Blurred or blurred vision: what can it be and what to do?

Expert answer:

Blurred or blurred vision may be a sign of several diseases or conditions, ranging from myopia to a brain tumour, and diabetes, cataract, low blood pressure, glaucoma, migraine, among others.

Some possible causes blurred or blurred vision:

  • Macular degeneration: A disease that causes loss of vision in the macula, which is the region of the retina responsible for capturing details;
  • Cataract: The vision is blurred due to the loss of transparency of the lens of the eye, which becomes opaque;
  • Dry eyes;
  • Presence of a foreign body in the eye;
  • Injury to the eye;
  • Migraine;
  • Myopia: Difficulty focusing on objects that are far away;
  • Need to wear glasses or contact lenses or to change glasses or lenses already in use;
  • Hyperopia: Difficulty in focusing on nearby objects;
  • Corneal infection or injury;
  • Glaucoma: A disease that damages the optic nerve, often due to increased pressure in the eye;
  • Retinal detachment: detachment of the layer of the eye that is sensitive to light;
  • Optic neuritis: Inflammation of the optic nerve.

A way of identify the cause of blurred or blurred vision is to see if it is accompanied by other symptoms:

  • Blurred or blurred vision, sudden eye pain, redness, nausea and vomiting: They may indicate a sudden glaucoma of narrow angle, which can permanently damage the optic nerve. Immediate treatment is necessary to avoid permanent loss of vision;
  • Blurred or blurred vision, "halos" around the lights at night, difficulty seeing bright colors, increasing slowly and progressively: These symptoms may be a sign of cataract, which tends to worsen gradually over time. The lens is becoming increasingly blurred with aging, leading to blindness. The only way to avoid it is through cataract surgery, which replaces the opaque lens with an artificial lens;
  • Blurred or blurred vision, blind spots and flying flies in the field of vision: Can be diabetic retinopathy, which occurs in patients with diabetes. To avoid vision problems, it is essential for diabetics to have regular eye exams, especially those over 60 years of age;
  • Central vision blurred or blurred, with sudden onset in only one eye: If the patient has been struck in the eye, it is likely to be a hole in the macula, the part of the retina responsible for vision in detail. In addition to blurred vision, a macular hole may worsen vision closely and cause permanent loss of vision if there is retinal detachment.

Blurred or blurred vision is not always caused by eye diseases, and may also be associated with other pathologies, as:

  • Brain tumour;
  • Diabetes;
  • Transient ischemic attack: It presents temporary and stroke-like symptoms (stroke), which may precede a possible stroke;
  • Low pressure.

There are many diseases or situations that can make vision blurry or blurred. If the problem persists, seek an ophthalmologist so that your cause is properly diagnosed and treated.