What is blurry vision?
Blurry vision is the loss of visual acuity or sharpness in one or both eyes. With blurry vision, objects appear out of focus and hazy. Blurred vision is a symptom of numerous eye conditions ranging from minor vision problems to serious medical problems and eye diseases.
A problem with any part of the eye — such as the cornea, retina, or optic nerve — can cause blurry vision. Treatment options may include the use of corrective glasses or contact lenses, eye drops, medication, or laser surgery.
What is the most common cause of blurry vision?
The most common cause of blurred vision in one or both eyes is refractive errors. They prevent the eye from correctly focusing light on the retina. A normal eye focuses light directly on the retina.
Refractive errors include:
- Myopia (near-sightedness) — an eye condition where objects far away are blurry.
- Hyperopia (farsightedness) — an eye condition where objects up close are blurry.
- Astigmatism — mis-matched eye curves cause blurred vision at all distances.
- Presbyopia — the aging lens of the eye causes a progressive loss of near-vision.
Refractive errors can be corrected by eyeglasses, contact lenses, or laser surgery. The National Eye Institute says that proper refractive correction could improve vision among 150 million Americans.
Do eye infections cause blurry vision?
Eye infections are the result of bacteria, viruses, or fungi entering the eye. Any of these infections can lead to blurry vision.
Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
Inflammation of the conjunctiva (a thin membrane that covers the white part of the eye and lines the inner eyelids) can occur in one or both eyes. Conjunctivitis is usually mild in form and doesn’t impact vision. But more serious cases can result in blurry vision.
Keratitis
Keratitis is inflammation of the cornea (the clear, dome-shaped tissue in the front of the eye); it may or may not be associated with an infection. Noninfectious keratitis can be caused by a minor injury, wearing contact lenses too long, or the presence of a foreign body.
Optic neuritis
The optic nerve carries visual information from the eye to the brain. Optic neuritis — inflammation of the optic nerve — is caused by an infection and causes blurred vision. Sometimes it can cause temporary vision loss.
Ocular herpes
A condition of the eye caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). The most common type of eye herpes affects the cornea and is called epithelial keratitis.
Uveitis
An eye infection that affects the uvea (middle layer of the eye). Warning signs often come on suddenly and get worse quickly.
What are the non-emergency causes of blurry vision?
While sudden blurry vision in both or one eye always requires medical attention, it may not require an emergency visit to the optometrist or ophthalmologist. These non-emergent conditions include:
Eye strain
Eye strain can occur after focusing on something for a long period without a break. If it occurs as the result of focusing on a computer or cellphone, it’s called digital eyestrain. Other causes of eyestrain include reading and driving.
Corneal abrasion
A corneal abrasion is a scratch on the transparent layer at the front of the eye. It is usually due to an eye injury.
Diabetes
Blurry vision can be an early sign of diabetes.
High blood sugar levels cause fluid shifts and swelling in the eyes which in turn move the lens closer to or away from the retina, causing blurry vision. Diabetic retinopathy is a serious eye condition that affects people with diabetes. It develops when blood sugar levels remain high for long periods, damaging the tiny blood vessels in the retina.
Eye drops and medications
Medicated eye drops containing preservatives can cause irritation and blurry vision.
Eye floaters
Vision can be blurred by temporary spots or floaters drifting in the field of vision. Floaters appear when the eye’s gel-like vitreous changes as we age. This causes microscopic pieces of tissue within the vitreous to float freely inside the eye, casting shadows on the retina.
Cataracts
Cataracts can form in one or both eyes. Aging causes proteins and fibers within the lens to break down and clump together, clouding the lens. Cataracts scatter and block light as it passes through the lens preventing a sharp image from reaching the retina. This causes cloudy vision, blurry vision, difficulty with night vision, sensitivity to light and glare, and “halos” around lights.
Dry eye syndrome
Dry eyes occur when tear production and drainage are not in balance. Tears provide lubrication, wash away foreign matter, and keep the surface of the eyes smooth and clear. Dry eye causes blurry vision, redness, watery eyes, and light sensitivity.
Macular hole
The interior of the eye is filled with a gel-like substance called vitreous. As we age, the vitreous slowly shrinks and pulls away from the retina. This can cause a macular hole. A macular hole causes distorted central vision or blurriness, and straight lines may appear wavy.
