vision and head pain/soreness

[shirlee56]

6 days ago while doing some computer work I started to experience a loss of vision in my right eye.  When I would look at an object, the object became blurry and distorted, but only in the right eye.  The next day my right eyeball was sore and the top of my head on the right side was sore WHEN I barely even touched my hair or head.  When barely touching it is painful.  It seem to subside but came back (the pain NOT the vision part).  A couple of weeks ago I had a sinus infection and was put on antibiotics and nasal congestion medication.  I completed all medication.  During the week when I thought that all mucus was clear when I blew my nose I had a sudden need to blow and I experienced alot of discolored mucus.  I'm concerned over the tenderness on the top of my head and wondering if I should go back to my MD and have this checked out or is it just sinus related.  Thank you

[rockmom80]

i have been diagnosed with optic neuritis in right eye but not in left,I an awaiting results for an mri,do you think they would have told me if it was something as serious as an aneurysm?I am only 29 years old...the doc is concerned about MS because i have been expieriencing other symptoms like sharp pains all over and dizziness..the eye doc said that everything looked fine in my left eye and visual field and all other tests were fine.

[Neuro Forum]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.

Without the ability to examine you and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of your symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information

While sinus problems can occasionally cause headaches, if properly treated they would not cause persistent headache. More importantly, sinus problems should not cause vision changes. The potential causes of vision changes with eye pain  and/or head pain are numerous. Certain headache disorders such as migraine can cause vision changes followed by headache.

If you are older than the age of 55, one potential cause of headache with vision changes is called giant cell arteritis or temporal arteritis. This is due to an inflammation in the temporal artery and other arteries in the body. Symptoms include one sided headache pain in the temple and jaw that may be triggered by chewing. This condition can be diagnosed by a blood test called an ESR and a biopsy of the artery. It is very important to rule this diagnosis out as it is highly treatable and if left untreated it can lead to vision loss. It is exceedingly rare in people younger than 55, and is more common in even older age groups.

Another potential cause is an inflammatory disorder caused optic neuritis

There are several other causes of vision loss with eye and head pain. I recommend you be seen by your family doctor (PCP), and after he/she evaluates you he/she can determine what the cause is, if further testing is necessary, and whether or not referral to a specialist is necessary.

Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.