Blurry Vision

What is blurry vision?

Blurry or blurred vision is where you can’t see clearly — things look fuzzy instead of sharp. Squinting sometimes helps you focus. Blurry vision often gets worse with time.

The most likely cause of blurry vision is refractive errors, which cause the eyes to not focus properly. Common refractive problems include hyperopia (farsightedness), myopia (nearsightedness), and astigmatism (which can cause hyperopia and myopia).

Other reasons you might gradually develop blurry vision include:

• Dry eye
• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Glaucoma
• Cataracts
• Optic neuritis
• Inherited optic nerve disorders
• Scars on the cornea

Sometimes, blurry vision begins suddenly. This could be caused by a migraine or might signify a medical emergency like a stroke or hypertensive crisis (extremely high blood pressure). Other causes include retinal detachment, hyphema (bleeding inside the eye), eye infections, and eye injuries.

You should seek medical help immediately if your vision becomes blurry with no warning or you suffer sudden sight loss.

How is blurry vision caused by refractive errors managed?

Eyeglasses and contact lenses are the primary way to manage blurry vision caused by refractive errors. The Atlantic Retina Consultants team completes a thorough eye exam and sight test to determine what correction your eyes need.

Getting used to putting contact lenses in your eyes can take a while. But they offer advantages that include more natural vision and no fogging in the rain. If you want a more permanent solution to blurry vision caused by refractive errors, laser eye surgery is an increasingly popular choice.

How are other causes of blurry vision treated?

Treatments for other causes of blurry vision include:

Medication

Medication might help treat the condition causing blurry vision. For example, eyedrops help manage glaucoma by reducing fluid production in the eyeball or helping fluid drain more effectively. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs reduce abnormal blood vessel numbers in patients with wet AMD.

Surgery

If you have glaucoma and eyedrops don’t help, laser surgeries might. They use light energy to reduce fluid pressure in the eyeball. Cataract surgery is among the most common eye surgery procedures.

Without treatment, eye disorders causing blurry vision can lead to irreversible vision loss. See your eye doctor immediately to prevent sight loss.

Call Atlantic Retina Consultants to arrange a blurry vision assessment or book an appointment online today.