What Are the Main Causes of Blurry Vision?

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Eye Care

What Are the Main Causes of Blurry Vision?

September 29, 2023

Blurry vision, which is vision that is not as sharp or clear, is one of the most common eye symptoms. It is usually brought about by problems with one of the components of the eye (cornea, retina, or optic nerve) and may be caused by various conditions. In this article, we will go over what these possible causes are.

Blurry vision, which is vision that is not as sharp or clear, is one of the most common eye symptoms. It is usually brought about by problems with one of the components of the eye (cornea, retina, or optic nerve) and may be caused by various conditions. In this article, we will go over what these possible causes are.

In some cases, vision becomes cloudy simply because of eyestrain, which can happen after looking at and concentrating on something for a long time without a break. When this is the result of focusing on an electronic device, it is called digital eyestrain. Other causes of eyestrain include reading and driving, especially at night and in bad weather.

Blurry vision can be a result of a stroke, a brain injury that happens when blood flow is interrupted. This condition can also cause drooping in the face, weakness in the arms, trouble speaking, confusion, and dizziness or loss of balance and coordination. Vision can also become blurry from a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which is a brief interruption of blood flow to a part of the brain, spinal cord, or retina. In general, it is considered a warning sign of a stroke.

Sugar is essential for our bodies, as it supplies energy and helps all organs function properly. However, blood sugar that is too high can, among other things, cause the lens of the eye to swell, disrupting eyesight.

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury. Most brain pathways are dedicated to vision and eye control, so one of the consequences of this type of injury is blurry vision.

Migraine is a disease characterized by intense pain or throbbing sensation, usually on one side of the head. One of its stages, known as aura, can cause visual symptoms, such as seeing various shapes, bright spots or glimmers of light, blurry vision, and even temporary vision loss.

Inflammation of the medium and large arteries is called temporal arteritis or giant cell arteritis. The blood vessels around the temples can be affected, causing a stabbing headache in the forehead that can also be accompanied by other symptoms, such as blurry vision.

Another very common cause of blurry vision is eye infection. This category encompasses many conditions, such as conjunctivitis (which affects the outer lining of the eye and is caused by a virus, although it can also be the result of allergies or bacteria) and keratitis (inflammation of the cornea that is usually triggered by wearing contact lenses for too long, reusing dirty contact lenses, or sleeping with contact lenses).

Other common infections are uveitis (inflammation of the uvea, the pigmented structures of the eye, which can be caused by an autoimmune condition) and endophthalmitis (which affects the fluids of the eyeball, causing severe inflammation).

The center of the retina is called the macula. Abnormal vessels can grow in the macula, causing blood and other fluids to leak into it, a phenomenon known as wet macular degeneration. This condition can cause blurry vision and vision loss in the center of the visual field. Unlike dry macular degeneration, this type can start suddenly and progress rapidly.

Closed‑angle glaucoma happens when the drainage system within the eye is blocked. Pressure can rapidly build up within the eye and cause blurry vision, redness, pain, and nausea.

The cornea is the clear covering in the front of the eye. When it is scratched or injured, you can develop a corneal abrasion. In addition to blurry vision, this condition can cause you to feel like something is in your eye.

As its name indicates, a retinal detachment is caused when the retina detaches from the back of the eye and loses its blood and nerve supply. This can be caused by aging or an injury, but can also be a complication of diabetes. When this happens, you may experience an area of blurry or absent vision, sometimes described as a curtain that has come down in your vision.

Blurry vision can also be caused by other eye diseases, such as hyphema (bleeding in the anterior chamber of the eye), macular hole (a small opening in the macula, the central area of the retina), and optic neuritis (swelling of the optic nerve, which connects the eye and the brain).

Although in most cases blurry vision is nothing more than a sign of a mild problem or condition, pay close attention to whether it is accompanied by other symptoms, such as sudden unexplained vision changes, eye pain, face droop, weakness on one side of the face, or persistent vision loss. It is important to see a doctor as soon as possible to prevent any underlying problems from turning into something more serious.

American Academy of Ophthalmology; National Library of Medicine; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); Mayo Clinic; National Eye Institute.