Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesOther CausesTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Other Causes
Treatment
Sudden blurry vision has several causes ranging from minor conditions, such as dry eyes or eye fatigue, to more serious conditions, such as a detached retina or stroke. In contrast, blurry vision that comes on more slowly is often due to refractive errors (e.g., nearsightedness or farsightedness), cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and other progressive medical conditions.
If you do not regularly experience sudden blurry vision from a known medical cause, such as migraines, see a healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment of your symptoms.
Verywell / Laura Porter
Sometimes, simple things like dry eyes, eye strain from staring at a screen, or dehydration can cause sudden blurry vision. Home treatment typically resolves these issues.
However, several conditions that cause sudden blurry vision are a medical emergency. For example, sudden blurry vision could be a stroke. Head trauma (e.g., concussions) or corneal abrasions are other examples of emergency conditions that can cause sudden blurry vision and require medical attention.
Cloudy VisionAlso, be aware you may be dealing with milky or cloudy vision, which is actually different from blurred. With this, it may appear as if you are peering through a fog. One reason for this can be a cataract, in which the lens of the eye becomes opaque.However,cataract onsetis a gradual process and not sudden.
Cloudy Vision
Also, be aware you may be dealing with milky or cloudy vision, which is actually different from blurred. With this, it may appear as if you are peering through a fog. One reason for this can be a cataract, in which the lens of the eye becomes opaque.However,cataract onsetis a gradual process and not sudden.
Conditions That Require Immediate Treatment
Several conditions that cause blurry vision need immediate care to avoid complications. Some are serious enough to require emergency medical treatment. If left untreated, they can cause severe injury, permanentvision loss, or even death.
Stroke:Sudden blurred vision can be due to a stroke. During a stroke, the brain doesn’t get enough oxygen, and vision, as well as other bodily functions, may be impaired. In addition to blurred vision, light sensitivity, seeing double, and even sight loss may occur. Immediatetreatment is needed.
Wet AMD:Withwet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the sharp central vision needed to see fine details can become blurred, distorted, or missing as the macula deteriorates. As this becomes more serious, it can affect reading, driving, and even the ability to see people’s faces.
Transient ischemic attack:This is a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain that can cause symptoms, including blurry vision, lasting from minutes to about a day. This condition doesn’t cause permanent damage but can act as a warning that you might be in danger of having a stroke.
Detached retina:When part of theretina gets pulled awayfrom the back wall of the eye, the nerve cells there no longer work properly, resulting in sudden blurry vision. Also, look for flashing lights, floaters, a persistent shadow, or sudden loss of side vision.
Concussion:Aconcussionis a blow to the head that causes the brain to move in the skull. Symptoms such as blurred vision can occur right after the injury or appear hours or days later.
Angle closure glaucoma:This rare and serious type ofglaucomadevelops when the pressure in the eye rises rapidly due to a blocked or covered drainage canal.
Bleeding in the eye (hyphema):If you get hit in the eye, blood can collect between the clear surface (cornea) and the colored part of the eye (iris). Injuring the iris or pupil can cause blurry vision, light sensitivity, and pain.
Corneal abrasion:A corneal abrasion is a scrape on the cornea’s surface that can suddenly blur vision. A fingernail, dirt particles, or a ripped contact lens can cause it. The eye can also become red, painful, and sensitive to light.
Brain tumor:If abrain tumorgrows and begins to put pressure on parts of your brain, it can affect your vision, resulting in blurry vision. Symptoms vary from person to person but may include headaches, personality changes, loss of balance, and seizures.
Infections
Eye infections can cause several symptoms, including blurry vision. If you believe an infection is causing your blurry vision, seek medical care so that you can begin treatment. Most infections won’t get better on their own.
Endophthalmitis:This is an often rapidly progressing bacterial infection that causes inflammation in the whites of the eye. In addition to causing vision changes, there may be yellow or white discharge, and the outside of the eye can appear whiteish.
Keratitis:Keratitisis inflammation of the cornea, the clear outer layer covering the front of the eye. It can cause blurry vision, swelling, redness, pain, and sensitivity to light. While an infection can cause keratitis, it can also develop in response to allergies, an injury, dry eye, or medications that suppress the immune system.
Pink eye:This condition, also known as viralconjunctivitisor bacterial or allergic conjunctivitis, may result in inflamed tissue, which can sometimes cause blurry vision. Typically, the eyelids are also swollen, the eye is red with mucus coming out of it, and you may have some sensitivity to light.
