• Occasional Blurred Vision In Glaucoma
• Sudden Blurred Vision That Goes Away
• Occasional Blurred Vision And Trouble Focusing

Blurred Vision Blurred vision could be caused by many different conditions, so if you have blurry eyesight it’s best to get it checked out by an expert. It can take a number of different forms. At its least extreme, blurry vision can include mild blurring of objects at a distance or close up. Farsightedness leads to blurry near vision, but the distance may be blurry as well. The need for reading glasses develops especially in the mid-forty's. For more detailed information on the need for glasses and contact lenses, see the section on Optics. Cataract is a common cause of blurred vision. Blurred vision may result from abnormalities such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, presbyopia, or astigmatism that can be improved with corrective lenses (eyeglasses) or it may signal the presence of eye disease. Blurry vision may be experienced in one eye or in both eyes, depending upon the cause.

Blurred vision may result from abnormalities such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, presbyopia, or astigmatism that can be improved with corrective lenses (eyeglasses) or it may signal the presence of eye disease. Blurry vision may be experienced in one eye or in both eyes, depending upon the cause. Dry Eye Syndrome: The most common cause of temporary or fluctuating blurred vision is dry eye syndrome. Our tear production decreases by 60% from age 16 to age 60.

Did you know that blurred vision can be an important sign of eye disease? It’s true! But eye diseases aren’t the only thing that can cause your vision to be blurry.

This issue can affect one eye or both eyes, and can occur often or rarely. Either way, if you notice your vision becomes blurry, contact your eye doctor sooner rather than later.

If you’re struggling to focus on words or signs that you used to be able to read just fine, don’t get frustrated… just contact your doctor.

Your age and health should not matter at this point. Just get an appointment set-up asap. You don’t want to go blind, do you? Because if you let this problem linger long enough, it could lead to blindness. It’s best to get into your doctor’s office to see what’s going on.

In most cases, your doctor appointment won’t last more than an hour.

Blurred Vision Symptoms You May Develop

In some cases blurred vision may be accompanied by additional symptoms in one or both eyes. There is usually some other underlying cause. Symptoms can include:

• Loss of peripheral vision
• Loss of central vision
• Increased tear production
• Bleeding from eye
• Poor near vision

Why Is My Vision Blurry?

As noted above, blurred vision can be a sign of an underlying problem. Of course people who forget to wear their prescribed corrective lenses experience blurry vision, but it’s not always that simple.

Yet, vision loss issues such as blindness, double vision, or blurry vision can mean any of a number of different things, ranging from dry eyes or glaucoma to migraines or retinal detachments.

There is a long list of possible causes of blurry vision. Let’s go over a few of them now…

• Refractive Eye Conditions: Indicates the need for corrective lenses, or a new lens prescription
• Myopia: Nearsightedness
• Presbyopia: A diminishing ability to focus
• Other Eye Conditions: For example, glaucoma, cataracts, or macular degeneration
• Dry Eyes: Blurry vision is a symptom of this syndrome
• Migraines: Some people experience blurry vision before the onset of a migraine
• Cataracts: Causes the lenses to become cloudy
• Contact Lenses: Dirty or damaged contact lenses can cause blurry vision
• Diabetes

Sometimes medications cause blurry vision. There are many prescribed drugs, over-the-counter drugs, and supplements that can cause this problem, including:

• Certain anticholinergics
• Some antihypertensives
• Some asychotropic drugs
• Oral contraceptives
• Cortisone
• Some antidepressants
• Some heart medications

Diagnosing the Cause of Blurred Vision

While trying to find the cause of your blurred vision your eye doctor may perform one or more of the following tests:

Slit-lamp examination: Your eye doctor will have you place your chin on a resting pad at first. Then he or she will use a machine to focus on different structures in the front and back of the eye. This helps them see if the eye is functioning properly or not. When necessary, the doctor may adjust the light and the level of magnification in order to see better.

Anesthetic eye drops are given to numb the surface of your eye, as well as an eye drop called fluorescein to coat the surface of your eye. If anything looks weird on the surface of the cornea it will glow under a blue light. Fluorescein is also used to measure the intraocular pressure (see below).

Refraction test: This test measures your prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses. A device called a phoroptor or refractor is used. Looking through the device, you will be asked to focus on a Snellen eye chart. As your eye doctor asks you to read the chart, he or she will determine whether you need eyeglasses or not.

Tonometry: Using the glowing eye drops mentioned above, your eye doctor will measure your eye pressure. This is done with a device called a tonometer, which is attached to the slit-lamp. You will be asked to keep your eyes wide open and to breathe normally. The tonometer is brought up to the surface of each eye to measure the pressure. Sometimes eye doctors measure intraocular pressure with a puff of air on the surface of the eye.

