Blurry Vision: Common Causes and When It Needs Urgent Eye Care

What it involves

MedlinePlus describes blurred vision as the loss of sharpness of vision and the inability to see fine details. It lists it among many types of eye problems and vision disturbances, and says vision changes can be caused by many different conditions.

Who this is for

• Adults who notice that fine print or distant signs have become less sharp
• Patients with diabetes or high blood pressure who notice a change in vision
• Patients who notice blurred vision after starting a medicine
• Adults who have not had an eye exam in a year or more

What to expect

• Questions about whether one or both eyes are affected, how fast it began and what makes it better or worse
• A review of conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure and of the medicines you take
• Blood work, including blood sugar, when your provider thinks it will help
• A referral to an eye doctor for a dilated exam, eye pressure check or treatment of an eye condition

What an eye exam covers that a primary care visit does not

A primary care provider can ask the right questions and look for general-health causes, but the eye itself is examined by an eye doctor. The MedlinePlus encyclopedia says an eye exam checks vision, eye movements, pupils, the back of the eye, called the retina, and eye pressure, and lists a dilated eye exam, slit-lamp examination, refraction to test for glasses and tonometry, an eye pressure test, among the tests that may be performed. Those are done by an optometrist or ophthalmologist, so this practice refers you, and the visit here helps decide how urgent that referral is.

Common causes MedlinePlus lists

The encyclopedia names presbyopia, difficulty focusing on close objects that often becomes noticeable in the early to mid-40s, cataracts, a cloudiness of the lens that causes poor night vision, halos and glare sensitivity, glaucoma, increased pressure in the eye that is most often painless, diabetic eye disease and macular degeneration, which causes blurred or distorted central vision. It also lists eye infection, inflammation or injury, floaters, retinal detachment, optic neuritis, stroke, migraine and the effect of some medicines. Surface problems are covered in the dry eye guide and the pink eye guide.

Diabetes and blood pressure matter here

MedlinePlus says your provider will recommend earlier and more frequent eye exams if you have conditions known to cause eye problems, which it identifies as diabetes or high blood pressure, and that keeping blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar under control helps prevent eye and vision problems. It also lists diabetes or a family history of diabetes as a reason to get a complete eye exam. Blood sugar and blood pressure are routine parts of a primary care visit, and the prediabetes and A1C guide and the diabetes management page explain how they are followed.

Signs that need emergency eye care

The encyclopedia says to seek emergency care from a provider experienced with eye emergencies if you have partial or complete blindness in one or both eyes, even if temporary, double vision, even if temporary, a sensation of a shade or curtain being pulled over your eyes, or blind spots, halos or distorted areas that appear suddenly. It also says sudden blurred vision with eye pain, particularly with a red eye, is a medical emergency. Do not wait for a scheduled primary care visit for these, and call 911 if vision loss comes with weakness, trouble speaking or a severe headache.

When blurry vision comes with a headache or dizziness

MedlinePlus lists migraine, with spots of light, halos or zigzag patterns before the headache, and stroke or a transient ischemic attack among the causes of vision changes, and a provider will ask whether you also have dizziness or the room seems to spin. If the blurring comes with headache, the headache and migraine guide explains how that is sorted, and the dizziness guide covers the related symptom. Describe each symptom and when it began, because the combination matters more than any one of them.

How to prepare for the visit

MedlinePlus suggests thinking ahead about whether there is blurring, halos, flashing lights or blind spots, whether colors seem faded, whether there is pain, light sensitivity, tearing or discharge, whether one or both eyes are affected, and whether it began suddenly or gradually. Bring your glasses or contact lens prescription, a list of your medicines and any recent blood sugar readings. The same page notes that wearing sunglasses and safety glasses, keeping your prescription up to date and not smoking are steps that help protect your eyes.

Sources

• MedlinePlus — Vision problems (medical encyclopedia)