Frequent headaches
Daily or near-daily headaches that often don't respond to usual treatments.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
The Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) Clinic
Our IIH Clinic provides structured outpatient evaluation and management of IIH, with special focus on protecting vision and, when appropriate, evaluating venous sinus anatomy and treatment options.
Call 954-836-9112 to schedule an appointment with a neuroendovascular specialist. Monday–Friday, 8 AM–4 PM.
- 5,000+ patients cared for since 2009
- Decades of experience in stenting
- Next-day appointments when urgent
Understanding the condition
About IIH
Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) means the pressure of the fluid around the brain is too high, and no clear cause such as a tumor, hydrocephalus, or infection shows up on imaging. That's what "idiopathic" means. Symptoms can be disabling, and some patients are at risk of permanent vision loss. The main goals of care are to control symptoms and protect vision.
IIH was once called pseudotumor cerebri. For decades it was diagnosed from symptoms, swelling of the optic nerve (papilledema), and a spinal tap (lumbar puncture) showing high opening pressure. Treatment relied on repeated spinal taps, weight loss, and later medications that reduce fluid production, such as acetazolamide. For cases that don't respond, surgical shunting was, and in some practices still is, the invasive option.
More recently, advances in brain imaging and direct pressure measurement inside the veins (venous manometry) have shown that a narrowing of the brain's draining veins, called venous sinus stenosis, plays a key role in many patients. This led to a targeted, minimally invasive treatment: venous sinus stenting, for carefully selected patients.
IIH symptoms
Pulsatile tinnitus
A rhythmic "whooshing" sound in one or both ears, often in time with your heartbeat. It can disrupt sleep and concentration.
Visual obscurations
Brief episodes of dimming or blacking out of vision, often when standing up or bending over.
Blurred or double vision
Blurry vision, or seeing two images of one object.
Brain fog
Trouble concentrating, remembering, or thinking clearly, as if your mind is working through a haze.
Pressure behind the eyes
A feeling of pressure or aching behind the eyes, often worse when lying down, bending over, or straining.
If you have sudden vision loss or the worst headache of your life, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Specialized care for a complex condition
Many of our patients come to us after years of symptoms that were dismissed, poorly explained, or never tied to a single diagnosis. A careful, focused evaluation often reveals the underlying problem, frequently a significant narrowing of the brain's venous drainage (venous outflow obstruction). For carefully selected patients, venous sinus stenting can bring major relief from headaches, visual symptoms, and pulsatile tinnitus, and help them regain a quality of life they thought was lost.
Individual results vary. We'll discuss whether you are a candidate after a full evaluation.
Ready to get answers?
Call 954-836-9112 to schedule an appointment with a neuroendovascular specialist. Monday–Friday, 8 AM–4 PM.
Call 954-836-9112