EVERYTHING LOOKS FUZZY

Blurred vision is the most common eyesight problem, and the reasons behind it are generally not of major concern, although it sometimes signals something more serious. With blurred vision, the things around you look unclear and unfocused rather than sharp and clear. It may occur in one eye or both eyes and in some cases only part of the field of vision is blurred. It can be accompanied by other symptoms such as headaches, sensitivity to light or irritation of the eyes, and in more serious cases there may be symptoms such as nausea or balance problems.

CAUSES OF BLURRED VISION

There are multiple causes of blurred vision and various treatment options.

Refractive Errors

Refractive errors are the most common type of vision problem. They occur when light entering the eyes is unable to focus correctly on the retina at the back of the eye, making it difficult to see things clearly. Refractive errors include shortsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism (uneven curvature of the cornea) and presbyopia (vision difficulties associated with aging). Some of the symptoms experienced may be blurred vision, squinting, headaches, tired eyes, difficulty focusing on close work, and sensitivity to glare. Treatment for common refractive errors includes prescription glasses, contact lenses or laser eye surgery.

Conjunctivitis

"Pink eye", as it is more commonly known, is a condition of the eyes caused by a virus, bacteria or allergy. The eyes become red, swollen and irritated, and there is usually a discharge which may cause blurred vision. Certain types of conjunctivitis are highly contagious and spread rapidly. Conjunctivitis usually clears up without treatment, but antibiotic eye drops may be prescribed for a bacterial infection. Cold compresses can alleviate itching, warm compresses help to reduce swelling and over the counter eye drops may help relieve the discomfort. Consult your optometrist for a recommendation of appropriate eye drops.

Dry Eye Syndrome

This is a common condition of the eyes which is the result of reduced tear production or poor quality of tears. The tear film is essential for the health and comfort of the eyes, and to maintain a surface for clear vision. If there is a problem with the tear film, the cornea will become irritated, and vision will be blurred. Other symptoms may include excessive tearing, redness and discomfort. Artificial tears generally provide relief of the symptoms.

Cataracts

A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye, leading to blurred vision, sensitivity to light, fading of colours and difficulty seeing at night or in low light. Cataracts develop over time and are one of a number of eye problems associated with aging. They are treated by surgically removing the damaged lens and replacing it with a clear lens.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a condition that damages the optic nerve due to the build-up of pressure in the eyes. There are two types of glaucoma, one of which is characterised by sudden onset of blurred vision, eye pain, nausea and headache. It requires immediate medical attention. The other type develops slowly with gradual irreversible vision loss. Control of the disease progression involves eye drops, laser treatment or surgery. Glaucoma needs to be monitored regularly by your optometrist.

Age-related Macular Degeneration

The macula is the area of the retina responsible for clear central vision. People with macular degeneration have blurred central vision, but their peripheral vision remains clear. This can make everyday activities like driving, reading and recognition of faces challenging. Some medications can slow the progression of the condition. Regular monitoring by your optometrist is essential.

Detached Retina

A detached retina is serious and requires immediate medical attention. When the retina detaches from the back of the eye, vision becomes blurred. Certain symptoms may occur before the retina detaches, including seeing floaters or flashing lights, peripheral shadows, and other visual obstructions. Retinal detachment is treated with surgery.

Concussion

A concussion after trauma to the head can lead to blurred vision as well as other vision changes, such as double vision and problems focusing. It is frequently temporary, but immediate evaluation by a doctor is advisable.

Uveitis

If blurred vision and eye dryness is accompanied by inflammation in or around the eye, this could be uveitis, a group of diseases that can be associated with auto-immune or infectious disease but is most commonly limited to the eye. The prevalence of uveitis is low, but the damage can be quite severe. Prescription eye drops can help treat the inflammation. Other treatments can vary from antibiotics or antivirals for infectious causes to corticosteroids and immune system modulators when the cause is autoimmune.

Eye Strain

Staring at a computer screen all day or scanning documents in low light can tire the eyes and cause blurred vision, among other symptoms such as headaches, dry or watery eyes, and shoulder or neck pain. Taking regular breaks will return vision to normal.

Medical Conditions

If your blurred vision occurs with other bodily symptoms, it may be the result of a medical condition. Uncontrolled diabetes can cause problems with the eyes. To prevent further complications, blood sugar levels need to be stabilised medically. Regular eye examinations are essential to monitor diabetic eye disease. Blurred vision can be one of the symptoms of neurological conditions such as stroke, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease, which need to be medically treated.

Knowing the reason behind blurred vision can make the difference between experiencing the visual world in all its dimensions or not. Fortunately, most of the reasons for blurred vision don't threaten your vision. But there are times when immediate medical attention should be sought. Sudden vision changes, eye pain, partial loss of vision or physical symptoms may signal a serious problem that requires medical intervention.