Internal Medicine

Dizziness and blurred vision

introduction

Dizziness is a common symptom and often occurs in combination with impaired vision. Various diseases can be the cause.

The eyes and our orientation in space are strongly linked. When one of the systems stops working properly, symptoms of dizziness and impaired vision can quickly develop.

You might also be interested in this article: Vertigo through the eye

Causes of dizziness and impaired vision

Dizziness is often the only symptom and results from a variety of different causes. Sometimes dizziness also occurs in combination with visual disturbances. The combination of both symptoms often allows the cause to be narrowed down. Often high blood pressure during dizziness alone (Hypertension) or low blood pressure (Hypotension) as the cause or disturbances in the equilibrium organ of the inner ear, the combination of the symptoms of dizziness and visual disturbances allows specific conclusions to be drawn about the cause.

Too high or too low blood pressure can lead to the symptom complex dizziness and visual disturbances. With high blood pressure, the increased pressures cause irritation in both the optic nerve and the retina (Retina) as well as in the area of the organ of equilibrium. With reduced blood pressure, there is a reduced blood flow to the retina, optic nerve and equilibrium organ, which can also lead to dizziness and impaired vision.

Another possible cause is hypoglycaemia. With hypoglycaemia, the corresponding organs are supplied with sufficient blood, but the blood is not saturated with sufficient sugar and therefore does not provide enough energy.

Strong muscular tension in the neck and shoulder area can also trigger visual disturbances in the course of a cervical spine syndrome.

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Causes of dizziness
Dizziness from low blood pressure
Dizziness through the eye
Visual disturbances

Can neck tension cause dizziness and impaired vision?

If dizziness and visual disturbances occur in the context of neck tension, this is summarized under the term cervical spine syndrome. The muscular tension in the area of the cervical spine can impair the vessels and nerves that run along the neck and thus lead to the symptoms described above.

Can vertigo and visual disturbances be caused by a cervical spine syndrome?

Both dizziness and visual disturbances can show up in the context of a cervical spine syndrome. Those affected can also suffer from pain in the cervical vertebrae and headaches. Parasitic sensations in the arms or hands can also occur. Occasionally, those affected also report tinnitus, i.e. sound perception in the ear.

The causes of the cervical spine syndrome can be muscular tension or joint wear in the bony cervical spine.

Stress as a cause of dizziness and impaired vision

Stress can particularly affect blood pressure - this is then shown to be increased. High blood pressure, or hypertension in medical terminology, can lead to dizziness and impaired vision.

Stress reduction, if necessary with medication-based blood pressure adjustment, can help alleviate the symptoms.

For more information on this topic, see: Consequences of stress

Can the thyroid be the cause?

An overactive thyroid can lead to increased blood pressure, which can then present itself with dizziness and impaired vision. When investigating the cause of high blood pressure, the thyroid values are usually also determined.

If an overactive thyroid is the trigger for high blood pressure, certain drugs can be used to regulate the thyroid hormones down.

An underactive thyroid can also be involved in blood pressure regulation. If there are not enough thyroid hormones, the deficiency can manifest itself in low blood pressure. Those affected then also receive special thyroid drugs that stimulate the thyroid gland to produce hormones and thus increase blood pressure.

Concomitant symptoms

Dizziness can lead to so-called vertigo with a feeling of insecurity when walking and standing while turning at the same time as well as staggering.

With the visual disturbances different complaints come into play. The eyes may turn black, flicker or small flashes. With all complaints, however, the field of vision is more or less restricted.

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Dizziness with blurred vision and nausea

Dizziness and visual disturbances can have something to do with the circulatory system, but also with blood sugar. People affected often complain of a combination of dizziness, blurred vision and nausea when their blood pressure or blood sugar is very low. Whether one of the values is too low can be found out by measuring blood pressure and blood sugar.

Read more on this topic at: Symptoms of low blood pressure

If you have hypoglycaemia, sugar is usually given for treatment. The low blood pressure is treated with medication, physiotherapy and diet, depending on the cause. Symptomatic nausea can be treated with medication such as Iberogast® or Vomex®.

If you are further interested in this topic, then read more on the topic: Dizziness with nausea

Dizziness and blurred vision during pregnancy

A frequent combination of symptoms during pregnancy is dizziness and visual disturbances. The exact causes are often not known. The complaints are often only treated symptomatically. However, consistent blood pressure monitoring is important, as these symptoms are typical of high blood pressure during pregnancy.

You can read more about this topic: Dizziness during pregnancy

Dizziness with blurred vision and headache

In the combination of dizziness, visual disturbances and headache, high blood pressure is the cause in most cases. Severe anemia (Anemia) such as. iron deficiency anemia can also trigger such symptoms.

If the blood pressure shows normal values, a blood test should definitely be done and a corresponding iron deficiency corrected.

You can read more helpful information at: Dizziness and headache

Dizziness with impaired vision and tiredness

Fatigue is a very unspecific symptom that can occur as part of many illnesses or as a result of a lack of sleep. It can show up in people with low blood pressure as well as in people with hypoglycaemia.

The tiredness often disappears by treating the triggering cause. In connection with dizziness and impaired vision, the addition of tiredness cannot really make a decisive contribution to finding the cause.

Our next article might be helpful to you too: Always tired - what can I do?

Dizziness with impaired vision and drowsiness

A feeling of lightheadedness combined with a feeling of dizziness and a visual impairment can show up in the context of hypoglycaemia. Those affected are sleepy and appear dazed, in extreme cases they can even go into a coma. It is therefore important to counter hypoglycaemia as quickly as possible with the help of sugary foods such as gummy bears or a glucose infusion.