Uveitis:This inflammation inside the eye usually means you’re fighting off an infection, though it can also develop if you have a disease such as psoriatic arthritis or lupus. These are conditions in which your immune system attacks healthy eye tissue.
Uveitisaffects the uvea, which is the part of the eye between the white part and the retina, located in the back of the eye. The inflammation can cause vision issues, pain, and redness.
Other conditions that can result in blurry vision include the following:
Dehydration:If you are dehydrated, it can result in your body producing fewer tears and potentially sudden blurry vision.
Hypoglycemia:Hypoglycemiais low blood sugar. Double or blurry vision is one of several symptoms of low blood sugar.
Hyperglycemia:With high blood sugar, often seen in individuals with diabetes, water is pulled into the lens, swelling and blurring vision. High sugar levels can weaken blood vessels and damage the retina. Weak blood vessels may bleed, grow new weak blood vessels, or even lead to retinal detachment with a risk of permanent vision loss.
Dry eyes:Your tear film helps to keep your eyes moist. If this three-layer coating is disrupted, there aren’t enough tears, or the quality isn’t great, the result can be a burning or gritty sensation, and blurry vision can occur.
Multiple sclerosis:Withmultiple sclerosis, the immune system may attack the optic nerve, causing optic neuritis. In addition to blurry vision, sight may becomedim, colors appear faded, and there may be pain in the back of the eye socket when you move your eyes.
Migraine:Some people who getmigrainesmight experience migraine with aura, which usually comes on before a migraine attack. Migraine with aura might affect your speech and can cause several vision changes, from blurriness to seeing flashing or flickering lights.
Eyestrain:This occurs if you’ve been staring at your computer for too long. With your eye muscles weary, the result may be suddenly blurred distance vision. Other symptoms accompanying digital eye strain include headache, dry eyes, and even neck and muscle aches.
Panic attacks:During a panic attack, hyperventilating can cause an imbalance of oxygen and carbon dioxide, leading to blurry vision.
Deciding what to do about blurry vision will vary depending on the cause. Some conditions, such as eye strain or dry eyes, can be treated with simple home measures such as eye drops, rest, or avoiding allergens such as dust.
Other conditions may require medical attention from your healthcare provider and treatment with oral medications, ocular injections, laser treatment, or surgery.
For example, if the sudden blurry vision is due to astroke, treatment will depend on the type of stroke and when stroke symptoms were first noticed. If a stroke is identified quickly and is due to a blood clot, a medication called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is often given. Surgical interventions may also be necessary.
Several conditions often require surgery for treatment. These conditions include, but are not limited to:
Your healthcare provider will work with you to determine the best treatment course.
When to Seek Emergency TreatmentMost of the time, blurry vision can be safely handled outside of the ER. One study demonstrated that approximately one in four of those who visited the ER for an eye issue had a minor problem such as pink eye, a swollen eyelid, or eyelid bumps.However, it’s still important to seek emergency treatment if you:Have blurry vision that comes on suddenly, especially if it’s in one eye onlyHave blurry vision and eye painHave signs of a stroke, such as difficulty speaking or a facial droop
When to Seek Emergency Treatment
Most of the time, blurry vision can be safely handled outside of the ER. One study demonstrated that approximately one in four of those who visited the ER for an eye issue had a minor problem such as pink eye, a swollen eyelid, or eyelid bumps.However, it’s still important to seek emergency treatment if you:Have blurry vision that comes on suddenly, especially if it’s in one eye onlyHave blurry vision and eye painHave signs of a stroke, such as difficulty speaking or a facial droop
Most of the time, blurry vision can be safely handled outside of the ER. One study demonstrated that approximately one in four of those who visited the ER for an eye issue had a minor problem such as pink eye, a swollen eyelid, or eyelid bumps.However, it’s still important to seek emergency treatment if you:
Summary
Blurry vision is common and can result from minor conditions such as dry eyes or eyestrain. It can also be a side effect of a serious condition that requires immediate treatment, such as a stroke, preeclampsia, concussion, or wet AMD. If you’re unsure whether to contact a healthcare provider, it’s best to seek treatment or medical advice from a healthcare professional.
