Eye Pain and Nausea: Are These Signs of an Underlying Condition?
Eye pain is a prevalent condition experienced by almost everyone at some point in life.
It can be a symptom of an eye disorder or an unhealthy lifestyle.
Eye pain and nausea are common and not-so-severe conditions individually.
But, when they occur together, they can indicate a severe underlying condition.
Approximately 8% of the US population suffer from visual impairment yearly, with eye pain and nausea as symptoms.
In the following article, we discussed the conditions with eye pain and nausea as symptoms.
Binocular Vision Dysfunction
Binocular Vision Dysfunction causes misalignment of the eyes.
Due to the misalignment, the eyes cannot send one clear image to the brain.
This leads to eye muscle strain and other symptoms like headache, eye pain while making eye movements, and nausea.
Symptoms of Binocular Vision Dysfunction,
- Blurred Vision
- Double Vision
- Light Sensitivity
- Overlapping vision
- Poor depth perception
- Headache
- Sinus pain
- Photosensitivity
- Nausea
The symptoms of the eye disorder can arise at the age of 40 and above.
Due to the common symptoms of eye disorder, BVD is prone to be misdiagnosed.
It can result from a stroke, brain injury, concussion, or neurological disorder.
Doctors mainly prescribe Prism lenses and Vision Therapy as treatments for BVD.
Prismatic lenses correct the misalignment of your eyes by manipulating incoming light.
It merges the two images reaching the brain.
It tricks the brain into thinking that the eyes are properly aligned, preventing eye strain.
On the other hand, vision therapy is a customized program, especially for those experiencing dizziness as a symptom.
It improves communication between the brain and eyes to alleviate symptoms of BVD.
The combination of both treatment options has been beneficial in many cases.
Superior Oblique Palsy
Superior Oblique Palsy is a nerve disorder caused due to weakness of the superior oblique muscle.
The superior oblique muscle innervates with the fourth cranial nerve.
Its weakness causes misalignment of the eyes.
This misalignment is most often vertical but can also be horizontal or torsional.
Due to the weakening of the muscles, the brain cannot create a single image. This can cause eye strain, eye pain, headache, and nausea.
A tilted head is a common symptom in congenital cases.
The eye disorder is either congenital or acquired.
Other congenital disorders like Craniosynostosis can also lead to Superior Oblique Palsy.
The acquired causes of the disorder can be head trauma, a concussion, or a whiplash injury due to a road accident.
Other causes may include stroke, tumor, and Aneurysm.
The condition may worsen with time and requires frequent examinations.
Doctors may check for Amblyopia, 3D vision, and abnormal head posture.
The symptoms may be treated with prism lenses. It merges the two images into one and alleviates the double vision.
But, it only works on vision and does not strengthen the muscle.
For muscle strengthening, surgery may be prescribed by the doctor.
It minimizes double vision, reduces the eye’s upward drift, and corrects a head tilt.
Migraine
Migraine is a headache that can cause severe throbbing pain or a pulsating sensation on one side of the head.
It is a recurring condition with an attack lasting for hours to days.
The pain can be so severe that it interferes with your daily activities.
It might be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound.
Other symptoms include constipation, mood changes, neck stiffness, and aura before the attack.
Migraines can either be genetic or environmental.
The environmental factors that cause Migraines include,
- Hormonal changes in women
- Stress
- Excessive caffeine
- Unhealthy sleep patterns
- Medications like oral contraceptives or vasodilators
Medications paired with lifestyle changes and home remedies can ease migraine symptoms.
Migraine medications can be of two types,
- Pain-relieving medications: These medications are taken during a migraine attack to treat severe pain.
- Preventive medications: These drugs are taken daily to reduce the severity or frequency of migraines.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of eye disorders that causes optic nerve damage.
Usually, the eye disorder is caused due to high intraocular pressure.
It occurs mainly in older adults above the age of 60.
Glaucoma is of two types,
- Open-angle Glaucoma
- Acute angle-closure Glaucoma
The disorder causes blind spots in the side vision.
Acute angle-closure Glaucoma causes symptoms like nausea, headache, and eye pain.
Open-angle Glaucoma is caused due to excessive fluid buildup in the eye, leading to a rise in intraocular pressure.
Acute-angle Glaucoma is caused due to iris bulges which restrict the fluid from spreading throughout the eye.
It leads to a rise in intraocular pressure leading to Glaucoma.
Treatment of Glaucoma depends on the type of disorder.
In the case of open-angle Glaucoma, prostaglandin analogs like Bimat 0.03% and Careprost are prescribed by doctors.
| Medications for Glaucoma | Approx. cost |
|---|---|
| Careprost Plus Eye Drop | $25.38 |
| Dorzox T 5 ml | $12.05 |
| Xalatan Eye Drops of 0.005% (2.5 ml) | $27.20 |
| Bimat 3 ml | $12.24 |
| Dorzox Eye Drop 2% | $8.90 |
Doctors primarily prescribe Sulfa-based drugs like Acetazolamide and Hydrochlorothiazide for acute-angle Glaucoma.
These treatments drain the excess liquid from the eye and lower the high eye pressure.
When to see a doctor?
Eye pain usually suffices within a few hours to days.
But, when you are experiencing persistent eye pain along with other symptoms such as nausea and headache, it can be a sign of a severe underlying condition.
In such cases, patients must see their doctor to avoid worsening the condition.
Conclusion
Eye pain can result from an eye disorder, an unhealthy lifestyle, or specific allergies.
When eye pain occurs with other symptoms like nausea, headache, and vomiting, it could show the existence of an underlying condition.
The conditions include Glaucoma, Migraines, Superior Oblique Palsy, or Binocular Vision Dysfunction.
These disorders may lead to complete vision loss if not treated on time.
Hence, keeping your symptoms in check is important to avoid future complications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can eye issues cause nausea?
Yes, eye disorders such as Migraines, Glaucoma, Superior Oblique Palsy, and Binocular Vision Dysfunction can cause nausea and eye pain. These disorders can lead to complete vision loss if not treated on time.
Why do I feel nauseous, and my vision is blurry?
It could indicate an underlying condition if you have blurry vision and feel nauseous. Eye disorders like Binocular Vision Dysfunction and Superior Oblique Palsy cause misalignment of the eyes leading to blurry vision. The forced brain signals to create clear vision can lead to headaches and nausea.
Can high eye pressure make you nauseous?
Yes, high pressure in disorders such as acute angle closure Glaucoma can also cause nausea and vomiting. The high pressure in the eye increases due to fluid build-up, leading to headaches, eye pain, and nausea.
