5 Common Causes of Blurry Vision and What to Do

Do you ever find yourself struggling to focus on objects? Do you often have to squint to see clearly? Often, blurry vision points to the presence of a refractive error like hyperopia or myopia. However, there are times when it could be a sign of a severe underlying condition. This is especially so if the blurry vision becomes progressively worse over time.

When you notice that your vision is blurry, it would be best to visit an eye doctor at Urban Optics. The eye doctor will help you determine whether eye problems or another condition causes it.

When Should You Seek Immediate Medical Attention?

If your blurry vision comes on suddenly and unexpectedly and you present any of the following symptoms, you should call 911.

• Difficulty speaking

• Facial drooping

• Severe headache

• Losing muscle control on either the left or right side of your body

• Trouble seeing

These symptoms usually signal that you are having a stroke. Other symptoms that may need you to visit a doctor immediately are sudden loss of vision and eye pain. 

How to Diagnose Blurry Vision

When you get to the hospital or clinic, the doctor will first log all of your symptoms. They will want to know information like when you first experienced a blurry vision. They will also run several tests to determine the source of the blurry vision.

Eye Tests

The doctor will run a few eye tests, but they may ask you to read a chart before they do. The tests they might perform are:

• Slit-lamp examination

• Refraction test

• Tonometry

• Ophthalmoscopy

Blood Tests

The doctor will also request a blood test to determine a few things. They might suspect that bacteria in the blood cause blurry vision. They might run a white blood cell count if they suspect an infection.

What Are the Common Causes of Blurry Vision?

Stroke

This is one of the most severe conditions that can cause blurry vision. If you have a stroke that affects the part of your brain controlling vision, you may develop blurry vision. If the stroke involves your eyes, it may only cause vision loss in one eye. 

Wet Macular Degeneration

The macula is the retina's center at the back of your eye. Sometimes, you may grow abnormal blood vessels, causing blood and other fluids to leak into the macula. This is the condition known as wet macular degeneration. It results in blurriness and loss of vision in your central field of vision.

Diabetes

If you have diabetes, you are predisposed to develop diabetic retinopathy. The tiny blood vessels in your retina may become damaged due to high blood sugar. Over time, this causes inflammation in the macula and bleeding in the eye. You may start seeing floating spots in the eye, and it may lead to vision loss.

Preeclampsia

This condition will usually only develop in pregnant women. It will begin to present because of high protein in your urine and high blood pressure. You should see a doctor if you develop blurry vision when pregnant.

Endophthalmitis

It is an infection that affects the fluids in your eyes, causing intense swelling. It may cause you to develop blurry vision, pus discharge from the eye, and puffy eyelids. 

For more on common causes of blurry vision and what to do, visit Urban Optics at our office in College Station, Texas. Call (979) 690-0888 to book an appointment today.