Blurred vision can be a potential symptom or early sign of a stroke, occurring suddenly or temporarily without the patient noticing.
MSc. Doctor. Pham Thi Thuy, Stroke Center, Phu Tho Provincial General Hospital, said as above, sharing some more causes related to stroke that can cause blurred vision, including:
Blockage of blood vessels in the brain (ischemic stroke): One of the common causes of stroke is when the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain become blocked, leading to a lack of oxygen and nutrients in the brain. If blockages occur in areas of the brain involved in visual function, it can cause blurred vision or partial vision loss.
Stroke due to bleeding (hemorrhagic stroke): When a blood vessel in the brain bursts, blood flows into surrounding areas, which can increase pressure on brain tissues and affect vision. This condition can also lead to blurred vision or loss of vision.
Affects brain areas related to vision: Areas of the brain that control vision (such as the visual cortex at the back of the brain) can be damaged by a stroke. This can cause the patient to experience blurred vision on one side or both sides.
Many people are confused or cannot distinguish between blurred vision due to eye diseases and stroke and do not immediately realize the seriousness of the problem. Eye problems that can cause blurred vision include nearsightedness, astigmatism, or farsightedness; conjunctivitis, glaucoma, or cataracts.
Blurred vision caused by a stroke can be temporary and transient. When a stroke occurs, if a blood vessel in the brain is blocked or ruptures in an area related to vision, it can cause sudden blurred vision. However, if the blurred vision lasts only a few minutes and then disappears (often called a mini-stroke or TIA), the person may think it is just a common eye problem and ignore it.
Some people think that strokes only happen in older people or people with underlying health conditions. In fact, many people have blurred vision but subjectively think it is due to eye problems such as nearsightedness, eye inflammation, or other problems, without realizing that it could be a sign of stroke.
Confusion between blurred vision due to stroke and eye diseases is a common condition. Subjectivity can lead to serious consequences, causing the patient to lose the opportunity for early treatment or leaving serious sequelae. If your vision suddenly becomes blurred, accompanied by symptoms such as muscle weakness, difficulty speaking, or loss of balance, call emergency services immediately.
Factors that increase the risk of stroke are related to blurred vision such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, smoking and alcohol consumption.