21 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Eye Institute.Cataracts. August 3, 2019.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Stroke’s effect on vision.American Stroke Association.TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack).Michigan Medicine University of Michigan.Retinal detachment.MedlinePlus.Preeclampsia.Hauspurg A, Jeyabalan A.Postpartum preeclampsia or eclampsia: defining its place and management among the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2022;226(2S):S1211-S1221.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs and symptoms of concussion.Glaucoma Research Foundation.What is angle-closure glaucoma?MD Anderson Cancer Center.Brain tumor symptoms.American Society of Retina Specialists.Endophthalmitis.American Optometric Association.Keratitis.National Eye Institute.Pink eye.National Eye Institute.Uveitis.MedlinePlus.Low blood sugar.Kaiser Permanente.Diabetic retinopathy.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is optic neuritis?The Migraine Trust.Migraine with aura.American Optometric Association.Computer vision syndrome.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Surprising links between stress and the eyes.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Stroke treatment.Stagg BC, Shah MM, Talwar N, Padovani-Claudio DA, Woodward MA, Stein JD.Factors affecting visits to the emergency department for urgent and nonurgent ocular conditions.Ophthalmology. 2017;124(5):720-729. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2016.12.039
21 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Eye Institute.Cataracts. August 3, 2019.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Stroke’s effect on vision.American Stroke Association.TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack).Michigan Medicine University of Michigan.Retinal detachment.MedlinePlus.Preeclampsia.Hauspurg A, Jeyabalan A.Postpartum preeclampsia or eclampsia: defining its place and management among the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2022;226(2S):S1211-S1221.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs and symptoms of concussion.Glaucoma Research Foundation.What is angle-closure glaucoma?MD Anderson Cancer Center.Brain tumor symptoms.American Society of Retina Specialists.Endophthalmitis.American Optometric Association.Keratitis.National Eye Institute.Pink eye.National Eye Institute.Uveitis.MedlinePlus.Low blood sugar.Kaiser Permanente.Diabetic retinopathy.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is optic neuritis?The Migraine Trust.Migraine with aura.American Optometric Association.Computer vision syndrome.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Surprising links between stress and the eyes.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Stroke treatment.Stagg BC, Shah MM, Talwar N, Padovani-Claudio DA, Woodward MA, Stein JD.Factors affecting visits to the emergency department for urgent and nonurgent ocular conditions.Ophthalmology. 2017;124(5):720-729. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2016.12.039
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Eye Institute.Cataracts. August 3, 2019.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Stroke’s effect on vision.American Stroke Association.TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack).Michigan Medicine University of Michigan.Retinal detachment.MedlinePlus.Preeclampsia.Hauspurg A, Jeyabalan A.Postpartum preeclampsia or eclampsia: defining its place and management among the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2022;226(2S):S1211-S1221.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs and symptoms of concussion.Glaucoma Research Foundation.What is angle-closure glaucoma?MD Anderson Cancer Center.Brain tumor symptoms.American Society of Retina Specialists.Endophthalmitis.American Optometric Association.Keratitis.National Eye Institute.Pink eye.National Eye Institute.Uveitis.MedlinePlus.Low blood sugar.Kaiser Permanente.Diabetic retinopathy.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is optic neuritis?The Migraine Trust.Migraine with aura.American Optometric Association.Computer vision syndrome.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Surprising links between stress and the eyes.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Stroke treatment.Stagg BC, Shah MM, Talwar N, Padovani-Claudio DA, Woodward MA, Stein JD.Factors affecting visits to the emergency department for urgent and nonurgent ocular conditions.Ophthalmology. 2017;124(5):720-729. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2016.12.039
National Eye Institute.Cataracts. August 3, 2019.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Stroke’s effect on vision.
American Stroke Association.TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack).
Michigan Medicine University of Michigan.Retinal detachment.
MedlinePlus.Preeclampsia.
Hauspurg A, Jeyabalan A.Postpartum preeclampsia or eclampsia: defining its place and management among the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2022;226(2S):S1211-S1221.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs and symptoms of concussion.
Glaucoma Research Foundation.What is angle-closure glaucoma?
MD Anderson Cancer Center.Brain tumor symptoms.
American Society of Retina Specialists.Endophthalmitis.
American Optometric Association.Keratitis.
National Eye Institute.Pink eye.
National Eye Institute.Uveitis.
MedlinePlus.Low blood sugar.
Kaiser Permanente.Diabetic retinopathy.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is optic neuritis?
The Migraine Trust.Migraine with aura.
American Optometric Association.Computer vision syndrome.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Surprising links between stress and the eyes.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Stroke treatment.
Stagg BC, Shah MM, Talwar N, Padovani-Claudio DA, Woodward MA, Stein JD.Factors affecting visits to the emergency department for urgent and nonurgent ocular conditions.Ophthalmology. 2017;124(5):720-729. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2016.12.039
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