High blood pressure can cause wavy vision in some cases. High blood pressure can cause increased pressure in the arteries, which can result in decreased blood flow to the eyes. When this happens, the tiny blood vessels in the eye can start to swell, resulting in a condition known as papilledema.
This can cause a fluctuating, or “wavy” vision. Additionally, a condition called transient visual obscurations can cause similar symptoms, which is caused by a drop in blood flow to the back of the eye.
If you’re experiencing wavy vision and have high blood pressure, it’s important to make sure you’re managing your blood pressure appropriately by following your doctor’s recommended treatment plans and lifestyle changes.
You should also contact your healthcare provider, who can perform tests to make sure your vision is healthy and determine if your wavy vision is being caused by a different health issue.
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What is wavy vision a symptom of?
Wavy vision, also known as oscillopsia, is a visual disturbance in which a person’s vision appears to move or oscillate up and down, side to side, or in a circular pattern. It can occur in one or both eyes and can happen all the time or intermittently.
Most of which can be addressed by a healthcare professional.
Those causes include problems with the eye itself, such as vitreous detachment or certain types of retinal injury. It can also be caused by an underlying neurological condition, such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease.
People with traumatic brain injuries and concussions can experience wavy vision due to damage to the vision pathways of the brain from a traumatic event. Certain medications, such as antipsychotics, may also contribute to wavy vision.
Wavy vision can cause a person to experience difficulty seeing, balancing, driving, and other everyday activities. That can make it important to talk to a healthcare provider if these symptoms are present.
An ophthalmologist or neurologist can help diagnose and treat the cause of wavy vision, and they may recommend lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking and avoiding certain medications, as well as vision therapy or medications to help.
Why does my vision look wavy?
In most cases, this is likely due to an issue with the way light enters your eye. Common problems include astigmatism, which is an irregularly shaped cornea that distorts light, or refractive error, which is when light is not focused correctly onto the back of the eye.
It is also possible that you are experiencing an issue with your brain processing visual information, such as when light enters your eyes and is interpreted by the brain to appear wavy. If you have recently switched to a new pair of glasses, the prescription may be incorrect or the lenses may be improperly fitted, which can also result in the vision appearing wavy.
If you are experiencing visual disturbances, it is best to consult a medical professional to ensure all of your eye health and vision needs are taken care of.
What does it mean when you see water ripples in your vision?
Seeing water ripples in your vision, also known as scintillating scotoma, could be a sign of an underlying medical condition. Scintillating scotoma is an optical illusion that can happen when multiple or single bright flashes of light, or shimmering light, appears across one’s field of vision.
This phenomenon is usually seen in both eyes at the same time, and is also often accompanied by side-to-side, or up-and-down motion.
The cause of scintillating scotoma is usually linked to underlying neurological or ocular conditions. It may be the first symptom observed in patients suffering from ocular disease, stroke, or migraine headaches.
It is also associated with various other conditions such as ischemic optic neuropathy, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma and retinal detachment. For this reason it’s important to consult a healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and treatment.
In some cases, scintillating scotoma can be the result of a temporary deficiency in blood or oxygen supply to the eyes. It can also be caused by certain medications, or exposure to certain substances.
In these instances, the vision symptom goes away on its own.
With scintillating scotoma it is always important to seek medical advice to make sure a serious underlying issue is not present. Depending on the diagnosis, treatments may vary and could range from medication and lifestyle modifications, to surgery.
How do you get rid of wavy vision?
Wavy vision, or ‘metamorphopsia’, is usually caused by a change or disorder in the way that light is received in the eye. In many cases, the underlying cause is a refractive error, such as astigmatism, myopia, and/or a difference between your eyes refractive error, which can contribute to the symptom of ‘wavy’ vision.
Treating the underlying refractive error is usually the best way to get rid of wavy vision.
If you think an underlying refractive error is causing your wavy vision, you should seek the advice of your optometrist or eye care professional for a comprehensive eye exam. Depending on the results of the exam and your symptoms, your eye doctor may suggest vision therapy, eyeglasses, contact lenses or corrective eye surgery such as LASIK, PRK or lens implants.
