Blurred Vision: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Prevention

 

Fatigue may cause blurred vision, or be a symptom of another condition. The cause determines the course of treatment. If you suddenly develop blurred vision, get help right away.

Also Read: Eye infection: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnose, Treatment and Prevention

What does blurred vision mean?

You probably have blurred vision when you can't see things. When your vision isn't clear and sharp, it's called blurred vision. Squinting can sometimes make things more clear. Blurred vision usually worsens with time. Under certain circumstances, blurriness may appear suddenly.

The most frequent sight-related symptom that patients report to their doctors is blurred vision.

What other symptoms could I be experiencing in addition to impaired vision?

You may experience additional symptoms in addition to blurred vision, such as:

• Headaches and other visual abnormalities such as tunnel vision, double vision, blind patches, or halos (light spots)

• Light sensitivity or flashing light sensitivity

• Irritated or red eyes

Causes:

What are the most frequent reasons for gradually worsening blurred vision?
There are numerous possible causes of blurred vision, including typical ones like dry eyes and refractive problems. A few of the potential reasons are as follows:

• Vision impairments caused by refractive errors.

• When the eyes are unable to properly focus images, a condition known as refractive error occurs. Astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness are all included in the phrase. These disorders can frequently be fixed with surgery, contact lenses, or eyeglasses. The most frequent cause of blurred vision is refractive problems.

Vision blurriness caused by dry eye syndrome

 Dry eyes are another typical cause of blurry vision.  If blinking helps your eyesight, you may have dry eyes.  What seems to be a film can be caused by dry eye syndrome.  The syndrome may also cause itching, redness, and pain.  Artificial tears will be used as part of the treatment.

 Macular degeneration associated with aging that results in blurred vision

 The most frequent cause of vision loss in older Americans is age-related macular degeneration.  You are unable to see what is right in front of you due to the condition's impact on your center vision.  One or both eyes may be affected.

Diabetic retinopathy, which results in vision blurability

Anyone with diabetes can develop diabetic retinopathy. Your vision may become so impaired by the disorder that you become blind. Your retina's blood vessels get weaker as a result.


Blurred vision caused by glaucoma

Fluid accumulation in the eye puts pressure on the optic nerve in glaucoma. Blindness or partial blindness may result from optic nerve injury.


Blurred eyesight caused by cataracts

When the lenses of the eye become cloudy and opaque, making them difficult to see through, cataracts develop. One or both of your eyes may get cataracts. Loss of contrast and blurred vision are possible. When it's dark, you might notice halos surrounding lights.

Vision blurring due to optic neuritis

Inflammation (swelling) and irritation of the optic nerve are referred to as optic neuritis. It may occur spontaneously or as a consequence of another illness, such as multiple sclerosis. Although it can affect both eyes, optic neuritis most frequently affects one.


Conditions of the optic nerve that are inherited and result in blurred vision

The optic nerve is harmed by some hereditary conditions. Compared to cataracts or refractive problems, this is a less frequent cause of blurred vision.


Corneal scars that result in blurred vision

These scars may result from a vitamin A deficiency. The majority of this predicament occurs in developing regions of the world.

What triggers the sudden onset of blurred vision?

Although blurred vision usually worsens over time, certain situations might cause blurring to appear rapidly. These conditions include the following and can be considered medical emergencies:

• Transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke

• Increased blood pressure sharply

• Bleeding inside the eye, or hyphema

• Separation of the retina

• A concussion

• Infections of the tissues and eyes

• Headache from a migraine

• Injuries to the eyes

• If you experience sudden loss of eyesight or if your vision becomes blurry quickly, you should seek medical attention right once.

How does one diagnose blurred vision?

In addition to taking your medical history, an eye specialist will inquire about your blurred vision issues. They might inquire about things like:

• When did you first notice that your vision was blurry?

• What exacerbates or improves the hazy vision?

• Are there any family members who have a history of eye disorders?

• The eye expert will then examine the inside and outside of your eyes as part of a routine.

 Ophthalmic checkup. They can use this to check for eye disorders and evaluate:

• Perception of depth

• Your eyes' form and alignment

• Sharpness of vision

• Eye movement

Numerous tests may be included in an eye examination, including:

• Examining an eye chart

•  Ophthalmoscopy

• Tonometry

• Slit lamp examination

•  Refraction test

To find out if your blurry vision is due to an underlying medical condition, you might also need blood testing.

What is the treatment for blurred vision?

The cause of hazy vision determines how to treat it. Among the possible treatments are:


Eyeglasses and contact lenses to correct blurry vision

These products address blurriness caused by cataracts, refractive problems, and other conditions.

Medication for treating blurred vision

To address the ailment causing your blurred vision, your doctor can recommend medication. The medications you take will change based on the underlying condition you have.

Your doctor may recommend eye drops containing pilocarpine hydrochloride (VUITY®) to cure hazy vision caused by presbyopia, an eye disorder that causes you to hold your book farther and farther away from your eyes. The FDA has approved this novel formulation to treat age-related blurred vision.

Surgery to treat their vision impairment

In order to improve your vision, your doctor might recommend surgery to remove cataracts or LASIK to correct refractive problems.

How can I treat blurred eyesight at home?

You can try the following at home to help with blurred vision if your doctor has assessed it and is treating any underlying conditions:

• Make sure you get enough rest

• Steer clear of allergies like dust and smoke

• When you're outside in the sun, always wear sunglasses

• When working or engaging in activities that could harm your eyes, always wear eye protection

• Consume a nutritious diet that includes enough water or other fluids to keep you hydrated as well as the vitamins and minerals your eyes and body require

• If you have dry or inflamed eyes, moisten them with eye drops.

What are some ways to prevent blurred vision?

Here are some pointers for maintaining good vision. Reliable Source:

• Put on 100% UV-protected, wraparound sunglasses when you're outside.

• Eat a diet high in nutrients that are good for your eyes.

• Give up smoking, and if you do, have your eyes examined at least every two years.

• Before putting on or removing contact lenses, cleanse your hands.

• When using heavy equipment or performing tasks like painting or house repairs, put on safety glasses.

• Minimize the amount of time you spend on screens.

References:

• Merck Manual. Multiple pages reviewed. Blurred Vision (https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/eye-disorders/symptoms-of-ophthalmologic-disorders/blurred-vision). Accessed 10/4/2022.

• Keep an eye on your vision health. (2020). https://www.cdc.gov/visionhealth/resources/features/keep-eye-on-vision-health.html

• National Eye Institute. Multiple pages reviewed. At a glance: Refractive Errors (https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/refractive-errors). 10/4/2022.

• American Academy of Ophthalmology. Blurriness (https://www.aao.org/eye-health/symptoms/blurriness-2). Accessed 10/4/2022.

• Food and Drug Administration. NDA 214028 (https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2021/214028s000lbl.pdf). Accessed 10/4/2022.

• Healthdirect. Blurred vision (https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/blurred-vision). Accessed 10/4/2022.