think it was anything I ate because I had a orange, and it was the environment, because the first time was at work, where as this time I was in my room just reading. But it started with spotty vision and I didn't think much of it because the last few headaches weren't so bad, but when the headaches started, it was so bad, I couldn't move and started crying. After a while it would centralize behind one eye, and I bacame sick this time too and started throwing up. I tried to sleep but it took me hours for the pain to subside before I could. If anyone has any idea how to make this better please let me know.

linzi

8/13/11 8:57pm

i really think this is computer related for me, the 1st time it happened i had been working on cruise ships for 2 years with not much time spent on the computers and then came back home to work as an accounts assistant 8 hours a day on a computer, within 2 weeks i suddenly couldnt see at my desk, i thought i was going to faint, like them speckles you get, but then i realised i wasnt, i got really up set and put my head between my knees but nothing helped. it happened another few times over the next 6 months so i went to the optitions who said one of my eyes was lazy, .25 and one was perfect, and to monitor the episodes to see whether it was worth using glasses for the computer, anyway it only happened about 6 times in the last 2 years, then all off a sudden after over a 2 week break from computers, in the last week its happened 4 times, reading all your answers makes me feel so much better, but i think i will also go back to the optitions. i get a dull headache hours later after the loss of sight

ladyredjax4453

12/14/11 7:11pm

I have been having similar episodes of vision problems, the white lights in field of vision and blood pressure rises. my neurologist put me on seizure medicine and said it was probably seizure episodes. the medicine has seemed to help alot. I still have the episodes, just less frequent and intense. My other doctor thinks they are ministrokes happening and when he did an mri of my brain it actually showed I had several ministrokes. so it is either a ministroke or seizure happening. mary s

Eddd

1/28/12 5:50am

I have also been having the burred vision issues, with a type of tunnel vision, distortions and sort of blind spots, episodes last about half a hour. I was getting them up to two times a day, with maybe a very slight headache afterwards (note that I never get headaches, except possibly after drinking way too much). They started ten years ago, at the time my sister who is a nurse said to try zinc as she said some men my age (45+) can need more zinc as they get older. I then took a zinc tablet every day and the episodes stopped completely (at that time I had been experiencing the blurry episodes daily for over a year). Now after nearly ten years of no episodes they returned to around once a day (usually while in front of the computer, but not always). I have now doubled my zinc dose and this seems to have reduced them to a couple of times a week. Yes, I have been to few doctors, none seemed to be interested in my problem…they said it did not fit the symptoms of anything serious and said to keep taking the zinc if it worked, they also offered to refer me to a neurologist. Note that the zinc I took (Herron Zinc Complex) has other ingredients such as magnesium, vitamin A and B6 and some other stuff that may have been playing a part.

Might try the apple as a previous poster recommended, although I eat apples often. I would be interested in what others have found useful if anything before I go to a neurologist for what will probably turn out to be an expensive wasted effort.

Eddd

1/28/12 5:53am

I have also been having the burred vision issues, with a type of tunnel vision, distortions and sort of blind spots, episodes last about half a hour. I was getting them up to two times a day, with maybe a very slight headache afterwards (note that I never get headaches, except possibly after drinking way too much). They started ten years ago, at the time my sister who is a nurse said to try zinc as she said some men my age (45+) can need more zinc as they get older. I then took a zinc tablet every day and the episodes stopped completely (at that time I had been experiencing the blurry episodes daily for over a year). Now after nearly ten years of no episodes they returned to around once a day (usually while in front of the computer, but not always). I have now doubled my zinc dose and this seems to have reduced them to a couple of times a week. Yes, I have been to few doctors, none seemed to be interested in my problem…they said it did not fit the symptoms of anything serious and said to keep taking the zinc if it worked, they also offered to refer me to a neurologist. Note that the zinc I took (Herron Zinc Complex) has other ingredients such as magnesium, vitamin A and B6 and some other stuff that may have been playing a part.

Might try the apple as a previous poster recommended, although I eat apples often. I would be interested in what others have found useful if anything before I go to a neurologist for what will probably turn out to be an expensive wasted effort.

amdoc

2/ 7/12 11:26am

Was very good to read so many people describing my symptoms and discussing their experiences in seeking medical and food-related answers. I'm 48 and have experienced these half-hour spotty vision episodes that start in the middle of vision field and end in the pulsating peripheral lights, followed by dull headache for about 3 decades. Often try to work through them but reading and focusing attention become nearly impossible for the middle 15 minutes or so. Used to think it was hypo-glycemia and now believe it is definitely a nutritional imbalance or deficiency. Have had periods over the last 30 years with a year or two without an episode and periods (like at present) where I'll get them nearly daily for several weeks to months. Many, many times I have immediately gone to eat something to see if it helps. Last 2 times was citrus and didn't help. Next time will be an apple thanks to reading this blog. Hope to someday learn exactly what this is and how to handle it.