In cases where wavy vision is caused by stress, reducing your stress and/or learning some relaxation techniques can help get rid of it. If the symptoms are caused by an illness, following medical advice and taking necessary medications is recommended.
In other cases, changing viewing angle, taking frequent breaks when engaging in visually intensive activities and avoiding bright lighting can help reduce and eventually eliminate wavy vision.
Can anxiety cause shimmering vision?
Yes, anxiety can cause shimmering vision. Eye symptoms associated with anxiety range from dry eyes, blurred vision, tunnel vision, pain in or around the eye, sensitivity to light, and occasionally shimmering vision.
If intense enough, these visual symptoms can be considered an ocular migraine and should be brought to the attention of a healthcare professional as soon as possible.
Shimmering vision is a relatively rare symptom of anxiety, but can occur. It is usually associated with visual snow (a flickering or grainy quality to one’s vision) and can sometimes be accompanied by migraine-like symptoms such as nausea and light sensitivity (photophobia).
The cause of this symptom is not fully understood, but it is thought to be related to the body’s reaction to aberrant electrical activity within the nervous system caused by stress and/or anxiety. People with anxiety often report feeling dizzy or disoriented when experiencing shimmering vision, which is likely caused by increased blood pressure in the head or eye, as well as the body misinterpreting the electrical signals it is sending.
Treating the underlying anxiety is the best way to eliminate shimmering vision, as the symptom is a result of the body’s pysiological response to emotional and psychological stressors. Cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, exercise, and relaxation techniques are some effective ways to cope with stress and anxiety, which can reduce the likelihood of experiencing shimmering vision.
Seeing a healthcare professional to determine proper treatment is important as well.
Why do I see ripples when I close my eyes?
When you close your eyes, what you are seeing is called an entoptic phenomenon. It is a visual effect that is caused by the optic nerves and your brain. When your eyes are closed, there is a lack of light entering the eyes, which tricks the brain into thinking there is actually something there.
This triggers a wave like pattern in your visual cortex, which is also known as a phosphene. This wave like pattern causes the appearance of ripples or lines when you close your eyes. These ripples often occur when you are in a relaxed state, usually due to stress levels decreasing.
Therefore, the phenomenon of seeing ripples when you close your eyes is entirely a normal occurrence.
Is ocular migraine a mini stroke?
No, ocular migraine is not a mini stroke. Ocular migraine is a type of migraine characterized by symptoms such as perception of flashing lights, blind spots, colored spots, or other visual disturbances.
It is a benign condition and does not involve any damage to the brain or other structures. Symptoms may be accompanied by throbbing headache, but this is not necessarily the case. In contrast, a mini stroke is the term used to describe a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), which is a brief interruption of blood supply to an area of the brain.
It is caused by either a clot that blocks an artery in the brain, or a clot that forms elsewhere in the body and travels to the brain. TIAs may cause temporary weakness or numbness in the arms or face, as well as visual problems and difficulty speaking, and requires medical attention.
What triggers visual disturbances?
Visual disturbances can be triggered by a range of factors, including migraines, medication side effects, trauma, brain injuries, strokes, infections, allergies, and toxins. In particular, strokes can affect the brain’s ability to interpret visual signals, and trauma to the head or neck can cause swelling that puts pressure on the retina or optic nerve, resulting in blurred vision or blind spots.
Infections such as herpes zoster, or shingles, can cause inflammation or lesions on the eye, resulting in visual disturbances. Allergies such as hay fever, allergic conjunctivitis, or seasonal allergies can cause swelling of the conjunctiva, the outermost layer of the eye, resulting in blurred vision, light sensitivity, and redness or irritation.
Exposure to toxins, such as paints, solvents, and insecticides, can also trigger visual disturbances.
What type of vision problems occur with high blood pressure?
High blood pressure can cause a number of vision problems and vision-related issues, such as blurred vision, an inability to focus, temporary blind spots, double vision, and even permanent vision loss.
High blood pressure can also increase your risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts, and retinopathy. Retinopathy occurs when high blood pressure damages the tiny blood vessels connected to the retina in your eye, resulting in vision disturbances.
Over time, this can lead to permanent vision loss. It is important to monitor your eye health if you have high blood pressure, as early detection and treatment of any vision issues can often improve your prognosis and help to reduce the risk of vision loss.
