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Symptoms » Blurred vision » Book Sections
 

BLURRED VISION

Ask the following questions:

  1. Is it unilateral or bilateral? The presence of unilateral blurred vision should suggest such local ocular conditions as cataract, refractive error, iritis, glaucoma, keratitis, retinal detachment, foreign body, and optic neuritis. Transient blurred vision may occur in migraine and carotid artery insufficiency. Orbital fracture and vitreous hemorrhage may cause unilateral blurred vision also.
  2. Bilateral blurred vision may result from cocaine use, methyl alcohol poisoning, tobacco, barbiturates, quinine, and other drugs. However, cataracts, glaucoma, chorioretinitis, retinitis pigmentosa, optic atrophy, papilledema, papillitis, optic neuritis, refractive error, pituitary tumors, posterior cerebral artery occlusion, concussion, migraine, and hysteria must also be considered.
  3. Is there a positive history for drug or alcohol ingestion? If this history is positive, then cocaine, tobacco, barbiturates, methyl alcohol, quinine, and other drugs may be responsible.
  4. Is it sudden in onset? Sudden onset of blurred vision should make one suspect migraine, optic neuritis, vitreous hemorrhage, iritis, keratitis, glaucoma, retinal detachment, foreign body, retrobulbar neuritis, orbital fracture, carotid artery insufficiency, and hysteria.
  5. Is the eye examination abnormal? Local ocular diseases such as cataracts, refractive errors, iritis, keratitis, glaucoma, retinal detachment, foreign bodies, retinitis pigmentosa, chorioretinitis, and papilledema should be detected by the primary care physician.

DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP

A referral to an ophthalmologist is usually the first step in a workup. If an ophthalmologist is not available, a careful eye examination including slit lamp evaluation, tonometry, visual acuity evaluation, and visual fields should be done. A toxicology screen may be indicated by history. If these studies are unremarkable, referral to a neurologist may be made. Further studies would include a CT scan or MRI of the brain, carotid scans, spinal tap, VEP studies, and four-vessel cerebral angiography.

 

Book Source Details

  • Book Title: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs
  • Author(s): R. Douglas Collins
  • Year of Publication: 2003
  • Copyright Details: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs, Copyright © 2003 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Other Book Chapters Related to Blurred vision

Read excerpts from these other book chapters related to Blurred vision:

Medical Books Excerpts
  • DIPLOPIA
  • "Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs" (2003)
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  • EYE PAIN
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  • HEMIANOPSIA
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  • PAPILLEDEMA
  • "Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs" (2003)
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  • SCOTOMA
  • "Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs" (2003)
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  • Diplopia
  • "In A Page: Pediatric Signs and Symptoms" (2007)
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  • EYE PAIN
  • "Differential Diagnosis in Primary Care" (2007)
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  • Diplopia
  • "Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition)" (2006)
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  • Eye pain
  • "Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition)" (2006)
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  • Halo vision
  • "Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition)" (2006)
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  • Hemianopsia
  • "Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition)" (2006)
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  • Scotoma
  • "Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition)" (2006)
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  • Vision loss
  • "Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition)" (2006)
  • [ read ]
  • Diplopia
  • "Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition)" (2006)
  • [ read ]
  • Halo vision
  • "Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition)" (2006)
  • [ read ]
  • Hemianopsia
  • "Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition)" (2006)
  • [ read ]
  • Scotoma
  • "Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition)" (2006)
  • [ read ]
  • Vision loss
  • "Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition)" (2006)
  • [ read ]
  • Diplopia
  • "The 10-Minute Diagnosis Manual: Symptoms and Signs in the Time-Limited Encounter" (2000)
  • [ read ]
  • Papilledema
  • "The 10-Minute Diagnosis Manual: Symptoms and Signs in the Time-Limited Encounter" (2000)
  • [ read ]
  • Scotoma
  • "The 10-Minute Diagnosis Manual: Symptoms and Signs in the Time-Limited Encounter" (2000)
  • [ read ]
  • Blurred Vision
  • "The 10-Minute Diagnosis Manual: Symptoms and Signs in the Time-Limited Encounter" (2000)
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  • Eye Pain
  • "Field Guide to Bedside Diagnosis" (2007)
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  • Eye pain
  • "Alarming Signs and Symptoms: Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice Series" (2007)
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  • Vision loss
  • "Alarming Signs and Symptoms: Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice Series" (2007)
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  • Diplopia
  • "Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses" (2007)
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  • Eye pain
  • "Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses" (2007)
  • [ read ]
  • Halo vision
  • "Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses" (2007)
  • [ read ]
  • Hemianopsia
  • "Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses" (2007)
  • [ read ]
  • Scotoma
  • "Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses" (2007)
  • [ read ]
  • Vision loss
  • "Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses" (2007)
  • [ read ]
  • Diplopia
  • "Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms" (2007)
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  • Scotoma
  • "Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms" (2007)
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  • EYE PAIN
  • "Differential Diagnosis in Primary Care" (2007)
  • [ read ]
 

Copyright Details: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs, Copyright © 2008 Williams & Wilkins.

More About Causes of Blurred vision



More About This Book:
Title: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs
Authors: R. Douglas Collins
Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Copyright: 2003
ISBN: 0-7817-3805-9

 » Next page: Diplopia (In a Page: Signs and Symptoms)

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