What Is Blurred Vision?

In most cases, blurred vision is probably a sign that you need glasses.

But if the blurred vision comes on suddenly, it can be a sign of a serious medical emergency.

Any vision change is abnormal.

Extreme closeup of middle-aged Asian man

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But some causes are more serious than others.

Often blurriness is the result of a temporary reaction, and it usually goes away on its own.

Below, we look at the multiple causes of blurred vision and various treatment options.

These include:

All of these vision problems make it difficult to see things clearly.

Sometimes, people dont even know they have an issue with their vision.

Treatment for common vision refractive errors includes prescription glasses or contact lenses.Laser eye surgerycan also correct refractive errors.

If you have blurred vision, youll usually notice that your vision isnt as sharp.

You may find your sight becomes fuzzy and not as clear.

An optometrist or ophthalmologist can catch vision problems before they worsen.

If your eyes arent the problem, they will refer you to your family physician or a specialist.

If your blurred vision happens with other bodily symptoms, you should see a doctor right away.

The blurriness youre experiencing may be the result of something serious.

Causes and Treatment

Some causes of blurred vision are benign, while others require medical intervention.

Here are a few potential reasons for blurred vision.

Giving your eyes a rest will return vision to normal.

Other symptoms ofeye straininclude headaches, watery eyes, and facial muscle fatigue.

Symptoms include swelling, redness, and discharge.

The discharge can cause blurry vision.

Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to blurry vision.

Vision usually returns to normal when blood sugar stabilizes.

Still, its essential to treat the root cause to prevent further complications.

Blood in the Eye

Hyphemais when blood collects in front of the eye.

The pooled blood can obstruct vision and cause blurriness.

Its typically the result of a traumatic injury but can also happen due to blood clotting disorders or cancer.

Other symptoms include light sensitivity and eye pain.

Commonly, treatment involves resting and protecting the eye until its healed.

Optic Neuritis

When the optic nerve swells or is otherwise damaged, it can cause blurred vision.

Symptoms ofoptic neuritisinclude dim vision, faded color vision, and pain that is usually felt upon eye movement.

In some people, the swelling goes away on its own.

Treatment for some cases may involve corticosteroids.

Uveitis

Uveitishappens when the middle layer of the eye becomes irritated.

It can cause blurred vision and tissue damage that ultimately leads to loss of sight.

Other symptoms include redness of the eye, light sensitivity, and floaters.

Medical eye drops can help treat the inflammation.

Detached Retina

Adetached retinais serious and requires immediate medical attention.

When the retina detaches from the eye, vision becomes blurred.

Treatment for a retinal detachment involves surgery.

Stroke

One of the possiblesymptoms of a strokeis blurred vision.

People may also have trouble focusing.

Other stroke symptoms include facial changes, speech problems, leg weakness, balance issues, and dizziness.

A stroke requires emergency treatment.

This is a common cause of vision loss in older adults.

Depending on the throw in of macular degeneration, there may be treatments available.

Some drugs can help slow the progression of the condition.

Glaucoma

Glaucomais a condition that damages the optic nerve.

Of the two types of glaucoma, angle-closure glaucoma can cause acute or immediate blurry vision.

It is also known asnarrow-angle glaucoma.

An acute attack can trigger sudden, intense pressure buildup, which requires immediate medical attention.

If left untreated, glaucoma can cause permanent blindness.

Other symptoms of an acute attack include sudden blurriness, nausea, vomiting, severe pain, and headache.

Once glaucoma damage occurs, it cant be reversed.

Control of disease progression involves medical eye drops, laser surgery, or a surgery called atrabeculectomy.

A Word From Verywell

There are many reasons you may experience blurred vision.

Allergies and irritation can cause temporary blurriness.

Serious conditions like glaucoma and macular degeneration can also cause blurred vision and require prompt medical attention.

Its why getting a regular eye exam is so important.

In some cases, treatments can slow disease progression as long as the problem is caught early.

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Vimont, C.Eye strain: how to prevent tired eyes.