Discover more about this symptom and next steps
Many different conditions could cause blurred vision, so if you have blurry eyesight, it’s best to get it checked out by an expert.
Blurred vision can take many different forms. At its least extreme, blurry vision can include mild blurring of objects at a distance or close up. On the other hand, blurry eyesight can be so severe that it affects your ability to get about and look after yourself.
Refractive errors
To understand how refractive errors cause blurred vision, it first helps to understand how the eye works. Refractive errors that cause blurred vision include:
- Long-sightedness: causes blurred vision when viewing objects close up, such as when reading a book or using a computer.
- Short-sightedness: causes blurred vision when viewing objects at a distance, such as when watching television or driving.
- Astigmatism: causes blurred vision when viewing objects at any distance, from reading and computer use to driving and watching television.
Other eye conditions that can result in blurred vision:
- Cataracts: Cataracts are a clouding of the lens in your eye. At first, any blurred eyesight may be almost unnoticeable. However, cataracts can eventually result in severe blurred vision that has a major impact on your independence. If you have had a cataract removed and your blurry vision re-occurs, posterior capsule opacity – also known as a ‘secondary cataract’ – may be the cause. This is easy to treat.
- Diabetic retinopathy: Diabetic retinopathy is a condition associated with diabetes. High blood sugar levels cause damage to the retina (the focusing surface at the back of the eye). The final stage of diabetic retinopathy, known as macular oedema, can cause blurred vision.
- Epiretinal membrane: An epiretinal membrane is a thin, fibrous layer that forms over the retina (the focusing surface at the back of the eye). It acts like a film that partially blocks the light entering your eye, which results in blurred vision.
- Keratoconus: Keratoconus is an eye disease that results in a conically shaped cornea (the clear, front window’ of your eye). Because the cornea does much of the eye’s focusing, the irregular shape can cause blurred vision.
- Macular degeneration and macular holes: The macula is the central part of the retina at the back of your eye. It allows you to see detail, colour, and things directly in front of you. Macular degeneration and macular holes damage the macula, causing central vision to become blurred.
- Retinal detachment: A detached retina is a serious medical emergency that can cause sudden blurred vision. It may also cause several other symptoms, such as flashes and floaters and sudden blindness.
- Retinal vein occlusion: If the blood vessels that feed the retina (the focusing surface at the back of the eye) become blocked, it is known as retinal vein occlusion. This can cause sudden blurred vision and also sudden blindness.
- Pterygium: A pterygium is a benign growth that occurs on the surface of the eye. Sometimes, a pterygium can grow onto the cornea. If this occurs, it can alter the shape of the cornea, causing blurred vision.
- Vitreous haemorrhage: If blood leaks into the vitreous ‘gel’ that fills your eye, it can block the light that enters your eye, causing blurred vision. Vitreous haemorrhage can be caused by trauma or injury, or it may result from an eye condition, such as diabetic retinopathy.
Eye infection, inflammation or injury: Many people suffer blurry vision due to an eye infection or injury. Eyelid and eyelash problems can sometimes cause blurred vision, as can the common eye infection conjunctivitis.
We can diagnose the cause of blurred vision by testing your glasses prescription with a dilated fundus examination or an OCT scan.
Refractive errors
Treatment will depend on what’s causing the blurring. We can often treat refractive errors – such as long-sightedness, short-sightedness and astigmatism – with laser vision correction, implantable contact lenses or refractive lens exchange.
Cataracts
We can treat cataracts easily and safely with surgery.
Do I have to get glasses for blurred vision?
It depends on the cause of your blurred vision. In some cases, refractive surgery or cataract surgery can fix blurred vision.
Are there alternatives to glasses?
In many cases, laser refractive surgery, refractive lens exchange or cataract surgery can clear up your vision.
Does blurred vision mean I have a serious eye disease?
In some cases, blurred vision is just related to refractive error, which we can manage easily. This is more common if it is longstanding blurred vision. In other cases, more significant conditions may be the cause of blurred vision. It is important to get checked by your eye specialist if you have a sudden change in your vision.
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Blurry vision is very common. A problem with any of the components of your eye, such as the cornea, retina, or optic nerve, can cause sudden blurred vision.
Slowly progressive blurred vision is usually caused by long-term medical conditions. Sudden blurring is most often caused by a single event.
There are 17 causes of sudden blurred vision.
Blurred vision can affect your entire line of sight or just parts of your vision. This could include your peripheral vision, or how you see to the right or left of your field of vision. You can also experience blurred vision in only one eye.
Other ways to describe blurred vision include clouded or dim vision.
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