Causes of Blurring and Underlying Conditions

Blurred eyes are loss of visual acuity and inability to see an object in detail. Blurry eyes are the most common visual complaint. However, you also have to be careful if you experience blurry eye complaints, it might indicate other more serious illnesses. Blurred eye conditions usually affect one or both eyes depending on the cause. In some cases, blurred vision can be accompanied by other symptoms in one or both eyes. Symptoms include sensitivity to light (photophobia), spots appearing when seeing objects (floaters), pain in the eyes, excessive eye discharge, dry eyes, itchy eyes, worsening vision at night, increased production of tears, or bleeding in the eyes . Blurred vision can also be a symptom of various conditions that indirectly involve the eye, such as migraines or strokes.

Various Causes of Blurred Eyes

The most common causes of eye blur are eye refractive disorders, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, presbyopia, and astigmatism. Dry eyes are another factor that causes blurred vision. This is because, the eye is not able to produce tears as they should, so it cannot maintain and lubricate the surface of the eye. If this condition is not treated immediately, it will cause the vision to blur. Blurred eyes can also be caused by conditions such as red eye and eye irritation. Check out some of the causes of blurred eyes below:

• Refractive eye disorders

Conditions where a person needs the help of glasses in order to see long distance or even close. This condition can occur due to changes in the shape of the eyeball, the shape of the cornea, or there is interference with the lens of the eye.

• Cataract

Cataract is a condition that makes the lens of the eye blurry and prevents light from reaching the retina, thereby causing blurred vision.

• Macular degeneration

It is a condition that occurs in the eye as we get older, which causes loss of vision in the middle of the field of vision due to macular damage, which is the area around the retina of the eye that serves to increase vision sharpness.

• Glaucoma

Glaucoma is an eye disease caused by excessive pressure on the eyeball, which causes the eye nerves to become permanently damaged.

• Eye infection

Usually eye infections occur due to viruses, bacteria, or fungi that enter the eye. This infection can occur due to eye injury or contracting from someone else. The most common example of an eye infection is conjunctivitis. This condition is caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Although usually not serious, conjunctivitis is contagious and can sometimes cause blurry vision.

• The use of contact lenses

Dirty and damaged contact lenses can make vision impaired. Improper use and care of contact lenses can cause injury and infection to the cornea of ​​the eye (keratitis).

• Diabetics

If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you are at risk for diabetic retinopathy. In this condition, there is damage to the blood vessels and nerves in the retina of the eye, so that the eye becomes blurred.

• High blood pressure

Having high blood pressure not only causes strokes, but also results in mini strokes in the eye called venous occlusion. People who experience venous occlusion usually experience blurred vision and only attack one eye.

In addition to the above conditions, blurred eyes can also be caused by other factors, such as drugs or supplements, whether prescribed or over-the-counter. Some medicines that might make your vision blurry include:

• Certain anticholinergic drugs
• Several types of antihypertensive drugs
• Family planning pills
• Corticosteroids
• Antidepressant medication
• Medication for heart disease

Diagnose the Causes of Blurred Eyes

Blurring eye complaints are medical problems that require examination and treatment from an ophthalmologist. To diagnose, the doctor will trace your medical history and blurred eye complaints. This is done to find out how severe the symptoms are and factors that can cause blurred vision. Next, the doctor will perform several physical examinations on the eyes. The doctor will also test the sharpness of your vision. Other eye tests can include:

• Eyeball pressure examination, or tonometry test
• Ophthalmoscopy
• Slit lamp test

In addition to eye tests, your doctor may do a blood test to find out if there are bacteria in your blood or check if there is an infection in your body. Once the cause is known, the doctor will treat blurred eyes in accordance with the diagnosis of the underlying disease.

How to Prevent Blurred Eyes

Although in certain cases the cause of blurred eyes cannot be prevented, a healthy lifestyle can reduce the risk of this condition. Apply a healthy lifestyle, including by:

• Quit smoking.
• Always wear anti-UV lensed sunglasses, so that it provides comprehensive protection when you are out in the sun.
• Eat foods that contain healthy nutrition. Choose dark green leafy vegetables, like spinach and kale. In addition, you can eat foods that contain omega-3s, such as tuna and tuna.
• Wash your hands before wearing or removing contact lenses.
• Get regular eye examinations, especially if there is a family history of eye disease.
• Wear protective eyewear when operating heavy equipment or carrying out certain activities that are at risk of injuring the eye.

Consult an eye specialist immediately if your vision changes suddenly and does not improve after you blink, you feel pain in the eyes, or if your field of vision is disturbed. Whatever the cause, complaints of blurred vision are conditions that need to be examined and treated by an ophthalmologist. It is intended that the blurred eye condition that you experience is not getting worse, and also to prevent the risk of permanent eye disorders.