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Why is my vision blurry?

Why is my vision blurry?

Blurry image of a man holding up a pair of glasses

Have you noticed that you are squinting or rubbing your eyes in order to see more clearly recently? If you’re experiencing blurry vision in one or both of your eyes, this might mean that you need an updated prescription or it could be a sign of other health conditions. It’s completely natural to be concerned about blurred vision. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the most common causes of gradual and sudden blurry vision and inform you of how to treat the symptoms. Just be aware that sudden changes to your vision aren’t normal and so if they occur, you should ideally seek advice from your optician as soon as possible.

What are the causes of blurry vision and headaches?

More often than not, having blurry vision and a headache is caused by unchecked vision problems related to needing a new eyewear prescription. Of course, blurry vision can also be linked to eye strain, tiredness and fatigue, which can lead to discomfort in your forehead. This is also referred to as asthenopia and is often caused by excessive concentration, lack of focus in the eye due to presbyopia or other problems with your eye muscles. Blurry vision or brief loss of vision can also be caused by migraines due to a sensitivity to light.

Are there other possible causes for blurry vision and headaches?

Low blood sugar: your blood sugar levels naturally rise and fall during the day and between mealtimes. If your blood sugar levels drop too low, also known as hypoglycaemia, it can result in headaches, dizziness, nausea, tiredness, a racing heartbeat and blurry vision.
Diabetes: being diabetic means you’re at higher risk of an eye condition called diabetic retinopathy. After a while, high blood sugar can harm the small blood vessels in the light-sensitive part of your eye known as the retina. This can lead to inflammation and bleeding inside the eye.
Head trauma: if you’ve knocked your head, check for concussion and be aware of any changes to your health. Symptoms can very often include blurry vision and headaches.
Stroke: along with the most noticeable symptoms like facial and arm numbness and slurred speech, blurry or double vision and headaches can be a sign of a stroke. If you suspect it might be a stroke, take action and seek medical assistance right away.
Carbon monoxide poisoning: carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that is produced when you burn fuel. It is very hard to detect because it has no colour, taste or smell. Blurred vision and headaches can be a sign you have carbon monoxide poisoning, as well as symptoms like dizziness, lethargy, chest pains and confusion.

A woman with a blanket over her nose with dry eyes in the morning

Why do I experience blurry vision in the morning?

Normally, blurry vision when you wake up in the morning is due to a lack of tears on the front of your eye. Your vision normally clears after you to start to blink or rub your eyes which causes any particles to be removed and so the tear film refreshes.

Blurry vision in the morning can also be a result of dehydration, allergies, leaving your contact lenses in overnight (especially if they are not intended for night-time use), air conditioning or heating and also specific medications.

People who suffer from diabetes may also be aware of blurry vision and dizziness when they first wake up. Most often this is caused by their blood sugar levels fluctuating throughout the night.

What are causes of blurry peripheral vision?

It can be tricky to identify when your peripheral vision (the area at the edges of your direct field of vision) is out of focus. Frequent eye tests are so important for detecting early signs of not just eye conditions, but general health issues too.

You may begin to be aware of blurry peripheral vision when you start to fall over objects that are not central to your field of view, struggle to adjust your vision to different distances and find it more difficult to see at night, especially when driving.

Glaucoma can also result in blurriness and loss of vision. Acute glaucoma will lead to sudden blurry vision due to a build-up of pressure in the eye. However, chronic glaucoma takes more time to develop and is harder to spot without the help of a professional.

Most common causes of blurry vision

A refractive error

This is simply a change in your eyesight, which could be a result of long-sightedness, short-sightedness, presbyopia or astigmatism. You may experience burry vision at a distance or close up. A pair of glasses, contact lenses, multifocal lenses or even surgery can help correct this.

Dry eyes

Blurry vision can also be caused by dry eyes. This condition happens when your eyes do not have the right amount of tears or your tears dry up rapidly. Symptoms include watery eyes, itching and redness. Using artificial tears or eye drops can help keep your eyes lubricated.

Cataract

Cataracts happens when the transparent lens of your eye becomes cloudy with age. It makes it difficult to see clearly. It can take a long while to develop but when it does, you’ll notice your vision becoming blurry or cloudy.

AMD

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) affects your central vision and makes reading and driving more challenging. There are two types of AMD, wet and dry. You may notice symptoms like blurry central vision and seeing wavy or distorted lines. Wet AMD occurs very quickly, normally in one eye, whereas the dry variation develops over a much longer period of time.

Are you experiencing blurry vision during pregnancy?

Typically nausea and achiness are very much expected during pregnancy. However, the rise and fall in hormone levels at this time can also cause a slight impairment to your vision.

Expectant mothers may even notice dry eyes or black dots in their vision, known as floaters. If you are at risk of preeclampsia or gestational diabetes, we advise that you speak to your midwife straight away if you’re aware of any changes in your vision.

Most of the time, after giving birth, women notice that their vision returns to how it was before carrying a child. However, it’s still important to visit an optician or GP just to make sure the issues are linked to hormonal changes rather than something more serious.

Close-up of a drip coming from a eyedrops bottle

How to treat blurry vision

Blinking your eyes is one very simple way to resolve issues with blurred vision. You can also use eye drops to hydrate them. If you notice that your blurry vision doesn’t subside, the necessary treatment will vary according to what is causing your discomfort in the first place. You might simply need a new prescription or a professional will need to prescribe you with eye drops, medication or other treatments. Just remember, it’s essential that you book regular eye tests. An eye test will not only ensure you have the correct prescription, but it can help detect early signs of any eye or health conditions before symptoms even occur. You should also protect your eyes from UV light by wearing sunglasses. If you have diabetes, it’s vital that your eyes are checked regularly. Make sure you control your blood sugar and check your cholesterol levels.