Blurred Vision
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Blurry vision
Right eye blurred
Left eye is blurred
Foggy vision
Cloudy vision
Hazy vision
Eyesight is misty
Can’t see things clearly
Vision isn’t sharp and crisp
Surroundings appear out of focus
About the Symptom
Blurry vision is a symptom in which someone is unable to visually distinguish details or sharp contours of their surroundings.
When to See a Doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
- Photophobia
- Eye pain
- Visual field defect
- double vision
Possible Causes
Generally, Blurred vision can be related to:
- Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO)
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a rare condition in which the immune system damages the spinal cord and the optic nerves.
- Cataracts
Degeneration of the lens inside the eye causes it to become opaque. As a result, lights appear glaring and vision becomes blurred. In older adults, cataracts are usually caused by aging. In children, however, they may be due to genetic conditions, drugs, or viral infections while in the womb.
- Macular Edema
Macular edema is the accumulation of fluid in the macula, the part of your retina responsible for central vision. It occurs when fluid leads to swelling in the macula, causing blurred vision and vision loss in severe cases. Common causes of macular edema include blockages in retinal arteries or veins and diabetes.
- Tolosa Hunt Syndrome
- Diabetic Macular Edema (DME)
- Migraine
- Subcortical Hemorrhage
- Age-Related Macular Degeneration
- Sarcoidosis (Including Erythema Nodosum-Like Eruption)
Related Serious Diseases
Sometimes, Blurred vision may be related to these serious diseases:
- Acute Glaucoma Attack
A condition caused by high pressures in the eyeball, more common in people with farsightedness. Persons of Black, Asian, or Hispanic descent are at higher risk. The high pressures can cut off blood flow to the eye. Prompt medical attention is needed to prevent permanent blindness.
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Is your vision blurry?
- When did you first notice your vision problems?
- Which of the following best describes how your vision problems appeared?
- How is your vision problem now?
- Are you currently experiencing vision loss in one eye?
Reviewed By:
Benjamin Kummer, MD (Neurology)
Dr Kummer is Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS), with joint appointment in Digital and Technology Partners (DTP) at the Mount Sinai Health System (MSHS) as Director of Clinical Informatics in Neurology. As a triple-board certified practicing stroke neurologist and informaticist, he has successfully improved clinical operations at the point of care by acting as a central liaison between clinical neurology faculty and DTP teams to implement targeted EHR configuration changes and workflows, as well as providing subject matter expertise on health information technology projects across MSHS. | Dr Kummer also has several years’ experience building and implementing several informatics tools, presenting scientific posters, and generating a body of peer-reviewed work in “clinical neuro-informatics” – i.e., the intersection of clinical neurology, digital health, and informatics – much of which is centered on digital/tele-health, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. He has spearheaded the Clinical Neuro-Informatics Center in the Department of Neurology at ISMMS, a new research institute that seeks to establish the field of clinical neuro-informatics and disseminate knowledge to the neurological community on the effects and benefits of clinical informatics tools at the point of care.
Shohei Harase, MD (Neurology)
Dr. Harase spent his junior and senior high school years in Finland and the U.S. After graduating from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology), he worked for Apple Japan Inc. before entering the University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, where he received the Best Resident Award in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, he joined the Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, specializing in hyperacute stroke.
Content updated on Feb 6, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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FAQs
Q.
Sudden Blurry Vision? Why Your Sight Is Changing & Medically Proven Next Steps
A.
Sudden blurry vision can result from common, fixable causes like dry eyes, refractive changes, migraines, or blood sugar shifts, but it can also signal emergencies such as retinal detachment, optic neuritis, stroke, or acute angle-closure glaucoma. There are several factors to consider. Medically proven next steps include assessing one vs both eyes, removing contacts, blinking or using artificial tears, checking blood sugar if relevant, seeking emergency care for red flags like pain, flashes, a curtain over vision, weakness, or slurred speech, and arranging a prompt eye exam or medical evaluation; see below for the complete guidance and details that can affect your next steps.
References:
* Chou, C. S., & Chou, S. D. (2017). Acute, Painless Monocular Vision Loss: A Review. *The Journal of Emergency Medicine*, *53*(1), 1–7.
* Singh, A., Tripathy, K., & Chawla, R. (2021). Acute vision loss: A systematic approach to diagnosis and management. *Indian Journal of Ophthalmology*, *69*(7), 1735–1744.
* Fraser, C., & Newman, N. J. (2016). Transient monocular vision loss: a practical approach. *Practical Neurology*, *16*(3), 209–218.
* Behbehani, R., & Al-Amri, S. A. (2019). Approach to acute vision loss. *Current Opinion in Ophthalmology*, *30*(5), 332–338.
