Temporal Arteritis

If your head starts hurting on the side near your temples, your jaw feels sore when you chew, and your vision goes blurry or dark in one eye, even just for a few minutes, you may have something serious called temporal arteritis, also known as giant cell arteritis.

What Is It?

Your body has tons of blood vessels, and the temporal arteries are the ones running up the sides of your head. In some people over age 50, those arteries can get inflamed and swollen. When that happens, it can block blood flow to your eyes and affect your vision. 

What Does It Feel Like?

• A throbbing headache on the side of your head.
• Jaw pain when chewing or talking.
• Scalp tenderness (even brushing your hair might hurt).
• Sudden, blurry, or lost vision in one eye.

Why Does It Happen?

Doctors aren’t totally sure what triggers it, but it’s believed to be an immune system overreaction where your body starts attacking its own blood vessels by mistake. It mostly affects people over 50, especially women.

Should I Be Worried?

Yes. If this goes untreated, it can cause permanent vision loss. However, it can be treated quickly with steroids to bring the swelling down and protect your sight. If caught early, you can keep your vision safe.

Call (859) 787-0936 or visit our office, 2020 Eyemax, in Lexington, Kentucky to book an appointment today.