Blurry Vision In One Eye

Having blurry vision in one eye can be a scary thing to experience. What are some of the reasons you might have blurry vision in one eye only?

Blurry Vision In One Eye That Also Has Pain

If you have blurry vision in one eye that also is painful, it could be a corneal abrasion. A corneal abrasion is a scratch on the surface of the eye. It can be very very painful. It can happen after something has hit the eye or if you have a contact lens that could have scratched the eye. If you think you have a corneal abrasion you should try to see an ophthalmologist within 24 hours.

Another cause of blurry vision in one eye that is also painful, is angle closure glaucoma. This is not quite as common as a corneal abrasion but it could happen. In this situation you may also have a headache or even nausea and vomiting. This is a medical emergency and you need to seek care from an ophthalmologist or emergency room immediately. The longer you wait to see a doctor if you have angle closure glaucoma, the more harmful it can be. Angle closure glaucoma is different from open angle glaucoma which is usually a slow, painless loss of vision.

One of the most common causes of blurry vision in one eye is dry eyes. Other symptoms of dry eyes include a gritty sensation inside the eye, or feeling like something may be stuck inside the eye. Dry eyes can also tear, so watch out for this symptom also. You can use some over the counter artificial tears to see if this helps to clear up the blurry vision.

Blurry Vision In One Eye That Is Painless

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If you have blurry vision in one eye that is painless it could be a sign of a problem in the back of the eye. Some problems in the back of the eye include retinal tears, retinal detachments, or a vitreous hemorrhage (a bleed in the back of the eye). The only way to evaluate this is to have a full dilated eye exam with an ophthalmologist. If the blurry vision came on suddenly, you should seek medical care as soon as possible. If you have a retinal detachment, seeing a retina specialist who can evaluate you for surgery is important.

Ocular migraines can also cause blurry vision in one eye that is painless. Sometimes ocular migraines are also associated with a headache but it is not always the case. In an ocular migraine the area of blurry vision may also be associated with colors or even the feeling of looking through a kaleidoscope. Ocular migraines tend to resolve on their own but they can happen again. In most cases ocular migraines do not cause long term visual damage. You should still have a full dilated eye exam to ensure that there is no other cause of your eye symptoms.

Cataracts can also cause painless blurry vision in one eye, but this change is usually gradual. Cataracts are normal part of aging and eventually need to be removed from the eye with surgery.

A change in your eyeglasses prescription can also cause blurry vision in one eye. This is also typically a gradual change that occurs with time.

If you experience a sudden change in vision, this is less likely to be from the development of cataracts or a change in your prescription.

Blurry Vision In One Eye: Take Home Points

Experience blurry vision in one eye is not normal, especially if it comes on suddenly. There are many different causes, and sometimes there can be pain associated with the blurry vision. If you experience blurry vision in one eye that happens all of a sudden, you should seek medical care from an eye doctor as soon as possible.