Blurred Vision

Eyes | Ophthalmology | Blurred Vision (Symptom)


Description

Blurred vision is an ocular symptom that causes indistinct or fuzzy visual images. Blurred vision, which should not be confused with double vision (diplopia), can occur in one eye or both, for episodes of varying lengths of time, and can develop gradually or suddenly. Blurred vision may result from abnormalities present at birth such as near- or farsightedness that require corrective lenses (glasses) or it may signal the presence of eye disease.

Causes

The usual cause of longstanding blurred vision is a refractive error such as astigmatism (unequal curvature of the front of the eye), hypermetropia (longsightedness), or myopia (shortsightedness), all of which can be corrected by glasses or contact lenses. After the age of 40, presbyopia (reduced ability to focus on near objects) becomes more common.

Vision may also be impaired or blurred as a result of damage, disease, or abnormalities of parts of the eye or its connections to the brain. The most common causes of blurred vision as a result of disease are cataract and retinopathy. Other can be: glaucoma, eye infection, inflammation or injury, stroke, brain tumor, migraine or headache. A number of medications may also lead to temporary blurring of vision as a side effect (oral contraceptives, cortisone, heart medication, some antidepressants).

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