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Blurry Vision

By

The Manual's Editorial Staff

Reviewed/Revised Mar 2023
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What is blurry vision?

Blurry vision is when you don't see as clearly or sharply as you once did. It's the most common vision problem. Blurry vision is different from loss of vision Sudden Vision Loss Sudden vision loss is when you lose some or all of your vision quickly. The loss can happen within a few minutes or over a few days. Vision loss differs from blurry vision. Blurry vision is... read more . Loss of vision means you become blind or can't see anything with all or part of an eye.

  • It's normal for your vision to slowly get blurrier as you get older, but glasses or contacts can usually help you see better

  • If you have sudden loss of vision, go to a hospital right away—vision loss is different from blurry vision

What causes blurry vision?

When should I see a doctor?

Go to a hospital right away if you have blurry vision and any of these warning signs:

If you have blurry vision with no warning signs, you can usually wait a week or longer to see an eye doctor.

What will happen at my doctor visit?

Doctors will ask about your symptoms and health history.

Doctors will:

  • Check your vision with an eye chart

  • Put some liquid drops in your eye (you may have a burning feeling that lasts a few seconds)

  • Look into your eye using a special magnifying light (the light is very bright)

  • Measure the pressure in your eye (there are different ways to do this, but none of them hurt)

How do doctors treat blurry vision?

Doctors will treat the cause of your blurry vision. For example, if you have a cataract, you may need surgery to treat it.

Doctors may prescribe glasses or contact lenses to help you see more clearly.

NOTE: This is the Consumer Version. DOCTORS: VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
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