Blurry vision can occur without warning, or it can happen gradually with certain chronic conditions. If this is the case, your vision may be misty or blurry so that you cannot see details at a distance, or your glasses can seem scratched and dirty when they’re not. Some problems can be resolved with the right vision treatment or appliances such as glasses or contact lenses. Other problems may need close care and treatment throughout the years. Learn some reasons why you may have blurry vision and what you can do to fix your vision today!
 

Common Reasons for Blurry Vision

Blurry vision can be defined as the loss of sharpness of eyesight. There is much reason for blurry vision. Some stem from common conditions, while others may be a result of medication use, dehydration or other symptoms such as headaches. Blurry vision can affect one eye only, but can also affect two eyes at the same time. Blurred vision can also stem from refractive errors in the eyes such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, presbyopia, or astigmatism.
 

Common Conditions

Some common conditions could cause you to have blurry vision. With some of these conditions, such as nearsightedness and farsightedness, your vision is affected because your eye is not focusing correctly. There is a difference between cloudy vision and blurred vision. Cloudy vision will appear milky and will obscure the objects you look at. Blurry vision, however, simply puts objects out of focus. If you have a cloudy vision, it could be a sign of cataracts, which is a serious condition.

If you have a loss of the center of your vision, it is a sign of macular degeneration, which is also a very serious condition that leads to blindness, To know exactly what is causing your blurry vision, you will have to see a professional eye doctor. In many cases, refractive errors are causing your vision problems. Those refractive errors can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses or LASIK eye surgery.
 

Refractive Errors

• Nearsightedness - Objects up close are seen clearly, whereas objects farther away are harder to see. This is medically termed as “myopia”. Nearsightedness occurs if the eyeball is too long or if the cornea of the eye (or the clear front covering of the eye) is too curved. The curvature of the eye causes objects to focus incorrectly. Light focuses in front of the retina instead of on it, and vision then becomes blurry at further distances. An estimated 30% of the population is affected by myopia.

• Farsightedness - This is the opposite of nearsightedness. Objects focus behind the retina instead of directly on the retina. This causes vision to be blurred at near distances. Objects close up are blurred and hard to see, whereas objects farther away are seen clearly. This condition is sometimes referred to as “hyperopia” or “hypermetropia”. People with farsightedness often have headaches or eyestrain.

• Astigmatism - Instead of focusing in front of or behind the retina, the eye focuses on several points. This causes vision, in general, to be blurry or unclear. Astigmatism happens when the surface of the cornea or crystalline lens is not spherical. Light focuses on two separate points, causing the eye to be unable to focus a point or object into a sharp image. This can cause eyestrain, blurred or distorted vision, night vision problems, headaches, the need to squint, and more.
   

Presbyopia

The National Eye Institute defines presbyopia as a common type of vision disorder that occurs as you age. Presbyopia is sometimes called the “aging eye condition”. Over time, and especially after age 40, the eye exhibits a progressively diminished ability to focus on near objects. This condition affects everyone, but the changes come on gradually as you age. Initially, it may be hard to even tell that your eyes are changing. The most common time for presbyopia to start is at or after age 40. Presbyopia generally increases after age 60 as well. A simple fix for your vision maybe glasses or contact lenses to help your eyes focus better.
 

Preventative Care

The American Optometric Association recommends that you receive an eye exam at least every 2 years or more frequently if you already have refractive errors. At Optical Masters, we have over 100 different ways we can test your eyes to see if they are working correctly. Our exams not only provide an accurate assessment of your ability to see but also gauges the general health of your eyes. With frequent eye exams, we can spot the early signs of eye problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure, which can affect your vision. Preventative care is the key to literally preventing future problems. As always, take measures to protect your eyes on an everyday basis. Wear UV-blocking sunglasses when outside, use computer glasses if you work or are on the computer every day, and get the nutrients your body needs to keep your body and your eyes healthy.
 

Your Appointment

The best way to prevent eye problems from occurring is to always stay up-to-date on your eye health. With frequent visits to your eye doctor, he can catch early warning signs of serious conditions and stop their progression. We can also help you to know why your vision may be blurry and how to correct the problem. If you have not seen your eye doctor recently, now would be a good time to schedule your appointment. Simply call Optical Masters today at (720) 780-8881! Clearer vision is just one call away!