What Does a Blurry Vision Mean?

Blurry vision occurs when objects in focus appear to be hazy and lacks full clarity or sharpness. It is usually a more of a symptom of conditions (ocular or systemic), rather than a condition itself. Refractive errors and presbyopia are the primary causes of blurry vision. However, there are some systemic triggers of blurry vision as well.

Here are some conditions that may present blurry vision as one of their symptoms:

• Hyperopia or Far Sightedness: a type of refractive error that may cause objects to be blurry at near. Extent of blurry vision depends on the severity of the condition.
• Myopia or Near Sightedness: a type of refractive error where objects usually appear to be blurry at far distances the extent of blurry vision also depends on the severity of the condition. People with high degree of myopia may also experience blurry vision nearby.
• Astigmatism: this is a type of refractive error that causes intermittent blurry vision at either far or near or at both distances, depending on the type of astigmatism. The frequency or extent of blurry vision depends on the severity of the astigmatism.
• Presbyopia: This is an age-related condition that causes individuals of age 40 and above to experience difficulty reading tiny prints at near, which is usually accompanied with blurry vision as well.
• Hormonal changes: hormonal changes experienced during pregnancy and menopause may come with blurry vision that is best described as dizziness.
• Chronic Dry Eye Disease: inadequate tear production can cause one to experience peppery sensation and sandy sensation. The overtime effect of this can make objects appear blurry.
• Floaters: presence of eye floaters in the eye is usually perceived as cobweb or strings of rope that may be stagnant or may move with eye movements. Eye floaters may cause objects to be hazy.
• Blurry vision may be an indication of a more serious condition, ocular or systemic, such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, hypertensive retinopathy, cataract, uveitis, etc.

Is blurry vision and the use of glasses prescription dependent on each other?

Blurry vision could be a signal that our glasses or contact lens prescription needs to be reviewed for an upgrade. It could also mean there is need to wear a prescription if you are not wearing one already. Blurry vision can be mild and inconsistent too, and cases like this could just be as a result of simple fatigue or could be from strain from prolong use of light emitting sources such as computer, sunlight and our phones. There are also protective effects one can add to our prescription lenses to shield the eyes against these harmful light rays.

When associated with other symptoms such as: pain, headache, light sensitivity and redness, it could be as a result of an infection or an inflammation in the eye, especially if it's sudden. If it's sudden and also progresses rapidly to more serious symptoms like double vision, seeing halos of light, drastic reduction in vision, it may be as a result of serious systemic conditions like diabetes and hypertension. Treating the systemic condition often takes care of the blurry vision as well.

Conclusion

Glasses can be helpful in the management of blurry vision if it is as one that is due to refractive errors (myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism) and presbyopia. Anti-reflective lenses and antiblue lenses can also be of great help in management of blurry vision that is induced from overtime exposure to harmful light from our digital devices. Blurry vision could however be an indication of something more severe going on in the body.

Hence, there is need for a comprehensive eye exam by an eye doctor if one is experiencing blurry vision, regardless of the manner of presentation.