3 Underlying Reasons For Blurry Vision

The occasional episode of blurry vision is usually not a problem. This can be caused by eye fatigue, dry eyes, or the need for a fresh pair of contact lenses. When blurry vision is more than the occasional nuisance, it is time to figure out the underlying problem.

Chronic Diseases

Blurry vision may not be a problem with your vision itself, but may be caused by systemic diseases. For example, hypertension and diabetes can eventually affect your vision. Poorly-controlled hypertension can increase pressure in the eyes and can also lead to stroke. Diabetes can increase your risk of developing cataracts or damage the nerves and blood vessels leading to and inside the eye, contributing to blindness. People with autoimmune diseases are also at increased risk of having eye problems because systemic inflammation can eventually affect the eyes. If you have any type of chronic disease, it is important to stay on a treatment plan that hopefully controls the disease and minimizes the chance of damage to your eyes.

Macular Degeneration

The macula is a structure within the eye that is responsible for both color and central vision. In people with macular degeneration, they may gradually lose their central vision and have difficulties seeing colors. Macular degeneration is further divided into "wet" and "dry" types. The dry type cannot be treated, whereas the wet type can benefit from procedures to cauterize abnormal blood vessels. Generally, people with macular degeneration are encouraged to engage in lifestyle changes that may slow the progression of the disease. This includes reducing risk factors associated with macular degeneration, such as smoking, and establishing better control over hypertension, if this is an issue. Eating an antioxidant-rich diet might also be helpful.

Migraines

When you think of migraines, you might think about a headache with or without visual disturbances. It is also possible to have visual disturbances consistent with a migraine without a headache. This is considered an ocular migraine. Much like a traditional migraine, there is no cure, but some treatments may be effective. You should consider treatments if these episodes are frequent. Pain medications used during a typical migraine may also be effective during an ocular migraine. Generally, retail pain medications that reduce inflammation, such as ibuprofen or aspirin, are recommended. If these episodes are poorly-controlled with retail medications, you might want to consider prescription medications that can reduce migraine frequency and/or duration.

Fortunately, most instances of blurry vision are benign and easy to fix. When blurry vision is frequent and/or severe, it is time to have your eyes examined to rule-out more severe causes. Contact a business like Moninger Eye Care for more help.


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