Blurry Vision
The experience of blurry vision is very common. Chances are, you have temporarily experienced decreased visual clarity at least a handful of times in your life. When your vision is out of focus and blurry, it can affect one or both eyes, as well as any or all of your field of vision.
Prolonged blurry vision can lead to headaches, eyestrain, and difficulty reading, driving, and completing other tasks. When blurry vision is unexplained or consistent, it’s time to visit an optometrist at South Florida Vision to get it treated. If your blurry vision is sudden and severe, it may indicate a concussion, stroke, or another type of medical emergency, and you should call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room.
Potential Causes of Blurry Vision
Blurry vision can occur for numerous reasons. It may indicate you need glasses or contacts – or that the lens prescription you have requires updating. It can indicate serious eye diseases that can lead to vision loss if not treated in a timely manner, like macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, or other retinal conditions. It can also be the result of rubbing your eyes or crying.
Common causes of blurry vision include refractory errors and acute or chronic eye conditions.
Refractory Errors
Our optometrists do an exemplary job of diagnosing and treating refractory errors – those that occur due to the shape of your eye – such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
If objects far away from you appear blurry, yet close-up objects are seen in focus, you may be nearsighted. This condition, called myopia, is extremely common and easily treated with prescription glasses or contacts.
When items close to you appear blurry, but you are able to clearly see objects at a distance, you may be farsighted. Also called hyperopia, this condition is common and easily rectified with prescription glasses or contacts.
Astigmatism; creates blurry vision at any distance, due to the elongated shape of the eye. It is typically treated with prescription eyeglasses and/or contact lenses.
Acute and Chronic Eye Conditions
At South Florida Vision, we can also diagnose and treat acute and chronic eye conditions that may be causing your blurry vision.
Your cornea is the outer surface of your eye. It is subject to a number of problems that can cause blurry vision, including corneal abrasions, conjunctivitis (pink eye), and more. See our page on Corneal Conditions for more information.
Looking at something for prolonged periods of time without blinking or resting can contribute to eyestrain, when your eye feels fatigued and can cause blurry vision as well as other symptoms. No treatment is typically needed, other than rest and taking a break from the source of the strain.
Inflammation of the optic nerve can occur due to an infection or nervous system disease. For example, optic neuritis may be an early sign of multiple sclerosis. Over time, the inflammation can disrupt vision and lead to permanent vision loss. Prescription medications (steroids) are typically used to treat optic neuritis.
Uveitis is inflammation of the uvea, the middle layer of tissue in the eye wall. It usually develops due to a bacterial or fungal infection. In addition to blurry vision, your eye will be red, painful, and sensitive to light. Symptoms may worsen quickly. Steroid medication is used to treat uveitis.
When you visit the optometry specialists at South Florida Vision, we will conduct a thorough eye exam, in addition to appropriate diagnostic tests in order to accurately diagnose your condition and treat it.
Blurry Vision Treatment in Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach & St. Lucie
Has your vision become less clear or less sharp? Turn to the eye care professionals at South Florida Vision to have your eyes examined. Chances are, your blurry vision can be easily corrected. Call the optometry location nearest you, or simply request an appointment now.