* Chakravarthy, U., & Maxwell, E. (2018). Visual loss in the elderly: A review of common causes and their management. *Ageing Research Reviews*, *47*, 172–186.
Q.
Seeing "Starbursts"? Why Your Eye Blurs Light & Medically Proven Next Steps
A.
Starbursts around lights are most often from astigmatism, but can also stem from dry eye, cataracts, corneal conditions, or temporary effects after LASIK; the proven path forward starts with a comprehensive eye exam to confirm the cause and guide treatment such as updated glasses, toric contacts, laser correction, dry eye therapy, or cataract surgery. Get urgent care for sudden vision loss, severe eye pain, flashes with floaters, or a curtain in vision, and see the detailed guidance below on night driving risks, what tends to improve on its own, and which next steps may best fit your situation.
References:
* Jain A, Chaudhry S, Garg R, Bansal R. Evaluation of Light Sensitivity and Glare Disability After Phacoemulsification. *J Ophthalmol*. 2020 Jul 14;2020:6459345. doi: 10.1155/2020/6459345. PMID: 32679261; PMCID: PMC7378771.
* Lin H, Tan Y, Wang Y, Wang J, Song A, Li J, Liu Y. Prevalence and causes of glare and halos after successful cataract surgery. *BMC Ophthalmol*. 2018 Jul 26;18(1):198. doi: 10.1186/s12886-018-0863-1. PMID: 30044030; PMCID: PMC6062963.
* Kymionis GD, Siganos CS, Grentzelos MA, Mastronicolis S, Koukoula Z, Spandidos DA, Giannakopoulou T, Mazonakis M. Higher-order aberrations and subjective visual quality after corneal collagen cross-linking for keratoconus. *J Cataract Refract Surg*. 2018 May;44(5):548-554. doi: 10.1016/j.jcrs.2018.01.036. Epub 2018 Mar 28. PMID: 29705972.
* Koh S. Impact of dry eye disease on visual quality: a review. *Ocul Surf*. 2020 Jan;18(1):3-10. doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2019.11.002. Epub 2019 Nov 20. PMID: 31777270.
* Zhao R, Zhou T, Peng Y. Night vision disturbances after photorefractive keratectomy versus laser in situ keratomileusis for myopia: a meta-analysis. *J Ophthalmol*. 2019 Jul 25;2019:8032549. doi: 10.1155/2019/8032549. PMID: 31393699; PMCID: PMC6683833.
Q.
Vision Fog? Why Your Eyes are Fraying & Medically Approved Next Steps to an Optometrist
A.
Vision fog and that fraying feeling are often from fixable issues like a changed prescription, digital eye strain, or dry eye, but can also reflect cataracts, blood sugar shifts, infections, or migraines. Schedule an optometrist exam if blurriness persists, your glasses stop working, or night driving worsens, and seek urgent care for sudden vision loss, severe pain, flashes, a curtain over vision, or neurological symptoms; there are several factors to consider, and medically recommended next steps and other key details that can change your plan are explained below.
References:
* Fautsch MP. Blurred Vision: A Review. J Clin Med. 2022 Dec 21;12(1):47. doi: 10.3390/jcm12010047. PMID: 36614902; PMCID: PMC9820512.
* Begley ML, Soria CE, O'Rourke MG, Nguyen JJT. Impact of Dry Eye Disease on Visual Acuity and Quality of Life: A Review. Curr Eye Res. 2021 Mar;46(3):285-290. doi: 10.1080/02713683.2020.1776510. PMID: 32520339.
* Begley ML, Schecter KB, Schlegel SP. Ocular Surface Disease and Its Effect on Visual Performance. Curr Ophthalmol Rep. 2017 Mar;5(1):15-22. doi: 10.1007/s40135-017-0125-x. PMID: 28344799.
* Gowrisankaran AH, Sheedy PR. Digital Eye Strain: Prevalence, Risk Factors and Prevention. J Ophthalmol. 2022 Mar 2;2022:9809939. doi: 10.1155/2022/9809939. PMID: 35273763; PMCID: PMC8903798.
* Varner BP, D'Amico RD, Durbin SE, Hall JEP, Oetting AS, Rubenstein PA, Shields CA, Smith JG, Smiddy WJ; American Academy of Ophthalmology Preferred Practice Pattern Committee. Recommendations for Comprehensive Adult Medical Eye Evaluation: The American Academy of Ophthalmology Preferred Practice Pattern® Guidelines. Ophthalmology. 2015 Jan;122(1):200-11.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2014.09.006. PMID: 25533130.
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