Blurred vision can have a big impact on your day, preventing you from getting on with your usual tasks as normal. It can make things like reading product labels, working on a computer and driving difficult and even dangerous – but knowing what the potential causes are can make it simpler to find a solution that allows you to get back to your typical routine.
What can cause blurred vision?
There are several eye problems that can cause blurred vision as a side effect – some of which are simple, benign issues, whereas others are more complex. For example, here are some possible causes of persistent blurred vision that might require a visit to your eye health specialist:
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
- Age-related macular degeneration
- Corneal abrasion – i.e. cuts or scrapes on your cornea, typically caused by eye trauma
- Refractive conditions such as short-sightedness, long-sightedness, astigmatism or presbyopia.
If you have persistent blurry vision, it’s a good idea to see your optometrist about it to check if it is down to one of those conditions. There are things that can be done to mitigate the symptoms or treat the condition so you can get on with your day without worrying about blurred vision.
However, blurred vision isn’t always caused by something that needs an optometrist’s intervention. In many cases, it can be a result of something simple such as irritation from your contact lenses, or having a small foreign body like an eyelash in your eye.
If you think this could be the root of your blurry eyes, then try taking your contact lenses out, if applicable, and gently rinsing your eyes with sterilised water in an eye bath to try to remove whatever is irritating your eyes.[1]
Can dry eye syndrome cause blurred vision?
One possible cause of blurred vision is dry eye syndrome. This is where your eyes don’t produce the right amount of tears to sufficiently lubricate the surface of your eyes, resulting in a dry, itchy, sometimes burning sensation. Blurred vision is another common symptom, making it hard to concentrate on tasks and get things done.
Dry eyes can be caused by lots of environmental causes, so it’s worth doing a little trial and error to see if you can resolve the issue at home. But in the meantime, you can help to relieve the symptoms of dry eye syndrome by using eye drops such as TheraTears® Dry or Tired Eye Drops, which contain hyaluronic acid to replenish the eye’s natural moisture levels.[2]
Can fatigue cause blurred vision?
Another factor that can trigger blurred vision is eye strain or eye fatigue. It’s common for people to have eye strain and dry eyes at the same time, which can compound the symptoms and make your blurred vision feel worse. This is because they’re often caused by similar behaviours and environmental conditions.[3]
To alleviate eye fatigue, you can:[3]
- Take regular breaks from driving, reading or using screens in order to give your eyes a rest
- Always wear your glasses or contact lenses – and get your eyes tested regularly to ensure they are at the right prescription
- Get plenty of rest and good quality sleep
- Use eye drops to help relieve the symptoms in the meantime.
Getting better sleep can be tricky if you’re not sure why you’re struggling to sleep well, but it’s worth trialling changes to your bedtime routine to see if you can achieve better quality sleep. It’s not just good for your eyes, but can have an impact on your overall health and wellbeing, too.[4]
Resources
[2] – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dry-eyes/
