Blurred Vision

The loss of eyesight sharpness, also known as blurry vision, makes objects appear hazy and out of focus. The main causes of blurry vision are refractive errors such as farsightedness, nearsightedness and astigmatism or Presbyopia. Blurry vision can also be a sign of a more serious problem, such as neurological disorder and other diseases that can threaten eyesight. Blurry vision can affect both of the eyes.

Cloudy and blurred vision are often used interchangeably. However, cloudy vision occurs when objects appear to be milky and therefore obscured. This type of vision problem is generally specific to certain conditions, such as cataracts. The only commonality is that both conditions can be the cause serious problems.

A qualified optometrist can tell to what extent your vision is blurred and figure out the reason for it by way of a comprehensive eye exam. This includes standard and slit-lamp eye chart tests and spatial contrast sensitivity.

Blurry vision that comes on suddenly and persists may be a sign of something more serious and should not be ignored; see your Optometrist or Eye Health Professional immediately.

Causes and Treatments

Astigmatism: If vision is blurry from all distances, the problem may be astigmatism. This is a kind of refractive error and is caused by a cornea that has an irregular shape. When one has astigmatism, light fails to come to one focal point on the retina so it can produce vision that is clear. This is the case no matter how far off the object is from the eye. To correct blurry vision due to astigmatism, glasses, contacts and surgical procedures can be employed.

Chronic Dry Eyes: There are several ways that dry eye syndrome can affect sight, including fluctuating and blurred vision. In some cases this will be helped by using artificial tears, but cases that are more advanced may need prescription drops to keep the eyes healthy and comfortable.

Contacts, over-wearing: If you wear your contacts longer than they are supposed to be worn, a buildup of protein and other types of debris can occur and cause dry eyes and blurry vision. Over-wear can also make eye infection more likely so you should always follow your optometrist's instructions about contact use.

Eye Floaters: Vision can become blurry by temporary eye floaters (spots) that drift into your line of vision. Floaters usually show up when the vitreous starts to liquefy. This liquefaction is something that comes with age and causes bits of microscopic tissue to freely float within the eye. This casts shadows upon the retina. Although it is a normal thing that comes with the aging process, see your doctor about it if you see a sudden burst of floaters as this can mean that your retina has become detached or torn.

Hyperopia: Blurry vision that is caused by hyperopia (farsightedness) occurs when far off objects are seen well, but objects closer in range are blurred. This can come along with eye fatigue and strain and can be treated in the same way as blurred vision caused by myopia.

Medication and Eye Drops: Blurry vision can be caused by certain types of eye drops, especially those containing preservatives or medication. This side effect may be controlled by the use of artificial tears, punctal plugs or eye medication.

In addition, there are some medications that can bring on blurry vision and dry eyes; allergy medication for example. During your eye exam, your doctor can give you advice on your medications and their ability to cause these issues.

Migraine Headaches: Though typically temporary and harmless, blurry vision, halos, flickering light and zigzagging patterns are common signs of migraine headache onset.

Myopia: Having blurred vision in one or both eyes can be a sign of myopia (nearsightedness). This can come along with eye strain, squinting and headaches. This is the most common form of refractive error and makes objects off in the distance become blurry. In order to correct blurry vision due to myopia, one can used glasses, contacts, or refractive surgery such as PPK and LASIK.

Presbyopia: If you are over the age of 40 and are starting to notice blurred vision up close, such as when reading small print, then you may be experiencing presbyopia. This is a problem that comes as we age and is experienced by many people. The symptoms are the same as what is found in hyperopia, but this condition is marked by a lesser ability to focus on close up objects because the lens of the eye is hardening. With hyperopia it is the eyes shape that is causing the error.

The majority of those over 45 experiences the symptoms of presbyopia and most will at least need reading glasses for correction. However, there is a surgical procedure for presbyopia that suitable candidates can opt for.

Pregnancy: In later stages of pregnancy it is possible to experience blurred vision. During pregnancy the hormones are changing in big ways and this can change the width and shape of the cornea. This causes your vision to become blurred.

Whenever there are visual changes during pregnancy, they should be mentioned to your doctor. This is usually not a serious condition but it could indicate a more serious condition, such as high blood pressure or gestational diabetes.