Migraine with aura (ocular migraine)
An ocular migraine is caused by a spasm of the blood vessels that feed the part of the brain responsible for processing vision. A migraine is an intense headache causing blurry vision out of nowhere, flashing lights, blind spots, and seeing patterns with jagged edges and corners.
Temporal arteritis
Inflammation of the medium and large arteries is called temporal arteritis or giant cell arteritis. The vessels around the temples are involved, causing a throbbing headache, blurry vision, or loss of vision.
When is blurry vision an emergency?
The sudden blurring of vision in one eye may be a medical emergency that must be treated as soon as possible to prevent permanent damage and vision loss. Prompt medical treatment can lead to a better outcome. Emergency causes of sudden blurry vision include:
Detached retina
Retinal detachment separates the cells of the retina from a layer of blood vessels that provide oxygen and nourishment to the eye. The longer retinal detachment goes untreated, the greater the risk of permanent vision loss in the affected eye.
The warning signs of retinal detachment include: blurry vision, vision loss, the sudden appearance of floaters, and flashes of light.
Pregnancy
Hormonal changes during pregnancy can alter the shape and thickness of the cornea causing both blurry and double vision. While this can be worrisome, it is a frequent occurrence and usually isn’t serious.
Nevertheless, blurry vision may be an indicator of a more serious pregnancy complication, like preeclampsia or gestational diabetes. High blood pressure and blurry vision are a serious combination of symptoms and need to be discussed with an eye doctor.
Brain tumor
Blurred vision in one eye may indicate a brain or central nervous system problem — such as a brain tumor that presses on one of the optic nerves. Because eye health and vision are vital to quality of life, contact a healthcare provider if you have blurred vision in one eye or any other eye symptoms
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a condition where the eye’s optic nerve is damaged due to blocked channels in the eye that drain fluid. It can occur with or without raised intraocular pressure, blurry vision, pain, and redness. If untreated, there will be gradual, irreversible vision loss.
Endophthalmitis
Endophthalmitis is an urgent medical emergency requiring prompt eye care. It is a severe inflammation inside the eye caused by an infection from eye surgery, eye injury, or infection in the bloodstream. Severe eye pain and loss of vision can occur.
Stroke
Sudden blurry vision in one eye can be a sign of a stroke. The side of the brain where the stroke occurs determines whether the left or right eye is affected. A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked by a clot or a ruptured blood vessel.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disorder associated with aging that results in loss of visual acuity, sharpness, and central vision. Wet AMD occurs when blood vessels form behind the retina and under the macula. The vessels bleed and leak into the eye causing scarring. The condition can start in one eye and progress to the other.
Finding the cause of blurry vision requires a comprehensive eye exam with an optometrist or ophthalmologist at Assil Gaur Eye Institute of Los Angeles. Annual eye exams help prevent the onset of eye conditions that can affect how you see. If your vision is blurry, schedule an appointment with an eye doctor.
Experiencing blurry vision? Assil Gaur Eye Insstitute of Los Angeles has your back!
Los Angeles’ leading LASIK, cataract, and retinal surgeons are available to you, all in one practice. State-of-the-art treatments for all eye conditions including glaucoma, macular disease, dry eye, and diabetic eye conditions, to name just a few.
Assil Gaur Eye Institute remains laser-focused on our founding mission of providing exceptional health care in a compassionate and caring environment. We continue to be driven to advance the field of ophthalmology and give back to our community every day.
Please call (866) 945-2745 or make an appointment online. At Assil Gaur Eye Institute we take our patients’ safety seriously. Our facility’s Covid-19 patient safety procedures exceed all CDC recommendations to minimize the spread of the coronavirus. Masks are required in our institutes at all times.
We are conveniently located for patients throughout Southern California and the Los Angeles area at locations in or near Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, West Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Culver City, Hollywood, Venice, Marina del Rey, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, and Downtown Los Angeles.
She received her Doctorate degree in Optometry at the age of 23 and during her graduate training, Dr. Z also served as a research associate. Her research was presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology in 2012.
- Causes of Blurry Vision – and When to Seek Immediate Medical Help - 01/24/2023
- Does High Blood Pressure Affect Your Vision? - 12/27/2022
- Protect Yourself From Computer Eye Strain at the Office - 12/12/2022
![Why do African American Patients Need Early Glaucoma Screening? [New Study]](http://assileye.cachefly.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/black-glaucoma-patient-feature.jpg)
