I'm 26, male. Can a head injury cause unfocused vision?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 26-year-old male. Last week, I hit the right side of my forehead on a door frame. The impact felt like a three out of 10, so it did not seem too bad. I went to the hospital the next day just to be safe, as I had a mild headache that lasted all day.

They did a neurological exam and found no concerning symptoms. They said a scan would not be beneficial, as they did not suspect a brain bleed, just a mild concussion, and sent me home.

I followed up with my GP today, who said I was speaking normally, showing no red flags, and also sent me home. (I did not mention the vision issues at the time, as I was not fully aware of them yet.)

I do have anxiety and tend to hyper-focus on symptoms. At the hospital, I mentioned “blurry vision,” and now I have noticed that my eyes occasionally go in and out of focus. They feel quite fatigued.

I have been spending a lot of time in a dark room on my phone, which might not be helping. When my eyes go out of focus, I can quickly bring them back into focus. I can force them to go out of focus if I try.

I do not have double vision. The headache is gone, and there are no nausea or other symptoms. I have been preoccupied with this all day. My eyes also feel dry.

Could this be a benign symptom rather than one caused by the head injury? The last time I went to the eye doctor, they said I needed glasses for reading and concentrating (like gaming), but I never got them.

Otherwise, I feel like my usual self, I have been out for walks, eating and drinking normally, and doing regular activities without any issues. I am just feeling very anxious.

Please advise.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

I want to reassure you that, based on everything you have described, your symptoms are most likely benign and not indicative of a serious post-head injury complication.

You have already had a neurological exam with no red flags, no persistent headache, vomiting, dizziness, weakness, or double vision, and your symptoms have improved over time. This aligns with a mild concussion, which can occasionally cause transient visual symptoms due to the brain’s temporary response to impact.

Your vision goes in and out of focus, especially after prolonged screen time, and the fact that you can voluntarily refocus it strongly suggests eye strain rather than a neurological issue. Fatigued, dry eyes, and difficulty maintaining focus are very common when glasses are needed for near work, particularly if you have been in a dark room using your phone for long periods.

Your previous eye exam indicated the need for reading glasses, further supporting the idea that this is visual fatigue, not a complication from the concussion. I would recommend the following:

Follow the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Use artificial tears if your eyes feel dry.
Avoid excessive screen time in low lighting.
Most importantly, get the glasses that were prescribed.

If your symptoms worsen or you develop new ones, such as persistent blurred vision, double vision, or balance issues, then a re-evaluation would be appropriate. However, based on what you have described, there is currently no indication for a scan or urgent workup.

It also sounds like anxiety may be amplifying your awareness of these sensations. Focusing on sleep, hydration, gentle activity, and proper eye care should help you feel better soon.

I hope this helps you. Thank you.