Treating diabetic retinopathy Treating diabetic retinopathy is a critical aspect of preserving vision and maintaining the overall quality of life […]
Dry eye is a very common issue people encounter throughout their lives, and it can cause a range of symptoms including watery and irritated eyes, and it can become harder to see.
Is blurry vision another symptom of dry eye? Let’s take a look and see where and why they intersect.
Blurry vision is a relatively self-explanatory condition. It’s when one has a difficult time seeing objects clearly (either in one or both eyes). A person can experience blurry vision at a specific distance, or at every distance.
It’s clear that dry eyes can often lead to blurry vision. Why, though?
Several of the causes of dry eye can easily lead to blurry vision through their impact on tear quality and production, which in turn leads to irritated, tired, and itchy eyes. If you are not producing enough tears, or their composition is subpar and they evaporate too quickly, your eyes won’t be properly lubricated. The longer these symptoms are present, the harder it will be to focus and see clearly.
While blurry vision can be a symptom of dry eye, it can also be a sign of other, potentially more severe, eye problems. These include glaucoma, age related macular degeneration, cataracts, and diabetic eye disease.
Complications from LASIK surgery can also lead to blurry vision.
Blurry vision can also be a sign of serious health problems which aren’t strictly eye-related, like a stroke. If you develop symptoms like severe headaches, loss of muscle control over one side of the body, facial drooping, or difficulty speaking in addition to blurry vision, seek emergency help right away.
Additional conditions which can cause blurry vision include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and Sjorgen's syndrome.
If you start rapidly developing blurry vision, seek medical advice as soon as possible, as it may indicate an emergency.
There are several steps you can take to try and prevent blurry vision, and to avoid dry eye.
These include:
If you experience blurry vision for any significant period of time, you should see an eye doctor, who will be able to best determine whether you have dry eye or another condition.
One thing you can try, however, is blinking fully and frequently for several seconds. Because blinking re-spreads the tear film across the surface of the eyes, increased blinking can temporarily relieve your blurry vision. However, depending on the cause, this is unlikely to correct the underlying problem, and seeking professional advice remains the best option.
Blurry vision can absolutely be a symptom of dry eye, but it can also be a sign of other, more serious problems. If you are experiencing blurry vision for any length you should see a doctor. Patients with dry eyes visit our clinic from all over Washington, and we are proud to be a leading provider of dry eye care for patients from Olympia, Lakewood, Tacoma, and Lacey. If you are experiencing blurry vision, or have other questions, you can contact American Family Vision Clinic at (360) 491-2121 to schedule an appointment for an eye exam.
Such a nice optician. My grandson is only 4 and needs glasses. We were so sad, but he explained the issues, and we will follow up as he suggested.
I had such a good experience with the clinic. Very friendly staff and doctor, did not have to wait for long to be called, and was treated respectfully. Thanks, American Family.
Dr. Zurcher has gone above and beyond what any other eye doctor has ever done to figure out what is going on with my eyes. Very happy with American Family Vision.
Family Vision Clinic changed our lives! My daughter was frequently car sick, and she was getting headaches every day, often painful enough that they brought her to tears. We saw a string of doctors and therapists, but we made no progress. Finally, we found Dr. Levi Zurcher and his eye therapist Rain. After ten weeks of eye therapy my daughter no longer gets headaches, and she no longer gets car sick. Daily tears are a thing of the past. I really can’t say enough about this clinic. It was fascinating to watch Dr. Zurcher work. For the first time, someone who knew what they were doing was intently studying my daughter, really trying to figure out all of her eye issues, and his therapist Rain is one of the most patient and lovely people that I’ve ever had the good fortune to meet. We’re finished with eye therapy—yay!—and I have switched to American Family Vision Clinic for all of my family’s other eye health needs.
Very professional, yet kind and helpful. They do what they can to make the appointment comfortable. I was running a bit late, I made sure ti call. They were able to switch me with a patient who was already there, they treated me with respect, and helped my son have confidence by getting him the eye care he needed that day. Thank you so much! Would recommend to anyone. It's a blessing that they care enough to work with people who have all different types of insurance from work to state coverage.
The staff is friendly. The Doc is very knowledgeable. The office is family friendly and everyone is so patient with the little ones.
Treating diabetic retinopathy Treating diabetic retinopathy is a critical aspect of preserving vision and maintaining the overall quality of life […]
As an optometrist at American Family Vision Clinic in Olympia, one of the most common questions Dr. Levi Zurcher often […]
Is foggy vision troubling you? Let our experienced optometrist restore your sight – book an appointment today and see the […]
Monday-Thursday
8:30AM-5:00PM
Friday
8:30AM-3:00PM
Saturday-Sunday
Closed
