Experiencing blurry vision can be frustrating, particularly if you’ve previously been able to see clearly. You might notice that objects in the distance have become harder to see, reading feels more difficult, or your vision occasionally seems hazy or out of focus.
There are many possible causes of blurry vision. Sometimes, the explanation is relatively straightforward, such as needing a new glasses prescription or experiencing dry eyes. In other cases, a change in vision may need more urgent investigation.
If your vision has become persistently blurry, has changed noticeably or you’re experiencing other symptoms alongside it, arranging an eye examination can help identify what may be causing the problem.
What Is Blurry Vision?
Blurry vision describes a loss of sharpness or clarity in your eyesight. Instead of objects appearing clearly defined, they may look hazy, fuzzy or out of focus.
It can affect:
- One or both eyes
- Distance vision
- Near vision
- Your vision at all distances
- Your central or peripheral vision
- Your eyesight constantly or intermittently
How and when the blurriness occurs can provide useful information to your optometrist.
For example, difficulty seeing road signs in the distance may have a different cause from difficulty focusing on a book or phone.
What Causes Blurry Vision?
There isn’t one single cause of blurry vision.
Some of the more common possibilities include:
- Short-sightedness
- Long-sightedness
- Astigmatism
- Presbyopia
- A change in your glasses prescription
- Dry eyes
- Contact lens problems
- Cataracts
- Certain eye conditions
- Some health conditions or medications
Because blurry vision can have many causes, it’s important not to self-diagnose based on this symptom alone.
Could I Need Glasses?
One of the most common reasons for blurred vision is an uncorrected refractive error.
A refractive error occurs when the eye doesn’t focus light accurately onto the retina, resulting in vision that isn’t completely clear.
Several different types can affect your eyesight.
Short-Sightedness
Short-sightedness, or myopia, generally means nearby objects appear clearer while things further away become blurred.
You might notice difficulty reading road signs, recognising people from a distance or seeing a television clearly from across the room.
Myopia often begins during childhood or the teenage years, although adults can also experience changes to their prescription.
Long-Sightedness
Long-sightedness, or hyperopia, affects the way the eye focuses.
Depending on its severity and your age, it can make close-up tasks more difficult and may contribute to eye strain or headaches.
An eye examination can determine whether long-sightedness is contributing to your symptoms and whether glasses would help.
Astigmatism
Astigmatism occurs when the eye has a different curvature than required for clear focusing.
It can cause vision to appear blurred or distorted and may affect both near and distance vision.
Astigmatism is common and can usually be corrected with suitable glasses or contact lenses.
Why Is My Vision Blurry Up Close?
If you’ve started having difficulty reading small print or focusing on your phone, particularly as you’ve reached your 40s or beyond, presbyopia may be responsible.
Presbyopia is a natural age-related change that makes it harder for the eyes to focus on nearby objects.
You may find yourself:
- Holding reading material further away
- Increasing the text size on your phone
- Needing brighter lighting to read
- Experiencing tired eyes after close work
- Finding small print increasingly difficult
Presbyopia isn’t an eye disease. It’s a normal part of ageing.
Reading glasses, bifocals or varifocal glasses are among the options that may help, depending on your individual prescription and lifestyle.
Why Is My Distance Vision Blurry?
Difficulty seeing clearly at a distance is commonly associated with short-sightedness, although it isn’t the only possible explanation.
You might first notice the problem when:
- Driving
- Reading road signs
- Watching television
- Looking at presentation screens
- Recognising faces from a distance
If distance vision has gradually become less clear, an eye examination can establish whether your prescription has changed.
Don’t continue driving if your vision doesn’t meet the required standard. If you’re concerned about your eyesight for driving, arrange an eye examination.
Can Your Glasses Prescription Change?
Yes. Your eyesight can change over time, even if you’ve worn the same prescription for several years.
A prescription that once provided excellent vision may gradually become less suitable.
Signs that your prescription might need reassessing can include:
- Blurry vision
- Eye strain
- headaches
- Difficulty focusing
- Squinting to see clearly
- Problems seeing at night
Regular eye examinations allow your optometrist to monitor your prescription and determine whether your glasses still provide appropriate correction.
Can Dry Eyes Cause Blurry Vision?
Yes. Dry eyes can sometimes cause vision to become temporarily blurry or fluctuate throughout the day.
Your tear film forms an important part of the eye’s optical surface. If it becomes unstable, the quality of your vision can be affected.
You may experience other symptoms alongside blurred vision, including:
- Grittiness
- Soreness
- Redness
- Itching
- Burning
- Watery eyes
You might also notice that your vision temporarily improves after blinking.
Dry-eye symptoms can be influenced by prolonged screen use, contact lenses, certain medications and dry or air-conditioned environments.
If you’re regularly experiencing dry, uncomfortable or blurry eyes, speak to your optometrist.
Can Screen Time Make Your Vision Blurry?
Spending long periods looking at a computer, tablet or smartphone can leave your eyes feeling tired and uncomfortable.
When concentrating on a screen, you may blink less frequently, which can contribute to dry-eye symptoms. Extended periods of close focusing can also leave your eyes feeling strained.
You may notice temporary blurry vision when looking away from your screen, alongside symptoms such as headaches or tired eyes.
Regular breaks can help. Try looking away from your screen periodically and focusing on something further into the distance.
If blurry vision persists after you’ve stopped using the screen or happens regularly, arrange an eye examination rather than assuming screen use is the only cause.
Can Contact Lenses Cause Blurry Vision?
Contact lenses should provide clear and comfortable vision when they’re suitable for your eyes and worn correctly.
