Occasional Blurred Vision

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.

Could It Be Diabetes? The condition raises your risk for an eye disease called diabetic retinopathy. There are other, more serious problems that can cause blurry vision as well. For example if the blurry vision is associated with an increase in floaters and flashes of light, this may be a sign of retinal detachment. If there is redness of the eye or eye pain, then this may be a sign of increased eye pressure, such as from glaucoma. Dec 03, 2020 Blurred vision in one eye can be due to a number of different conditions. It may result from simple, harmless causes, such as discharge from the eyes or crying, or it may result from serious causes such as brain damage that involves one of the optic nerves. Blurred vision can also be a symptom of more serious eye problems. If your vision is blurred, contact your doctor right away. The American Diabetes Association offers these eye care guidelines for.

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.

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?

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.

Occasional Blurred Vision For 30 Minutes

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.

Occasional Blurred Vision In One Eye

• 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.

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

Sudden blurred vision can be a result of numerous health conditions. It can be temporary or chronic, and can get worse over time. Sudden blurred vision is usually not accompanied by pain, but other symptoms such as migraine may be present.

If you’re experiencing blurry vision, objects and people do not appear clearly and sharpness is lost. This condition can affect either one eye or both eyes, depending on the cause. Some people can have blurry vision from birth (in this case, it’s a birth defect) while others develop blurred vision over time.

Sudden blurred vision causes can range in severity, from easily treatable conditions to chronic, life-long complications. Below you will uncover the many different causes of sudden blurred vision along with symptoms and treatment options.

What causes sudden blurred vision?

Myopia (nearsightedness): Due to a refractive error in the eye, distant objects appear blurry. This condition can be treated with corrective lenses or laser eye surgery.Myopia is also known as nearsightedness, occurring when the eyes grow too long from front to back. This causes viewed images to not be properly focused on the retina; the light-sensitive tissue in the back of the eye. Nearsightedness allows for people to view images up close just fine, but will have difficulty viewing images in the distance.

Hyperopia (farsightedness): Close-up objects appear blurry because the eye cannot focus properly. When the object moves further away, it looks clear again. Farsightedness can be corrected with corrective lenses or laser eye surgery.

Astigmatism: Sudden blurred vision appears at all distances as a result of an irregularly shaped cornea due to an imperfection in the curvature of the eye. The light rays do not fall into a single point in the retina, causing sudden blurred vision. Astigmatism is generally considered a treatable condition that often presents at birth and may occur in combination with nearsightedness or farsightedness. Additional symptoms often include eyestrain, headaches, difficulty with night vision, and excessive squinting.

Floaters: More common with aging, floaters can be seen when bits of vitreous fluid float around, casting a shadow in a person’s line of vision. This can sometimes lead to a sudden blurred vision.

Overuse of contact lenses: When contact lenses are used for longer than recommended, it can lead to sudden blurred vision. Ensure you are wearing contact lenses as directed and that you are caring for them properly.

Presbyopia: This is a type of nearsightedness that commonly occurs in people over the age of 40. The lens in the eyes becomes hardened and hence the ability to focus is lost.This results in difficulties view images up close, with the retained ability to see distant objects just fine. This is not to be confused with farsightedness as presbyopia happens when the natural lens in the eye becomes less flexible with age. Farsightedness, on the other hand, is caused by a misshaped eyeball leading to the incorrect focus of light on the retina.

Chronic dry eyes: When the eyes are not well lubricated, sudden blurred vision can result from this condition.Dry eyes commonly occur during instances of poor or inadequate tear production. Having dry eyes often feels uncomfortable, causing your eyes to sting or burn. Developing dry eyes can more commonly occur during certain situations such as on an airplane, in an air-conditioned room, or when viewing a computer screen for many hours on end.

Migraine headaches: Prior to experiencing the migraine itself, sudden blurred vision may occur, accompanied by sensitivity to light and sound and even seeing halos or zig-zags.Experiencing ocular symptoms during a migraine is typically harmless, resolving without medication and within 20 to 30 minutes. These visual disturbances are often called “auras.”

