Blurred vision is defined as seeing things in an unclear and unfocused manner. This condition can affect one or both eyes. Other symptoms of blurred vision may include headaches, light sensitivity, redness, and eye irritation.

There are several conditions that can cause blurred vision. To resolve it, you must first identify the underlying cause.

The common causes of blurred vision

Astigmatism

Astigmatism is a common condition characterized by irregular curvature of the eye, which can result in blurred vision. Astigmatism can cause blurred vision at both near and far distances.

Astigmatism can occur alone or alongside other vision issues like farsightedness or nearsightedness. Treatment options include glasses, contact lenses, or LASIK surgery to adjust the focus of light in the eye and restore sharp vision.

Presbyopia

Presbyopia is an age-related condition where the eye loses its ability to focus on close objects. It typically starts around age 40 and worsens until the mid-60s. Presbyopia makes it difficult to see objects or text up close, such as when reading, using a cell phone, sewing, or writing

Dry eye syndrome

Dry eye syndrome occurs when the eyes fail to produce enough tears to keep them moist. Symptoms include dryness, itching, burning, redness, feeling of a foreign object in the eye, and blurred vision. Blurred vision in dry eye syndrome can vary, becoming worse in the morning or in dusty and windy environments.

Cataracts

Cataracts occur when the eye's natural lens becomes cloudy or blurry with age. Normally, the lens is clear, but with cataracts, it becomes cloudy, preventing light from focusing properly on the retina. As a result, images received by the eye cannot be properly interpreted by the brain.

Cataracts cause blurred vision, decreased visual acuity, sensitivity to light, and difficulty seeing in different lighting conditions.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is characterized by optic nerve damage and increased pressure inside the eye. This condition can damage the fibers that carry visual signals from the eye to the brain. Early symptoms include blurred vision, rainbow-colored circles, and a gradual loss of the field of view. Acute glaucoma can cause severe eye pain, nausea, vomiting, headaches, and sudden blurred vision

Macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) damages the macula, the part of the retina responsible for sharp vision. While there is no cure, managing AMD involves maintaining a healthy diet, taking certain supplements, and quitting smoking. Certain types of AMD may require laser therapy and drug injections into the eye.

Blurred vision is sometimes caused by other health conditions rather than the eye condition itself. Sudden blurred vision accompanied by other symptoms such as dizziness, weakness, or numbness in one arm, facial drooping, loss of balance, or slurred speech is typically associated with stroke. If you experience these symptoms, go to the hospital right away.

If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

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