If your vision becomes blurry while wearing contact lenses, possible explanations include:
- Dryness
- A dirty or damaged lens
- The lens moving out of position
- Wearing lenses for longer than recommended
- A change in your prescription
- A problem with the fit of the lenses
If you’re regularly experiencing blurry or uncomfortable vision with contact lenses, arrange a contact lens assessment.
Remove your lenses and seek prompt professional advice if you develop a painful, red eye or a significant change in vision while wearing them.
Can Watery Eyes Make Your Vision Blurry?
Excessive watering can temporarily make your eyesight appear less clear.
An unstable tear film can affect how light passes through the front of the eye, causing vision to fluctuate.
Interestingly, watery eyes can sometimes be associated with dry eye. If the surface of the eye becomes irritated, it can trigger additional tear production.
If you’re experiencing both persistent watering and blurry vision, an optometrist can examine your eyes to help determine the underlying cause.
Can Cataracts Cause Blurred Vision?
Cataracts develop when the lens inside the eye becomes cloudy.
They commonly develop gradually and can cause symptoms such as:
- Blurry or cloudy vision
- Difficulty seeing in low light
- Colours appearing less vivid
- Increased glare
- Halos around bright lights
- More frequent changes to your glasses prescription
Cataracts become increasingly common as we get older.
If an optometrist identifies signs of cataracts during an eye examination, they can explain the findings and whether further assessment is necessary.
Why Is My Vision Worse at Night?
Some people find their vision seems reasonably clear during the day but becomes noticeably worse in low-light conditions.
Night-time vision difficulties can be associated with several factors, including refractive errors and cataracts.
You may particularly notice:
- Difficulty reading road signs
- Glare from headlights
- Halos around lights
- Reduced clarity in darker environments
If your night vision is making driving difficult or you’re concerned about a change, arrange an eye examination.
Why Is My Vision Blurry in One Eye?
Blurry vision doesn’t always affect both eyes equally.
One eye may have a different prescription from the other, or there may be another reason why its vision is less clear.
You may not immediately notice gradual changes in one eye because the clearer eye can sometimes compensate during everyday activities.
This is another reason why eye examinations assess each eye separately.
New or unexplained blurred vision in one eye should be professionally assessed, particularly if the change has occurred suddenly.
Can Diabetes Affect Your Vision?
Diabetes can affect the eyes and eyesight in several ways.
Changes in blood glucose can sometimes cause temporary changes in vision, while diabetes can also increase the risk of eye conditions such as diabetic retinopathy.
People with diabetes may be invited for dedicated diabetic eye screening. This is different from a routine sight test, so it’s important to continue attending your regular eye examinations as advised.
If you have diabetes and notice a change in your vision, seek appropriate professional advice.
Can Glaucoma Cause Blurry Vision?
Glaucoma is a group of conditions that can damage the optic nerve.
Some forms of glaucoma can develop gradually without obvious symptoms at first, which is one reason regular eye examinations are important.
Routine eye examinations can include assessments that help optometrists identify signs that warrant further investigation.
If glaucoma runs in your family, make sure your optometrist knows, as family history can increase your risk.
Can Migraines Affect Your Vision?
Some people experience visual symptoms before or during a migraine.
These can include flashing lights, zigzag patterns, blind spots or changes to vision.
However, don’t automatically assume a new visual disturbance is caused by migraine, particularly if you’ve never experienced it before
New, unexplained or unusual visual symptoms should be appropriately assessed.
When Should I See an Optician About Blurry Vision?
If your blurry visionhas developed gradually and isn’t accompanied by severe symptoms, arranging an eye examination is a sensible next step. Consider booking an appointment if:
- your vision is becoming increasingly blurry
- You’re squinting more often
- Your glasses no longer seem as effective
- You’re struggling with near or distance vision
- You’re experiencing frequent headaches or eye strain
- Your vision fluctuates regularly
- You’re having difficulty seeing when driving
- One eye seems noticeably blurrier than the other
Your optometrist can assess your vision, check your prescription and examine your eye health.
When Does Blurry Vision Need Urgent Attention?
While gradual changes in eyesight are common, sudden blurry vision can require urgent assessment. Seek urgent medical or eye-care advice if you experience a sudden or significant change to your eyesight, particularly alongside symptoms such as:
- Sudden loss of vision
- Severe eye pain
- A very red and painful eye
- New flashes or a sudden increase in floaters
- A dark curtain or shadow moving across your vision
- Significant sensitivity to light
- Double vision that has appeared suddenly
- Vision changes following an eye injury
Sudden vision problems can sometimes indicate a serious eye or medical condition, so don’t wait for a routine appointment if your eyesight changes abruptly.
What Happens During an Eye Test for Blurry Vision?
Your optometrist will first ask about your symptoms, including when the blurriness started and whether it affects one or both eyes. They can then assess your vision and determine whether a refractive error or change in prescription may be responsible. Your eye health will also be examined, and additional tests may be recommended depending on your symptoms and individual circumstances. The aim isn’t simply to make the letters on the chart clearer. It’s to understand why your eyesight has changed and determine the appropriate next steps.
Don’t Ignore Changes to Your Vision
There are many possible explanations for blurry vision, from a straightforward change in glasses prescription to dry eye or an eye condition requiring further assessment. What matters most is how the change occurred. Gradual blurring may indicate that it’s time for another eye examination, while sudden or significant changes should be taken more seriously and may require urgent assessment. Even if your vision seems generally good, regular eye examinations remain an important part of looking after your eyesight and eye health.
Book an Eye Examination with Bill Opticians
If your vision isn’t as clear as it used to be, the experienced team at Bill Opticians can help. Our optometrists provide professional, personalised eye examinations across our independent practices in Devon. We’ll take the time to discuss the changes you’ve noticed, assess your vision and examine your eye health. If your prescription has changed, we can also help you explore suitable glasses and lens options for your eyesight, lifestyle and preferences.
