What Causes Blurry Vision?
Blurry vision can happen when your eyes are tired or irritated, but it can also be a symptom of serious health conditions. If you experience sudden blurry vision, see an eye doctor immediately.
If you are pregnant, blurry vision can be a sign of preeclampsia. This is a dangerous condition that may endanger your health and the health of your unborn child.
1. Dry eyes
Blurry vision can be a sign of a disease or condition that affects the eyes, such as diabetes, eye infections, allergies, and glaucoma. Other symptoms may include pain, sensitivity to light, red eyes, crusty eyelids, runny nose and sneezing.
Blurry eyes can be caused by a lack of tears or by poor quality tears that evaporate too quickly. This condition is also known as dry eye syndrome or ocular surface dysfunction.
It can be due to an age-related condition called presbyopia that affects the ability to see near objects clearly. It can also be a sign of the onset of macular degeneration, which is more serious.
2. Irritation
Blurry vision is common and often not something to worry about, but sometimes it can be a sign of a medical emergency. Sudden blurry vision may indicate a stroke that happens when blood stops flowing to part of the brain. This could happen if you have a blocked or ruptured blood vessel or if you have a stroke that affects the area of the brain that controls sight.
Your eyes can also get blurry when you have an infection, such as pink eye (conjunctivitis). This infection causes the outer wall of the eye to swell and produce mucus. It usually is accompanied by itchy eyes, pain and sensitivity to light.
3. Glaucoma
Blurry vision can be a symptom of glaucoma. This occurs when fluid pressure in the eye is too high and causes damage to the optic nerve.
Blurry vision may also be a symptom of diabetes and other conditions that affect blood vessels in the eye. Some of these include retinopathy, which occurs when elevated blood sugar damages tiny blood vessels in the retina.
People with sudden blurry vision should seek medical attention. This is because it can be a sign of a detached retina, stroke or other conditions that require urgent treatment.
4. Conjunctivitis
Blurry vision can be a symptom of pink eye, an infection of the thin clear tissue layer that covers your white eyeball and lines the inside of the eyelid. It is highly contagious, spreading through sneezing, coughing and direct contact with others with the disease.
Blurry vision is not a common symptom of pink eye, but it could be a sign that your condition has gotten worse and needs additional treatment. Contact your doctor immediately if you develop blurry vision in addition to other symptoms of the disease.
Other causes of blurry vision include eye strain and refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. These conditions can be corrected with prescription glasses or contact lenses.
5. Eye infections
Blurry vision can be a sign that it's time for new glasses or contact lenses, but it also can be a symptom of an underlying health problem. It's especially important to see a doctor when blurry vision is sudden.
Some common eye infections, like bacterial or allergic conjunctivitis, may cause blurry vision. Pink eye, which is caused by a viral infection, often results in itchy eyes and blurry vision.
Blurry vision that comes on suddenly may be a warning sign of a medical emergency, such as a stroke or an abbreviated version called a transient ischemic attack (TIA). A TIA can lead to permanent vision loss.
6. Retinal migraines
Blurry vision can be a minor inconvenience, but it can also signal a more serious health issue. Sudden blurry vision is often a sign of a detached retina, a stroke, or other conditions that require urgent medical attention.
A detached retina occurs when the retina (the thin layer at the back of the eye) pulls away from the blood vessels that supply it with oxygen. It can lead to permanent vision loss if untreated.
A retinal migraine is a condition that causes a sudden blurring of one eye along with a throbbing headache in the same side of your head. It may also be accompanied by a curtain of swirling floaters or flashing lights.
7. Stroke
Eyesight is something we take for granted — until our vision begins to blur. Blurry vision typically signals an underlying issue that needs to be addressed. It may mean that you need a new prescription for your glasses or contacts. It could also be a sign of a more serious condition like cataracts.
Blurred vision can also be a symptom of a stroke. People with visual processing problems after a stroke may notice that they bump into things on one side of their body or they are unaware of objects in the room.
Blurry vision can happen when your eyes are tired or irritated, but it can also be a symptom of serious health conditions. If you experience sudden blurry vision, see an eye doctor immediately. If you are pregnant, blurry vision can be a sign of preeclampsia. This is a dangerous condition that may endanger your health…