Relieving Blurred Vision — It’s Possible!

If you are experiencing blurred vision, you should visit your eye doctor as soon as possible. There may be a wide variety of treatment options to choose from. Here are a few things you can do to try to bring your vision back into focus:

1. Try reading glasses (pick a pair with the lowest magnifying power
2. Stand at least a foot away from the rack of glasses and try to read the letters on the signs
3. If you cannot read the letters, pick a pair with a higher magnification
4. Do this until you find a pair that works for you for your needs

It’s important to know that both eyes do not always lose vision at the same rate or at the same time. Try to trick your brain by using two different contact lenses rather than using the same prescription. One lens can be for distance vision and the other for near vision.

Wearing contacts in this fashion is called monovision, or blended vision. Monovision lenses allow the brain to automatically focus the eyes for both distant and near vision. You can learn more about monovision here.

If your eye exam does not uncover any problems, you might just need eye drops to soothe your eyes. Over-the-counter drops are available, or your doctor can write you a prescription.

Finally, if you do wear glasses or contact lenses, try cleaning them. Oil and debris can build up on the lenses and cause blurry or fuzzy vision.

Many different types of cleaning solutions can be purchased over the counter, but it’s always a good idea to talk with your eye doctors first. Not all solutions work well with all types of lenses.

For blurriness caused by cataracts, there are surgical options to replace the old lens with a new one.

Can Blurry Vision Be Prevented?

Blurry vision sometimes happens to the best of us. Most of the time, however, it can be corrected or prevented. For example, wearing sunglasses will decrease sensitivity to light. Or you can avoid drinking alcohol, which is known to alter vision.

Regular eye examinations are extremely important, especially if you are over the age of 65, or if you have a health condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure. The following chart will help you see when you should schedule your next visit.

Age	Frequency
0 to 6 months	Minimum of once a year
6 months to 18 years	Every 2 – 4 years
19 to 39 years	Every 3 – 5 years
40 to 64 years	Every 2 – 4 years
65 and older	Every 1 – 2 years

When to Contact Your Eye Doctor about Blurred Vision

When blurred vision is associated with the symptoms listed above, consider contacting your eye doctor for a check-up. Furthermore, if medication has caused the blurry vision, do not discontinue or switch medications before seeing your eye doctor.

If you are having eye pain and the eye is red, call your eye doctor immediately. Also, partial or complete blindness, even if it is temporary, should never go ignored since it is a medical emergency.

Talking to Your Eye Doctor

Here are some questions to ask your eye doctor about blurry vision:

• What is causing my blurry vision?
• How soon should I come back for a follow-up visit?
• Which type of diagnostic tests should I expect?
• What do I need to do to prepare for my next appointment?
• Also, has my prescription changed since my last visit?
• Will I need to wear glasses on a regular basis to prevent blurry vision?
• Will I be able to drive myself home today?

Did you know…approximately 42 million Americans have no vision problems?

Sources and References:
We have strict guidelines for each of our sources and references. We rely upon vision, eye and medical information from peer-reviewed studies, medical associations and academic research institions.

• J. Anshel, MD “Smart Medicine for Your Eyes” (SquareOne Publishers, 2011) 150-165; 200-266
• J. Weizer, MD; J. Stein, MD, MS “Readers Digest Guide to Eye Care” (Quantum Publishing, 2009) 25-31

Blurred vision can be temporary or chronic, and in some cases, people can experience blurred vision in only one eye. To properly manage blurred vision, you have to understand the underlying cause. Here we examine what causes blurred vision in one eye as well as the symptoms and potential home remedies.

Blurred vision is best described as a loss of sharpness or a foggy view. Some people are lucky in that their blurry vision can be corrected by simply wearing glasses. For others, it isn’t that simple—it could be a sign of a serious health issue.

What is blurred vision in one eye?

Blurred vision in one eye can be the result of crying or rubbing the eye. It can also be due to something serious, such as brain damage. Thankfully, in the majority of cases, a refractive error such as near-sightedness or far-sightedness is responsible for blurred vision. The correct eyeglasses or contact lenses fix the problem. Sudden blurred vision in one eye can be a sign of a medical emergency if it is experienced along with other symptoms, including pain and weakness.

Blurred vision appears alongside reduced sharpness, which makes it difficult to see fine details. Someone with myopia—nearsightedness—can’t see distant objects clearly, but will be able to see fine when doing up-close tasks like reading a book. Without corrective glasses or lenses, myopia can cause headaches. In the case of far-sightedness (hyperopia), objects that are near are harder to see and distant objects are clear.

