Blurred vision refers to the loss of your sharp vision. It can come on gradually or suddenly, and when it does, it can seem as though you are looking through a veil or sheer curtain. Losing your ability to focus precisely makes it hard to do your typical day-to-day activities like reading, walking, or driving. Blurred vision can be caused by a variety of diseases, conditions, or disorders that range from mild to severe.
Common Causes
Most of the time, blurry vision can be corrected with a pair of prescription glasses. This includes nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia. Nearsightedness impacts your ability to see objects up close clearly, but it can be difficult to focus on items at a distance. This is the result of light not being focused on the retina properly. Farsightedness is just the opposite. You’ll have good distance vision, but you can struggle to see things up close. This happens when the eye doesn’t refract light correctly. Presbyopia sounds exotic, but it is simply when you find that you can’t see small print as well as you once did. It is common as one ages, and a simple pair of reading glasses does the trick when it comes to bringing everything into focus.
Other common reasons for your vision being blurred include eye irritation. This leaves your eyes feeling scratchy and it is uncomfortable. If you spend a lot of time in front of a screen, you have probably experienced this. Dry eyes will also feel gritty and irritated. In this situation, it is a matter of the eyes not producing the lubrication they need. The discomfort is relieved by using a prescription eye drop.
Serious Eye Issues
There are times when you need to take blurred vision more seriously, as it can indicate some pretty major health issues. This is especially true if the blurred vision comes on suddenly. You may be experiencing a stroke. A stroke affects the visual pathway to the brain. This makes everything go out of focus. Look for other stroke symptoms, and seek medical help immediately. A brain tumor is another serious issue that causes your vision to go out of focus. A tumor could be pressing on the optic nerve.
Sometimes the blurred vision isn’t immediately apparent. Head trauma may cause you to lose your ability to focus clearly over time. It is not uncommon to have the retina tear during a head injury. Make sure you alert your doctor immediately if you notice blurred vision. Retinoblastoma is a cancer of the eye. With this condition, you could begin to notice your vision slowly becoming worse as time passes. Don’t ignore this loss of vision. You want this condition to be diagnosed as soon as possible so that your doctor can begin treatment.
Eye Diseases and Conditions
There are many eye conditions that affect vision. Cataracts are when the lens of the eye loses its transparency. It is a common result of aging, and it is easily corrected with surgery. Another problem that is often related to aging is macular degeneration. You will find that you lose your center of vision with macular degeneration. It is important to see your eye doctor as soon as you notice this vision loss. Many associate aging with glaucoma as well, but this issue can appear at any stage of life. Glaucoma is a result of damaged nerves. Seeking medical attention is crucial. If you don’t get treatment, it can result in blindness.
Sometimes, blurred vision is the result of eye infections. Conjunctivitis is when the surface of the eye becomes inflamed. A corneal ulcer is another type of eye infection that results in an open sore. Corneal ulcers are caused by a variety of circumstances such as issues with wearing contact lenses, injury, a side effect of drugs, or a nutritional deficiency.
If your blurred vision is accompanied by other symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. Otherwise, make an appointment with your eye doctor for a thorough exam. Many conditions are easily diagnosed and corrected right there in the office. Your vision is too important to put off treatment, regardless of how mild or severe your problem is.