SRCJ

2/ 8/12 2:31pm

I've been having similar vision problem without the headaches since 1998. It happens so randomly aI can't link a pattern to it. It ust happened to me 15 minutes ago and it is already gone. I found this site because I wanted to figure out what was happening. My episodes only seem to happen about 3 to 10 times a year. An earlier post seemed to think it was a nutritional imbalance. I tend to agree. Todays episode happened after eating food that I don't normally eat anymore. The first time this happened I was freaking out and ran to burger king and ate a ham and cheese cresandwich hashbrowns and a coke and the symptoms were gone in a few minutes. Everytime after that I woukd eat some sort of nutritious food and the symptoms would subside. Strawberry yogurt has worked. I never tried candy nor would I. Today I just let it take its course while reading these posts and it lasted about 15 minutes. I have to say whenever I start a diet plan to lose a little weight and diet with good food to maintain my weight. I never have the problem. Today though I stepped off and ate a bunch of fried food for lunch and here I am trying to figure out what is going on. I was happy to see that other people have had similar experiences because any doctor I have talked to has had no answers

SRCJ

2/ 8/12 2:33pm

I've been having similar vision problem without the headaches since 1998. It happens so randomly aI can't link a pattern to it. It ust happened to me 15 minutes ago and it is already gone. I found this site because I wanted to figure out what was happening. My episodes only seem to happen about 3 to 10 times a year. An earlier post seemed to think it was a nutritional imbalance. I tend to agree. Todays episode happened after eating food that I don't normally eat anymore. The first time this happened I was freaking out and ran to burger king and ate a ham and cheese cresandwich hashbrowns and a coke and the symptoms were gone in a few minutes. Everytime after that I woukd eat some sort of nutritious food and the symptoms would subside. Strawberry yogurt has worked. I never tried candy nor would I. Today I just let it take its course while reading these posts and it lasted about 15 minutes. I have to say whenever I start a diet plan to lose a little weight and diet with good food to maintain my weight. I never have the problem. Today though I stepped off and ate a bunch of fried food for lunch and here I am trying to figure out what is going on. I was happy to see that other people have had similar experiences because any doctor I have talked to has had no answers

Billy

2/11/12 5:50pm

I have the exact same problem, in fact had one 1hr ago. It started when I was 16 (19 now), out of nowhere I get blurry spots in my vision, when they're gone a headache kicks in. And I'm pretty inclined to think it's a computer-related problem, because out of about 30 ocurrences 29 I was on the computer. The only exception was one morning when I was getting ready to work. And sometimes it takes months for it to happen again, but in some periods it happens every other day. Even though I believe it has to do with computer use, I'll totally try the apple advice, just in case.

Noelle

2/24/12 8:21am

I'm 17 and I have been getting these headaches for a few years now, and I think I finally know why it happens. I noticed that the times I get them are when I don't eat a whole lot that day or the night before. Eating at the time I get the headache doesn't help, only sleep does or just continuing what I'm doing in pain, eventually it goes away. But if I eat a healthy amount of food every meal of the day I can avoid the headaches.

Matilda

3/18/12 5:19am

i have the same problem too, im twelve and have had this since i was 8 i get atleast one a month, my record is 3 a week, and mine are agony and sometimes make me vomit constantly until i feel better.! people tell me the cause is not enough water, or i put strain on my neck or i spend too much time on the computer. I think its the water one though. Any suggestions?

Tyler

4/ 9/12 11:35am

Wow and I thought I was the only person with this problem. I will randomly lose my vision for about a half hour then a terrible headach will follow for 3-4 hours. I'm 18 years old and have had this problem since I was around 12-13 years old, having an episode about every 3 months. I will try the apple trick, but the only thing that worked for me a couple times is throwing on my glasses almost at the peak of losing ur sight. So about 20 minutes after I lose my vision I put on my glasses. Works for me, my vision comes back within minutes and NO headach or dizzyness follows.

Christoph van Zyl

4/13/12 4:39am

Please don't get your hopes up, but I think I have found the answer. I first noticed the problem when I was still in school and have been searching for the cure for about 6 years now. This morning I had an epiphany when I had a similar attack. The main culprit is caffeine. The symtoms occur only when taking quite a lot of it, maybe 3 strong cups a day. It is also found in some sportdrinks and some alcoholic drinks like Hunters Extreme and Potency. When the attacks occur go into a dark room and wait for 15 to 20 minutes whilst closing your eyes. I believe some people are more sensitive to caffeine than others. About the apple story, I believe anything works as long as it breaks down the concentration of caffeine. I really hope this can help you and I believe it will. All praise to God almighty and to Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord for I was blind but now I see.

Brickhouse3539

5/10/12 11:20pm

I have had 3 episodes(center focal blindness followed by a headache) over the last three years with the last one being today. It happened about 10am. For breakfast at 7am I had an egg and cheese sandwich made at home, took a multi vitamin, and then a protein drink. Around 9am, I decided to drink a small can of red bull. Around 10am I started to feel a little hungry and within a few minutes my hunger grew very quickly which is when the blindness started. I rarely ever drink caffinated drinks but because I did and I was later hungry, it's hard to say it was one or the other or a combination. I don't recall drinking caffeine when the other episodes happened but I may have been hungry. It was great to read other's posts so I hope this helps us all put it together since it seems doctors can't.

Brickhouse3539

5/10/12 11:37pm

I forgot to mention that I was using a computer at work all three times this happened.

idiotic_explanation

5/ 4/12 6:08am

I don't know if I am right or wrong. But I have a different explanation for this. It happens to me only when I have stomach in my gas. Due to acidity when there is a gas build up in my stomach sometimes it gets into my head and I get the blurry vision and when the blussy vision vanishes the headache makes an entry. I also feel pukish with the headaches.

Q: Have blurred vision/blind spots for 10-15 minutes, then a headache for hours; what's causing them

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