Stop Squinting, Start Seeing! Solutions for Every Type of Blurry Vision
Stop Squinting, Start Seeing! Solutions for Every Type of Blurry Vision
9 February 2024

Have you experienced blurry vision? It is one of the most common visual symptoms, signaling that your clarity is at risk.

Maintain overall situational awareness and take charge of your health! It’s to prevent squinting, fatigue, and struggle to read and reduce anxiety caused by vision issues. Remember to get your eyes checked once in a while and explore potential solutions for vision concerns and underlying eye disease.

Common Causes of Blurry Vision

Blurry vision, while common, isn’t something to ignore. Refractive errors, cataracts, glaucoma, eye infections, presbyopia, and other factors can cause it. Uncorrected blurry vision can impact you when driving, reading traffic signals, or even experiencing dizziness, potentially creating safety risks.

1. Refractive Error

Needless to mention, refractive errors are the frequent nemesis that causes blurry vision. They can be frustrating to some extent, as prolonging blurry vision at specific distances is concerning.

i) Nearsightedness (Myopia)

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is also a common cause of blurry vision. You need to squint to focus on distant objects under this condition. Henceforth, you face difficulty driving and playing sports.

ii) Farsightedness (Hyperopia)

In hyperopia, one faces difficulty focusing on objects near them. Blurry vision comes from a near view (zoom-in view).

iii) Astigmatism

Blurry vision occurs at all distances due to an imperfection in eye curvature and an irregularly shaped cornea. Distorted vision, difficulty seeing at night or in low light, and seeing halos around lights can be seen with such vision problems.

iv) Presbyopia:

Presbyopia translates to old eyes, causing the inability to focus on nearby objects. As one ages, the lens loses its flexibility, thereby making near objects converge behind the retina instead of on its surface, causing blurry vision.

2. Eye Cataracts

Eye cataracts are clouding of the eye lens, causing difficulty in gaining vision clarity in either one or both eyes. These cloudy patches on your lens dim your vision abilities. And in the event of its progression, healthy vision is retained through surgery.

3. Glaucoma

Glaucoma is seen to be causing peripheral vision loss in most of the infected population. The optic nerves are damaged in this condition, leading to issues with vision and focusing. If there is a distinctive pattern of blurriness, consult a doctor.

Vision loss in glaucoma is gradual and progresses from the outer edge to the inward view. Optic nerve evaluation is essential for controlling eye pressure and slowing glaucoma progression. Even tunnel vision can result in this case.

4. Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease resulting from high blood sugar levels. Central vision is affected in this case, making you squint to focus. It results in issues whenever you try to focus on objects nearby. Mild blurriness can result in early stages, but as the disease progresses, central vision is impacted, creating blind spots.

Colors could fade away from life, and abnormal blood vessel growth and scar tissue formation are late-stage reactions. If you experience eye strain and fatigue, get checked up as early as possible.

5. Macular Degeneration

The center portion of the retina has a tiny part called the macula, responsible for sharp and detailed central vision. However, age-related deterioration of the central macula leads to blurred central vision, impacting clear sights, and difficulty recognizing faces.

You can expect distorted vision, blurred central vision, diminished vision, seeing less vibrant, and central blind spots as the eye disease progresses. This case shows gaps in what you see and crucial damage to your vision. AMD, both dry and wet, can cause vision loss over time, but one is more of a faster-progressing type.

5. Migraines

Migraines cause intense headaches and blurry vision. Both of these have a common connection, but various neurological symptoms may result in vision changes. Alleviate headaches to treat visual symptoms.

You may see shimmering lights, flashing lights, and vision narrowing when you have a headache phase in the migraine. During attacks, you have sensitivity to light, changes in pupil size, and even eye fatigue.

6. Stroke

A stroke occurs, damaging brain tissue. Stroke-related blurry vision can rarely be isolated. Only one eye or both eyes can be affected. You can experience weakness and numbness in the face, arms, or legs, but timely attention can save you from significant vision loss and deformity of any sort.

7. Multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is an eye disease that impacts the myelin sheath. This autoimmune disease impacts the covering of nerve fibers and results in issues with visual processing.
In the event of any injury or harm to the myelin sheath via this disease, one can experience sudden blurry vision out of nowhere. Disrupted double vision, nystagmus (jerking eye movements), and lack of color perception can be issues here.

8. Medications

Anti-inflammatory drugs and disease-modifying therapies control vision issues in cases of eye disease. But chances remain that the side effects of medicine also result in blurry vision.

Medications change fluid levels in the eye, leading to swelling and a change in the shape of the lens. Indirect impacts of medications, like dry eyes, can cause blurry vision. Medications also impact the pathways of vision processing, making it troublesome for you to see clearly at long distances.

