Can migraines cause blurry vision?

Have you ever noticed your vision going blurry just before or during a migraine? It can feel alarming, especially if it hits suddenly, but it’s more common than you might think.

Blurry vision may occur before the pain starts, during the headache itself, or even as things begin to ease. For some, it shows up as part of aura, while for others it comes with no clear warning at all. If you’ve ever asked yourself can migraines cause blurry vision, then understanding how they affect your sight can help you feel more in control of your symptoms.

In this article, we’ll explore what blurry vision from migraine feels like, why it happens, how to tell if it’s migraine-related, and what to do when it shows up.

What Does Blurry Vision from Migraine Feel Like?

Blurry vision during a migraine can feel very disorienting, as if your world has suddenly lost sharpness. Some people notice a general haze across their vision, like looking through frosted glass. For others, it can be more specific, such as having blurry vision in just one eye or patchy areas where sight fades in and out of focus.

These changes can happen before the headache begins, often during what's known as the aura phase, or they may show up during the migraine attack itself. Aura usually involves visual disturbances like flashing lights, zigzags, or blind spots, but some people also report general blurriness or difficulty focusing as part of that early warning sign.

Even when not part of a classic aura, blurry vision before migraine is a common experience. It often fades once the episode passes, but the experience can still feel unsettling in the moment, especially if you’re not expecting it.

Everyone’s experience is slightly different, but if these visual changes tend to happen alongside your migraines, they may be part of the same neurological process. Paying attention to how your vision changes during migraine can help you feel more prepared if it happens again.

Why Does It Happen?

The visual changes you may notice with migraine, including blurriness, often come from temporary shifts in how the brain processes visual information. This is especially true if the blurriness happens before the headache phase or alongside other early symptoms.

This may have to do with a wave of electrical and chemical activity in the brain, known as cortical spreading depression. This wave moves slowly across the outer layer of the brain, including the visual cortex, which helps process what we see. As it travels through, it can briefly disrupt normal visual signals and lead to effects like flashing lights, shimmering shapes, or blurred vision. These are symptoms that are often part of what’s called aura.

Changes in how blood flows may also play a role in blurred vision, as some areas of the brain can become unusually active or receive less blood during a migraine.

Even when your eyes are completely healthy, these brain-based changes can affect how you see during a migraine.

Ocular Migraines vs. Regular Migraines with Blurry Vision

An Ocular migraine is a temporary vision loss or blurriness in just one eye. It’s thought to be caused by reduced blood flow to the retina or other parts of the visual system. These episodes are rare, often last only a few minutes, and may occur with or without head pain.

Many people notice changes in vision during a regular migraine, such as flashing lights, shimmering patterns, or general blurriness. This makes it easy to confuse ocular and regular migraines. If both eyes are affected, or you see patterns, zigzags, or blind spots, it’s more likely part of a typical migraine with aura.

So just because you have blurry vision, it doesn’t mean it’s an ocular migraine. What matters is whether it affects one eye or both, how it starts, and whether it matches your usual migraine patterns.

How to Tell If Migraine Is the Cause of Blurred Vision?

Blurred vision can be unsettling, especially if it comes on suddenly or without warning. If it tends to happen before, during, or after a migraine, there’s a good chance it’s part of the same process. But not all blurred vision is migraine-related, so it helps to look at the bigger picture.

Migraine-related vision changes usually come with other familiar signs, like sensitivity to light, nausea, or a throbbing headache. These episodes are often short-lived and may follow a similar pattern each time. In some cases, visual symptoms may appear without any head pain at all. This is sometimes called a silent or acephalgic migraine, and it can follow a similar pattern to your usual attacks.

If the blurriness affects both eyes, feels familiar, or fades as the migraine eases, it’s more likely connected to your migraine. In some cases, such as ocular migraine, the blurriness may only affect one eye, but it still tends to follow a recognizable pattern.

That said, there are many other possible causes of blurred vision. These include things like eye strain, dehydration, low blood sugar, medication side effects, or less commonly, eye conditions such as dry eye, retinal issues, or problems with the optic nerve. If vision changes feel unfamiliar, happen without any of your usual migraine symptoms, or last longer than expected, it’s worth taking note and checking in with your healthcare provider.

What to Do If You Get Blurred Vision with a Migraine?

When blurred vision shows up during a migraine, it can be hard to know what to do in the moment. The good news is that it’s usually temporary, and there are simple steps you can take to feel more at ease.

If possible, find a quiet, dimly lit place where you can rest. Reducing light and screen exposure can help ease visual stress while your brain settles. Hydrating, lying down, and gently closing your eyes may also bring some relief. Some people find that cold compresses or light pressure on the eyes or forehead can also help.

Once the migraine passes, try to make a note of when the vision changes started, how long they lasted, and whether they followed your usual migraine pattern. This can help you feel more in control the next time it happens.

Looking after your overall migraine health with regular sleep, a steady routine, balanced nutrition, and stress management may also help reduce how often vision-related symptoms show up.

Common Questions

Why do my eyes get blurry before a migraine?

Blurry vision before a migraine is often part of the aura phase, which can include visual changes like flashing lights, zigzags, or blurriness. It’s caused by temporary changes in how the brain processes visual information, even though your eyes themselves are fine.

Can a migraine cause blurry vision in one eye?

Yes, especially in the case of an ocular migraine. This type can lead to temporary vision loss or blurriness in just one eye. If your symptoms follow a similar pattern each time, they’re more likely to be migraine-related.

Can headaches cause blurry vision?

Migraines are by far the most common type of headache linked to blurry vision, especially when visual aura is involved. In rare cases, other types of headaches may also affect your vision. For example, cluster headaches can cause eye watering or drooping, which might blur vision temporarily. Headaches linked to high blood pressure, eye strain, or sinus issues can sometimes impact vision as well.

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Final thoughts

Blurry vision can be one of the more unsettling migraine symptoms, especially when it catches you off guard. But once you understand why it happens and how it fits into your overall migraine pattern, it becomes easier to manage and less frightening over time.

Everyone’s experience with migraine is a little different, and that includes how it affects your vision. Whether it shows up as part of aura, in one eye only, or alongside other familiar signs, paying attention to what’s typical can help you feel more in control.