Blurred Vision and Headache

[CrystalPegasus]

My husband (38) had his vision in one eye gradually become blurred, first in his peripheral vision, but then all over, and had a headache develop.  He sat down for while and it went away.  The whole episode lasted about half an hour.

He had no other symptoms and feels fine.  Has never had this happen before and is otherwise healthy, as far as we know.

Any ideas?

[CrystalPegasus]

Someone has just suggested to me that it could be signs of a stroke or pre-stroke... is that likely from the symptoms I've mentioned, in your opinion?

[CrystalPegasus]

I guess I'm also wondering if it's the kind of thing that can wait... maybe until/if it happens again or he has any other symptoms, or at least for a while?

We are soon (in a couple of weeks) going on a trip, which has been planned and excitedly anticipated for a couple of years now.  It is probably the only chance we'll have to do this as it is a specialist trip organised through a course we take.  We will be away for a couple of weeks, and it doesn't involve flying or driving ourselves- we are on a bus- or leaving the country (Australia).  We will be going to some out of the way places, but not into the real outback or that far from potential medical assistance, due to our Flying Doctor Service (which we have cover for, as well as ambulance) or ambulance, if either was needed.

Starting the process of looking into this could well conflict with the time of the trip.

So... is it likely to be something serious and of immediate concern, or could we *wait and see*?  I know you can't really give definite advice as to what it is, but what would your feeling be?

Thank you.

[CrystalPegasus]

No health risk factors or problems that we know of.

What makes it more worrying is that his younger brother has just been diagnosed with a brain tumour (very tiny and benign they think, but still a wakeup!)

Not similar symptoms at all, but still makes me worry...

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi

I suggest that you have this assessed by a neurologist for a complete physical and neurologic examination. Visual symptoms with headaches may have a migraine with aura and transient ischemic attacks as differentials. It is necessary to have a baseline scan or MRI done. A localized eye problem is also a differential .However, this may be considered once cerebrovascular factors have been excluded.

Does your husband have any underlying risk factors like diabetes and hypertension?