Blurry vision - a red flag or phase?

Experiencing blurry vision can be very disconcerting. It can come on suddenly and be temporary or it can be ongoing. Thankfully blurry vision is not a standalone condition but a symptom.  Here we’ll dig deeper into some of the more commonly ask questions that underpin both sudden and ongoing blurred vision.

Blurry vision is often accompanied by headaches - what could these symptoms indicate?

• The most common cause of blurry vision and headaches is needing a new/updated pair of spectacles or contact lenses.
• Asthenopia, commonly known as eyestrain can cause a blur in vision and headaches. Eyestrain can develop from over concentration, prolonged screen time, prolonged driving, or loss of focus in the eye due to age and extreme fatigue.
• Migraines are often associated with temporary loss of vision or blurry vision (distorted lines, dots, or colours) and headaches. Ocular Migraines don’t present with headaches but is an eye condition that causes brief attacks of temporary blindness or a flashing light in one eye that is short lived.
• Low blood sugar: Hypoglycaemia occurs when your blood sugar falls too low, this causes visual disturbances as hypoglycaemia affects brain function. Blurry vision in diabetics requires serious attention.
•  A stroke on the left side of the brain can present in visual field loss, blurry vision, and double vision.
• Head injury: after a serious head injury one might have blurry vision due to a few reasons namely; dry eye, ocular migraines, or detached retina.

Struggling with blurry vision in the mornings? What could this symptom indicate?

• Blurry vision in the mornings is commonly caused by dry eyes or a lack of tears in the front of your eye. Blinking a few times will refresh the tear film.
• Dehydration due to lack of water, excess sun exposure and excess alcohol can cause dry eyes resulting in blurry vision in the mornings.
• Allergies.  
• Sleeping with contact lenses that are not designed for overnight wear.
• Diabetics may wake up with blurry vision due to fluctuating blood sugar levels overnight.

Has blurring of your peripheral vision gone undiagnosed?

• Your peripheral vision is the area around the outside of your main field of sight. Blurring of the peripheral vision presents in obscure ways like; tripping over objects that are not in your direct view, finding driving at night tricky, or shying away from it at all and struggling to see in low light.
• Glaucoma is one of the main causes of peripheral loss and comes in different forms. Acute glaucoma causes sudden blurry vision due to a build-up of fluid in the eye, whereas, chronic glaucoma builds up gradually and so its warning signs can easily go undetected by the individual. Regular visits to your optometrist are key, as early detection by a professional is important to minimise the risk of irreversible visual field loss.
• Retinitis Pigmentosa is largely an inherited disorder that affects the retina causing the cells to alter disrupting peripheral vision and night vision.

When symptoms are warning signs… of eye conditions.

Blurry vision can present as a common symptom of eye conditions. Below we’ll address some of the more common causes:

• Refractive error are one of four vision problems that present with blurry vision, namely; nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism (can cause near and far objects to look blurry) and presbyopia (a common sign of aging, 40+ year olds, have blurry vision of near objects).
• Cataracts often develop slowly over many years resulting in blurry and/or cloudy vision, and often in both eyes, although each of your eyes may be affected differently.
• Macular degeneration occurs mostly in people over the age of 50. There are two types of macular degeneration, namely dry and wet. Both affect your ability to see fine detail. If dry macular degeneration is left untreated it could lead to wet macular degeneration.
• Macular oedema is due to a build-up of fluid in the macular and is often linked with diabetics. It can be present in one eye or both and presents with three main symptoms; blurred vision, vision loss / difficultly reading, and washed-out colours.

If you have noticed a blurring of your vision, consult your optometrist timeously and put your mind at ease. As is the case with most things in life, early detection is always best and can greatly aid in reducing loss of vision and improving your overall quality of life.