Extremely high blood pressure, which the doctor then speaks of a derailment, can, in addition to dizziness and impaired vision, lead to drowsiness in those affected. Furthermore, headaches, inner restlessness and a “red head” can show up in those affected.

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Dizziness with impaired vision and problems of a psychological origin

If you cannot find the exact cause of the symptoms and if your blood count, blood pressure and blood sugar are normal, extensive neurological examinations such as CT etc. can be performed, but psychosomatic causes could also be the reason for the complaints.

A combination of dizziness and visual disturbances can occur under high stress. These symptoms can also occur with severe depression or anxiety disorders. As a rule, all organ-related causes of dizziness and visual disturbances are ruled out before a psychosomatic cause is diagnosed.

Treatment is particularly difficult because there is not just one drug that can alleviate the symptoms. In general, drug treatment is combined with psychotherapy. The chances of success are usually mixed.

Dizziness with blurred vision and sweating

There can be several causes for the trio of symptoms: dizziness, visual disturbances and sweating. Both circulatory problems, most likely very low blood pressure as well as very low blood sugar, can lead to sweating with visual disturbances and dizziness.

With hypoglycaemia, cold sweats and sweats usually occur. Symptoms should improve after taking sugar. If possible, you should definitely do your blood pressure and blood sugar tests beforehand.

Read more information on the topic at: Dizziness and circulation

Dizziness with blurred vision and tingling sensations

If the symptoms are dizziness, blurred vision and tingling, blood pressure problems with circulatory disorders can be the cause. But hypoglycaemia is also an option. In some cases the cause of the three complaints is hyperventilation, i.e. breathing too fast.

Mostly there are psychosomatic causes here. If breathing is too fast, the patient should inhale and exhale into a paper bag. If this alleviates the symptoms, the cause was hyperventilation. The expressed tingling sensation can be present on the hands, feet or on the whole body.

A feeling of numbness or tingling along with dizziness and visual disturbances can also occur in the context of a cervical spine syndrome. Usually the arms and / or hands are affected by the aforementioned abnormal sensations. The main causes are small nerves that are affected by tension or bony changes in the cervical spine.

Dizziness with impaired vision and speech

If, in addition to dizziness and impaired vision, there is a speech disorder, there is an urgent suspicion of a stroke. Especially if these symptoms suddenly appear, those affected should be examined and treated immediately in a clinic.

A stroke can be caused by a vascular occlusion or bleeding, which leads to an insufficient supply of the brain with blood or oxygen. In addition to the symptoms just mentioned, headaches, unsteady gait and paralysis can also appear.

You can read more helpful information on this topic under: Stroke - What are the Signs?

Dizziness with impaired vision and sweating

Sweating in connection with dizziness and impaired vision can indicate hypoglycaemia, especially in known diabetics. As part of this, further symptoms can appear, including: tremors, restlessness, racing heart and cravings. Fatigue and even coma can also show up in the context of hypoglycaemia.

Sugar or diabetes patients in particular should immediately see a doctor when the symptoms just described occur. In the context of hypotension, i.e. too low a blood pressure, sweating can occur in addition to dizziness and visual disturbances.

Dizziness with impaired vision and shortness of breath

With this combination of complaints, the complete emergency diagnosis should be carried out in any case, as numerous causes can be hidden behind it. An EKG should be written and a so-called troponin test carried out to rule out a heart attack. Blood pressure and blood sugar measurement should go without saying.

A lung function test should also be carried out; if necessary, the lungs can be X-rayed or a CT of the lungs can be performed to rule out a pulmonary embolism.A pulmonary embolism is a blockage of a blood vessel in the lungs with a resulting life-threatening situation.

How to treat dizziness with visual disturbances

The treatment depends on what triggered the dizziness and associated visual impairment. If the cause is too high or too low blood pressure, certain drugs can be used to adjust the blood pressure to the normal range.

In the case of hypoglycaemia as the cause of the symptoms, it must be diagnosed in advance whether it is an acute condition, for example due to insufficient intake of food, or whether it is diabetes. In general, people are given glucose, a type of sugar.

If those affected are diabetic, the medication dosage must be checked - hypoglycaemia can occur in diabetics if the dose of their medication or insulin is too high.

Various measures can be used in the cervical spine syndrome. If it is mainly a question of muscular tension, heat applications with red light can help, for example. Physiotherapy or specific exercises to strengthen and stretch the cervical spine can also help alleviate symptoms. A pain reliever can also help to relieve tension and alleviate the associated symptoms.

For more detailed information, see: Therapy of vertigo

Duration and prognosis of dizziness and visual disturbances

Both the duration and the prognosis of vertigo with visual impairment depend on the cause and the associated therapeutic measures. Adjusting blood pressure with the help of medication should relieve symptoms within a few days to weeks. If the medication is taken properly, those affected should then no longer feel any symptoms.

If you have hypoglycaemia, glucose is used to raise blood sugar levels and symptoms should be relieved quickly. In the case of diabetics, it is also advisable to check and adjust the medication to prevent further hypoglycaemia.

The cervical spine syndrome and the associated symptoms can be countered with painkillers, physiotherapy or physiotherapy and warmth, the symptoms then often recede within a few days to weeks.

Diagnosis of dizziness and visual disturbances

In any case, an extensive physical examination should be carried out to determine the cause. In any case, the blood pressure and blood sugar should be measured to see whether values are not in the normal range.

Furthermore, a neurological examination should not be missed to see whether there are any abnormalities. Finally, an eye test with determination of the field of vision can be carried out in order to determine the extent of the visual disturbances.

You can read more about this in the next article: Diagnostics for dizziness