What is blurred vision?

If you have blurred vision, the things you see won’t look sharp and clear. You may have blurred vision in one or both eyes, depending on the cause. It may affect only part of your vision, or your whole visual field.

What symptoms might I have with blurred vision?

Along with blurred vision, you can also have other symptoms, including:

• headaches
• double vision, tunnel vision, blind spots or halos (light spots)
• sensitivity to light or flashing lights
• red or irritated (sore) eyes

What causes blurred vision?

Blurred vision can be caused by eye conditions, medical conditions or as a side effect of some medicines.

Eye conditions that can cause blurred vision include:

• refractive errors (eye problems that affect your eye's ability to focus light) such as near-sightedness, far-sightedness, presbyopia or astigmatism
• dry eyes
• cataracts
• glaucoma
• age-related macular degeneration
• eye infection, eye injury or damage to the cornea
• problems with your retina, such as diabetic retinopathy

Some medical conditions that can cause blurred vision are:

• diabetes or low blood sugar levels
• migraine, head injury or concussion
• pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy)
• some autoimmune conditions like psoriasis (a skin condition that can also affect the eyes)
• multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson’s disease, stroke or brain tumour

When should I see my doctor?

If you notice any changes in your vision or if you keep having blurred vision, you should visit your doctor, optometrist or ophthalmologist (eye specialist).

When to seek urgent care

Any sudden loss of vision should be investigated right away.

You should get medical help right away if you suddenly have blurred vision and also have:

• dizziness
• weakness or numbness on one side of your body
• a drooping face
• loss of balance
• slurred speech

How is blurred vision treated?

Treatment of your blurred vision will depend on what’s causing it.

Self-care at home

If your blurred vision is caused by dry eyes, tear supplements may help.

Medicines for blurred vision

Talk to your doctor or ophthalmologist to see if there are any medicines that are right for you.

Other treatment options

If your blurred vision is due to a refractive error, you may be offered:

• glasses
• contact lenses
• laser eye surgery

If low vision is making your life hard, there are tools that can help. Call Vision Australia to learn about their services and get advice.

What are the complications of blurred vision?

Complications of your blurred vision will depend on what's causing it.

Blurred vision can make it harder to do everyday things and can make you more likely to fall.

If you are living with diabetes:

• your eyes' ability to focus can change from day to day, but this gets better when your blood glucose levels are steady
• you may get vision loss from diabetic retinopathy, where the small blood vessels at the back of your eye get damaged

Cataracts can cause trouble with:

• your ability to do close work like reading, due to blurry vision
• mobility and driving at night
• your ability to see when there is a lot of brightness (glare)

Age-related macular degeneration usually starts in one eye and then moves to the other eye. Over time, your vision may get worse and make it hard to:

• see faces clearly
• read
• drive

Glaucoma can cause vision loss due to damage to your optic nerve.

Can blurred vision be prevented?

Some causes of blurred vision can be prevented.

Here are some tips to help protect your eyes:

• Have regular eye check-ups — get your eyes checked by an optometrist or ophthalmologist every 2 years if you don’t have any eye diseases.
• Protect your eyes from the sun (UV light) — wear sunglasses that block UV rays and a hat.
• Protect your eyes from hazards — wear safety glasses to protect against eye injury.
• Follow a healthy lifestyle — a balanced diet that’s high in antioxidants, omega 3 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals can slow down macular degeneration in some people.
• Quit smoking or vaping if you smoke.

It’s important to take care of your eyes, especially if you have diabetes. Keeping your blood sugar levels steady can lower your chance of developing diabetic eye problems. If you are living with diabetes, it’s important to have your eyes checked regularly, at least every two years, to catch early signs of damage.

Maintaining healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels can lower your chance of other health problems that can affect your eyes, such as stroke.

Talk to your doctor or optometrist if you have any concerns.

Read more about caring for your eyes.

Resources and support

• Visit Vision Australia to learn more about different eye conditions.
• The Fred Hollows Foundation has more information about eye health.
• If you are living with diabetes, Diabetes Australia has information about looking after your eye health.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.