Eye strain and vertigo: what to know

Eye strain may make you feel off-balance after reading, scrolling, or changing focus, particularly when vision is blurred or the eyes are dry. Vertigo means a false sense that you or the surroundings are moving, often spinning. Inner-ear conditions such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, Meniere's Disease, or a middle-ear infection can cause it. Migraine can also produce dizziness or vertigo, sometimes with headache or light sensitivity. The trigger, duration, hearing symptoms, nausea, and whether head movement brings it on help a clinician narrow the possibilities.

Sit or lie somewhere safe when spinning begins, move your head slowly, and avoid driving, heights, or machinery until you are steady. Reduce screen glare, take visual breaks, and use your prescribed glasses or contact lenses correctly. Do not perform an Epley Manoeuvre without guidance if the diagnosis is uncertain or you have neck or back problems. Keep a record of movement triggers, hearing changes, headache, nausea, and how long each episode lasts.

Get urgent help for vertigo with new weakness, facial drooping, speech trouble, severe imbalance, fainting, severe headache, chest pain, or sudden hearing loss. Prompt assessment is needed for continuous vomiting, a new severe episode, fever with severe ear pain, or symptoms after a head injury.

Is this visual unsteadiness or true vertigo? Could my ears, migraine, vision, or medicines be involved? Would a repositioning treatment or hearing assessment be appropriate?