Sudden eye pain and blurred vision

For the past couple of days I have been having these sharp headaches on my left temple. They come and go and only last for a few minutes. My left eye has been hurting non stop, and I can't tell if its on the outside of my eye or deeper. It's like a dull achy pain. I have also noticed that even with my glasses I can't really see out of the eye, everything is really blurry and almost to the point of double vision. I don't have insurance yet so I can't afford to go to the doctor just yet. I just need an idea of what this could possibly mean. My grandma had told me that she has some degenerative eye disease and that it was hereditary. I can't think of the name of the disease, I think its kind of rare. I know my cousin has it and she is legally blind in both eyes. I just need some advice or anything as to what could cause this. I can't find anything on line.

[Houman Vosoghi, MD]

You need to be checked right away.  This could be a narrow angle glaucoma attack as well as some other potential problems.  You can call local ophthalmologists and tell them you don't have insurance and see who will have enough sympathy to give you a big discount.  You could also go to the nearest county hospital that has an ophthalmologist on call (through the ER) and hopefully they could check your eye pressure to make sure it is OK.  Look in the mirror, if the pupil in the two eyes are of a different size, you must go right away, it is an emergency.  Please let us know what happened after you get taken care of but don't delay.

HV

[ashley_doyle]

I looked in the mirror to check my pupils, and its hard to really focus to actually check to see if they are different in size. My vision is so clouded in my left eye, it's like a film is over it. It doesn't really hurt as bad today as it has been, but there is still pain there. I'm going to the doctor tomorrow, but if it starts hurting worse then I'm going to the ER. Can people in their 20's get glaucoma? I thought it was generally for people who were older?