Of course, our eye health affects the quality of our lives. If you have blurred vision in one eye or both eyes, you should see a health care provider to figure out what the cause is.

What causes blurred vision in one eye?

Occasional Blurred Vision In Glaucoma

What’s causing your blurred vision depends on individual circumstances. For some people, the decreased vision can be due to excessive tear production or even from dust or debris getting in the eye. Dry eyes can also cause blurred vision. Dry eye can be age-related or due to underlying conditions, such as the autoimmune disease Sjogren’s syndrome.

Here’s a list of other potential causes of blurred vision:

• Near-sightedness or far-sightedness
• Optic neuritis—inflammation of the optical nerve. Can begin in one eye, but progresses to include blurriness in the other eye.
• Migraines—some migraine sufferers experience blurred vision in one or both eyes during a headache.
• Injuries—any injury to the eye, such as being hit by a ball.
• Diabetic retinopathy—this is a complication of diabetes that happens when blood vessels in the retina are damaged or swollen.
• Age-related macular degeneration—as we age, the eyes are more prone to deterioration and may not be able to form a clear image.
• Cataracts—this is a complication of diabetes that leads to blurred vision.
• Glaucoma—a condition that is characterized by damage to the optic nerves. It is usually as a result of increased pressure on the eye.
• Stroke—sometimes a stroke can cause blurred vision in one or both eyes.
• Transient ischemic attack—temporary symptoms that could be a warning sign that a stroke might be coming.
• Presbyopia—this is age-related far-sightedness.
• Uveitis and iritis—inflammation of the eye structures.
• Tumor—a tumor could be in the brain and may be putting pressure on the optic nerve, leading to blurred vision.

Sudden Blurred Vision That Goes Away

In the majority of cases, blurred vision in one eye is not the result of a serious condition. In rare situations, it can be linked to disease or other condition that needs careful treatment. When left untreated, serious blurred vision cases can result in permanent vision loss or life-threatening complications. If you experience blurred vision in one eye or both eyes, you should seek medical attention to determine the cause. Once you are diagnosed, it is important to follow the treatment plan that you have been given so you can avoid complications such as blindness, infection, the spread of cancer, unconsciousness, or brain damage.

Symptoms that may co-exist with blurred vision in one eye

When someone has blurred vision in one eye, they can experience several different symptoms along with the blurriness. The following list covers some of the most common signs and symptoms associated with blurry vision.

• Photosensitivity (sensitive to sunlight or other light sources)
• Poor night vision

There are symptoms that are less common and can be a sign of a more serious condition. For instance, changes in alertness, passing out spells, confusion, fatigue, weakness, and pain in the eye can be symptoms of a much more severe or life-threatening situation. Some people may also experience severe headaches and numbness. In these cases, immediate medical care is recommended.

Blurred vision in one eye: Treatment and home remedies

Treatment for blurred vision in one eye can involve wearing prescription glasses or lenses, but there are other steps you can take, such as doing eye exercises to help your eyes focus at varying distances. Your ophthalmologist can explain these exercises. Below are some other suggestions for treating blurred vision.

• Watching TV—when watching television, you can keep the room softly lit so that it reduces the strain on the eyes.
• Reading——place the source of light behind you and direct light onto your book or task that you are doing.
• Fine/minute work—take periodic breaks to ease your eye muscles.
• Eye muscle relaxation—placing your elbows onto a desk with palms facing upwards, drop your head into your hands and cover your eyes with your hands. Close your eyes and breathe deeply. Do this for about 30 seconds several times a day to relax your eye muscles.
• Eye massage—massage the orbits of the eyes gently every day to ease the strain.
• Eye drops—use artificial tears, especially if you feel you have dry eyes. There are preservative-free eye drops available.
• Eyeglasses—select the right eyewear, including sunglasses. Discuss what is best with an optometrist.

Once you have been diagnosed, follow the treatment recommended by your heath care provider. It is also important to have your eyes examined on a regular basis. Blurred vision can be very difficult to cope with, even when it’s just in one eye. It can make routine tasks not only hard but also dangerous. If you notice constant blurred vision in one eye, do the right thing for yourself and those around you. Don’t drive or take on tasks that could harm you or someone else and seek medical attention. If addressed in time, blurry vision can be resolved so you can resume your usual activities within a relatively short period of time.

Occasional Blurred Vision And Trouble Focusing

Related: How to improve vision: 11 home remedies to improve eye health