How is your eyesight? Can you see clearly and perfectly? Can you see the fine detail of everyday objects or can you read small fonts? Can you see objects at a distance and identify them withe ease? If your answer is no to these questions, you definitely have some type of blurred vision. What causes it, you ask? Here we tell you:
Blurred vision refers to a lack of sharpness of vision resulting in the inability to see fine detail. Blurred vision may result from abnormalities present at birth such as nearsightedness or farsightedness that require corrective lenses (eyeglasses) or it may signal the presence of eye disease.
Blurred vision may be experienced in one eye or in both eyes too, depending upon the cause. It can can also be a symptom of numerous conditions that do not directly involve the eye, such as migraine or a stroke. A number of medications may also lead to temporary blurring of vision as a side effect.
The primary and most common cause of blurred vision in patients under 40 years old are refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Refractive errors can be treated by LASIK surgeons but candidates can just choose to wear corrective lenses for a non-surgical option.
Cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and retinal detachment can all cause blurring of vision as well. Patients with these conditions may need a consult with an ophthalmologist because LASIK will not do the trick.Other conditions associated with blurring of vision include dry eyes, pregnancy, migraine headaches, diabetes, as well as the use of certain eye drops and medications. In any of those cases, an ophthalmologist can measure the extent of blurred vision and determine the cause with a comprehensive eye exam, including spatial contrast sensitivity, slit-lamp and standard Snellen eye chart tests.
As a patient, it is important to know and take note of other associated symptoms. During your consultation with an ophthalmologist, it is also essential in arriving with a diagnosis that you share your complete medical history which includes your co-morbid conditions, current medications, past surgical history, past consultations with eye doctors and the like, as well as history of illicit drug use (if there are any).
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