9. Eye infections

Eye infections can cause blurry vision if there is inflammation and damage to the eye portion. Bloodshot red eyes, itchiness, swelling, pain, or crust around eyes. Infections can trigger the immune system, cloud the cornea, affect the lens, and distort vision by impacting the iris and the inner lining of the eyes.

10. Dry eyes

Dryness is also the cause, which results in blurry vision. Mainly, when the eyes reduce the production of tears, the tear film starts to evaporate. Without sufficient lubrication in the eyes, irregularities and a burning sensation in the cornea can be seen. Increased friction between the eyes can be irritating. Remember to blink frequently during long screen hours of work to avoid dry eye syndrome and fluctuating blurry vision.

Treatment for Blurry Vision

Eye specialists will treat your blurry vision, but the effective approach merely depends on your vision needs and the underlying cause. Let us give general insights on how vision issues are diagnosed and treated.

1. Corrective lenses

Ophthalmologists prescribe eyeglasses, contact lenses, and even bifocal and progressive lenses for underlying refractive errors. Nearsightedness, farsightedness, presbyopia, and astigmatism can be treated accordingly.

2. Surgery

Macular surgery is specifically used in rare cases of wet AMD to remove abnormal blood vessels. LASIK and other vision correction procedures are done to reshape the cornea and improve blurry vision. Cataract surgery also removes clouded lenses at an IOL and restores your vision clarity. Choose the right eye surgery.

3. Medications

Lubricating eye drops are used to ease vision after dry eye syndrome or allergic reactions. First, diagnose what causes the blurry vision, then you can use anti-VEGF injections for wet AMD, eye drops for lower intraocular pressure, antifungal eye drops, and antihistamines based on symptoms. Know the side effects and manage blurry vision.

4. Lifestyle Changes

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle takes one step closer to good vision. Avoid smoking, schedule regular eye exams, and stay hydrated. Keep your body, mind, and eyes relaxed, and follow good hygiene practices for a gradual recovery of vision issues.

Blurry Vision: When to Seek Medical Attention

Blurry vision can occur quite often without a harmful cause, but it’s not okay to ignore the warning signs. We understand that not all instances of blurry vision signals require medical attention. But what if it progresses to an advanced stage?

Be aware not to miss out on red flags of blurry vision. So, let’s discuss when it is crucial for urgent medical attention.

1. Sudden vision loss

Vision loss, be it sudden or severe, is a warning sign of an underlying cause. Optic nerve inflammation, refractive errors, stroke, and even retinal issues can impact it, so once you get dim vision, don’t just take it lightly.

2. Pain with Blurry vision

Blurry vision can also come along with other symptoms. Pain, flashes of light, halos around light, drooping eyelids, and sudden headaches are a few to name. Promptly assess if there are any serious eye issues to be diagnosed after blurry vision because urgency matters.

3. Sudden vision changes post-surgery

Eye surgery can come with rare complications and side effects. If you have undergone vision correction surgery, unexpected blurriness is a sign that you need some adjustments post-operation. Hence, convey in case of any irregularities after eye procedures, be it minor symptoms.

4. Blurry vision after head injury

Head injuries can trigger vision issues, even if they are minor. So, it’s an emergency to get checked by a doctor and ask why you lack clarity after a mild to severe head injury.

Why Can’t I Stop Squinting? It Might Be More Than Eye Strain

Squint eyes can be a result of eye strain, fatigue, blurry vision, or even uncorrected vision problems. Presbyopia, dry eyes, and eyelid problems are the lesser-known causes of squint eyes.

Take frequent breaks from the screen when your eyes do not stop squinting. Excessive squinting of the eyes can also denote some neurological condition, so visit an eye clinic near you for timely treatment.

Do you know? If your eyes do not produce sufficient tears, then you can feel squinting, to lubricate your eyes and feel better again with each blink of an eye.

Conclusion

Blurry vision might seem like a minor inconvenience to your eyes, but ignorance is not allowed. It is because blurriness can be a sign of underlying health issues. It can manifest in ways like difficulty focusing on near or far objects, seeing halos, having double vision, or even having narrow vision.

Nemesis like refractive errors, cataracts, glaucoma, medication, dry eyes, and other aforementioned factors can be underlying conditions of blurred vision. Eye pain, redness, and discomfort are other warning signs that come along.

Don’t ignore it; sudden, severe, or fluctuating vision distortion can be dangerous. Make vision a priority, and schedule regular eye examinations for potential eye issues, no matter how minor they are. Reclaim your vision now!