Other health conditions that may cause sudden blurred vision

• Eye conditions and diseases: This may include conditions causing sudden blurry vision in one eye such as having a macular hole. Other eye conditions and diseases that can lead to sudden blurry vision include having a detached retina, eye herpes, or inflammation of the optic nerve (optic neuritis). Some of these conditions may lead to permanent vision loss if not treated
• Cataracts: Lead to blurry or cloudy vision that may progress to complete vision obstruction if not surgically removed.
• Glaucoma: A condition characterized by increased intraocular pressure and can lead to sudden blurry vision. If not treated in a timely fashion, glaucoma can lead to continual vision loss and permanent blindness.
• Age-related macular degeneration: Characterized by a gradual loss and blurring of a person’s vision, typically at advanced ages. Patients may also experience distortions in straight lines appearing wavy.
• Diabetic retinopathy: Seen in diabetic patients with uncontrolled blood glucose levels leading to the development of blurry vision or even vision loss.
• Cardiovascular disease and other systemic diseases: Sudden blurry vision can be a manifestation of conditions like a stroke or a sign of multiple sclerosis.
• Retinal detachment: An emergency situation in which the retina at the back of the eye pulls away from its normal position, possibly leading to sudden blurry vision. Left untreated, retinal detachment can lead to permanent vision loss.
• Retinal vein occlusion: Refers to blockage of a vessel that drains blood from the eye. This can lead to leakage of fluid from the blocked vessel. Because cellular tissue needs a constant supply of oxygenated blood, retinal vein occlusion can lead to eye damage.
• Vitreous hemorrhage: A relatively common cause of acute vision loss that occurs due to the rupture of normal vessels through mechanical force or the hemorrhage of pathological structures.

Occasional Blurred Vision With Dizziness

Sudden blurred vision symptoms

The main symptom of blurred vision is foggy or fuzzy appearance of objects. You may find you have to squint to get a clear view of the object you are looking at. Other symptoms include sensitivity to light, floaters or spots, eye pain, discharge from the eye, loss of peripheral vision, loss of central vision, dry eyes, itchy eyes, increased tear production, poor night vision, red or bloodshot eyes, bleeding from the eye, and poor near vision.

Accompanying symptoms depend on the underlying cause of blurry vision.

Sudden blurred vision treatment options

What Causes Temporary Blurred Vision

There are a few different tests your eye doctor may perform to uncover the root cause of your sudden blurred vision. These tests include:

Slit-lamp examination: Your doctor will perform an eye examination with a slit-lamp and ask you to stare at objects. Eye drops to dilate the pupils may also be used.

Refraction test:This test measures your prescription for eyeglasses. Your doctor will have you read letters from a board while switching lenses and checking which lens allows you to see the clearest.

Tonometry:This test measures your eye pressure using a device called a tonometer, which is attached to the slit-lamp. Eye drops are used for anesthetic purposes.

Treatment for sudden blurred vision may be as simple as eyeglasses or contact lens prescription. Speaking of the latter, it’s important to keep your contacts clean, to put them in correctly, and avoid leaving in for longer than advised.

Causes Of Occasional Blurred Vision

The treatment for sudden blurred vision depends on the cause of the condition. For example, if your sudden blurred vision is a result of uncontrolled diabetes, you will need to take blood sugar under control, either with medications or through natural remedies. Preventing fatigue and tiredness is also important. Make sure you get in adequate sleep and ensure that your eyes do not get dry. Use lubricating eye drops if necessary.

Your doctor will be able to give you more detailed treatment recommendations based on your specific diagnosis.

Having sudden blurred vision may be nothing but a normal phenomenon that quickly resolves on its own, possibly due to eye strain, overexposure to sunlight, or simply being tired. However, if experiencing more pronounced vision changes that include blurriness, double vision, or tunnel vision, it may hint at a more complicated underlying condition that should be evaluated by a medical professional right away.