Blurry vision is a common condition that can occur as a side effect of many conditions. Some of these conditions are relatively minor, while others could be serious.
If you find yourself debating about whether it's important enough to consult a healthcare provider right away or to wait, it's best to err on the side of caution. This is particularly true if changes in vision are sudden, where everything is crisp and easy to see one minute and you're having difficulty viewing details the next.
This article discusses what causes blurry vision and possible treatments.
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What Blurry Vision Looks Like
Blurred vision is something that cannot be remedied with glasses or other corrective lenses. It is a symptom where you find you're having trouble seeing things as sharply as you usually can, with items appearing somewhat fuzzy in one or both eyes.
Cloudy Vision
Also, be aware you may be dealing with milky or cloudy vision, which is actually different from blurred. With this, it may appear as if you are peering through a fog. One reason for this can be a cataract, in which the lens of the eye becomes opaque. However, cataract onset is a gradual process and not sudden.
Why Do I Suddenly Have Cloudy Vision in One Eye?
Conditions That Require Immediate Treatment
At the heart of blurry vision can be a variety of different conditions. Some of these are very serious and require emergency medical care. If left untreated, some conditions can cause severe injury or even death.
Stroke
If this occurs, the brain doesn't get enough oxygen and vision, as well as other bodily functions, may be impaired. In addition to blurred vision, light sensitivity, seeing double, and even sight loss may occur. Immediate treatment is needed.
Wet AMD
With wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the sharp central vision needed to see fine details can become blurred, distorted or missing as the macula deteriorates. As this becomes more serious, this can affect reading, driving, and even the ability to see people's faces.
Transient Ischemic Attack
This is a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain that can cause symptoms, including blurry vision, that can last from minutes to about a day. This condition doesn't cause permanent damage but can act as a warning that you might be in danger of having a stroke.
Detached Retina
When part of the retina gets pulled away from the back wall of the eye, the nerve cells there no longer work properly and the result can be suddenly blurry vision. Also look for flashing lights, floaters, a persistent shadow, or sudden loss of your side vision.
Preeclampsia
This condition is characterized by high blood pressure or liver or kidney damage that most often occurs after the 20th week of pregnancy. In addition to blurry vision, symptoms include an extreme headache, trouble breathing, and feeling lightheaded or faint.
Concussion
A concussion is a blow to the head that causes the brain to move in the skull. Symptoms such as blurred vision can come on right after the injury or show up hours of days later.
Endophthalmitis
This is an often rapidly-progressing bacterial infection that causes inflammation in the white of the eye. In addition to causing vision changes, there may be yellow or white discharge and the outside of the eye can appear whiteish.
Angle Closure Glaucoma
This rare and more serious type of glaucoma develops when pressure in the eye rises rapidly due to a blocked or covered drainage canal.
Bleeding in the Eye (Hyphema)
If you get hit in the eye, blood can collect between the clear surface (cornea) and the colored part of the eye (iris). If there's an injury to the iris or pupil, this can cause blurry vision, as well as light sensitivity and pain.
Corneal Abrasion
A corneal abrasion is a scrape on the surface of the cornea, which can cause vision to become suddenly blurry. It can be caused by something like a fingernail, dirt particles, or a ripped contact lens. The eye can also become red, painful, and sensitive to light.
Eye Infections
Eye infections can cause a slew of symptoms, including blurry vision.
Keratitis
Keratitis is the inflammation of the cornea, which is the clear outer layer covering the front of the eye. This can cause blurry vision, as well as swelling, redness, pain, and sensitivity to light. While keratitis can be caused by an infection, it can also develop in response to allergies, an injury, dry eye, or medications that suppress the immune system.
Pink Eye
This condition, also known as viral conjunctivitis, or bacterial or allergic conjunctivitis, may result in inflamed tissue, which can sometimes cause blurry vision. Typically, the eyelids are also swollen, the eye is red with mucus coming out of it, and you may have some sensitivity to light.
Uveitis
This inflammation inside the eye usually means you're fighting off an infection, though it can also develop if you have a disease such as psoriatic arthritis or lupus. These are conditions in which your immune system attacks healthy eye tissue.
Uveitis affects the uvea, which is the part of the eye between the white part of the eye and the retina, located in the back of the eye. The inflammation can cause vision issues, as well as pain and redness.
Other Causes
Some other conditions that can result in blurry vision include the following:
Diabetes
With high blood sugar, water is pulled into the lens, which swells and blurs vision. High sugar levels can weaken blood vessels and damage the retina. Weak blood vessels may possibly bleed, grow new weak blood vessels or even lead to retinal detachment with risk of permanent vision loss.
Dry Eyes
Your tear film helps to keep your eyes moist. If this three-layer coating is disrupted and there aren't enough tears or the quality isn't great, the result can be a burning or gritty sensation and blurry vision can occur.
MS
With a condition likemultiple sclerosis, the immune system may attack the optic nerve, causing optic neuritis. In addition to blurry vision, sight may becomedim, colors appear faded and there may be pain in the back of the eye socket when you move your eyes.
Migraine
Some people who get migraines might experience migraine with aura, which usually comes on prior to a migraine attack. Migraine with aura might affect your speech and can cause a number of vision changes, from blurriness to seeing flashing or flickering lights.
High Blood Sugar
Even if you don't have diabetes, you may experience a temporary hike in blood sugar after eating a meal that can cause your vision to blur as a result of fluid build-up in the eyes.
Eyestrain
This occurs if you've been staring at your computer for too long. With your eye muscles weary, the result may be suddenly blurred distance vision. Other symptoms that may accompany digital eye strain include headache, dry eyes, and even neck and muscle aches.
Common vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and even aging-related reading problems linked to presbyopia can cause gradual blurriness. The good news is these can usually be addressed with glasses or contact lenses.
Treatment for Sudden Blurry Vision
Deciding what to do about blurry vision will vary depending on the cause. Some conditions can be treated with eye drops while others may need oral medications, medication injections into the eye, or laser treatment.
Occasionally, surgery may be required if you're dealing with one of the following conditions:
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Detached retina
- Injury
- Wet AMD
- Stroke
- Angle-closure glaucoma
When to Seek Emergency Treatment
Most of the time, blurry vision can be safely handled outside of the ER. A 2017 study shows that approximately 1 in 4 of those who visited the ER for an eye issue had a minor problem such as pink eye, a swollen eyelid, or eyelid bumps. However, it's still important to seek emergency treatment if you:
- Have blurry vision that comes on suddenly, especially if it's in one eye only
- Have blurry vision and eye pain
- Have sign of a stroke, such as difficulty speaking or a facial droop
Summary
Blurry vision is common and can result from relatively minor conditions such as a migraine or eyestrain. It can also be a side effect of a serious condition that requires immediate treatment. These conditions include stroke, preeclampsia, a concussion, and wet AMD. If you're unsure about whether to contact a healthcare provider, it's best to err on the side of caution.
