Risks & Complications Of Blurry Vision In One Eye
In most cases, blurred vision in one eye isnt caused by severe conditions or illnesses. However, in rare circumstances, blurry vision may link with a systemic disease or condition. If left untreated, this can lead to vision-threatening or life-threatening complications.
These can include:
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Allergies May Cause Red Eyes Too
Your eyes could become red from allergies, irritation, or poor sleep. Exposure to common allergens, such as mold, pollen, or pet dander, may cause itching and burning along with eye redness. Cigarette smoke and other irritants have similar effects, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology . Allergic reactions can range from mild to severe and may occur seasonally or year-round.
Eye allergies share many of the same symptoms as conjunctivitis and other diseases. In severe cases, they may affect your vision and lead to infection. Generally, artificial tears and decongestants only provide temporary relief, says the ACAAI. Your doctor may prescribe mast cell stabilizer eye drops, allergy shots, or more potent drugs that are not available over the counter.
Now that you know more about the most common causes of red eyes, take the steps needed to protect your vision. Small things, such as limiting screen time and getting regular eye exams, can make all the difference. As a rule of thumb, replace your makeup products every three to four months to prevent eye infections, suggests the University of Rochester. Health experts also advise against using glitter or metallic makeup, as it can irritate your eyes and cause infection.
White Blood Cell Test
This is not a straight-forward blood test, and doctors dont usually prescribe this test for a normal allergic reaction . Your symptoms have to be more severe for this test to make sense.
Doctors will turn to this exam if your eyes are extremely irritated or red or if theyre swollen. The procedure entails extracting and examining certain eye tissues, especially in the eyes conjunctiva.
Results will show your white-blood cell count, a clue that your immune system is working overtime to repel an allergen.
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Why Youre Eyes Hate Spring
If your eyes overreact when pollen starts falling, you probably suffer from a condition called allergic conjunctivitis or ocular allergy. It happens when something youre allergic to affects the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is the membrane that covers your eye and eyelid.
The reason your eyes turn red, itchy, watery and painful is that your immune system has identified something in the air as a threat. This threat is considered an allergen. Since your immune system believes its harmful to you, it stimulates the production of antibodies called Immunoglobulin . These antibodies are what end up causing an allergic reaction your eyes become inflamed and bothersome to you.
Seasonal allergens are the most common cause of conjunctivitis. Pollen and mold spores can quickly trigger the immune system to set off the production of Immunoglobulin. This is especially true when the pollen count is high on certain days.
Eye Care And Prevention
Even if youve never experienced symptoms like these, dont turn a blind eye to routine care for your eyes. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends a routine eye check by an ophthalmologist by age 40. Over age 40, you should get an eye exam every two to four years.
If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or other health issues, youll want to visit an ophthalmologist more frequently. An ophthalmologist can discern the health of your eyes and the quality of your vision, as well as spot other health problems that show up in your eyes, too.
Weve all heard the saying, Your eyes are a window to your soul, says Olmos de Koo. What most people havent heard before is that theyre a window into your overall health, too.
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Get Immediate Medical Assistance To Protect Yourself From Vision Loss
As it is cleared that chronic sinusitis can lead a patient to vision issues, so if one does not get right medication or treatment on time, then it can encourage blindness for sure. If you dont want to get this loss, then do consult a doctor to eradicate chronic sinusitis from your life as early as possible. Using OTC medicines or homemade remedies, chronic sinusitis can definitely be managed.
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Do You Need To See Your Doctor
You dont need to see a doctor when blurriness goes away after blinking or rubbing your eyes, or when its sporadic with a clear cause.
But you shouldnt ignore unexplained, persistent blurry vision, or vision problems accompanied by other symptoms. Make an appointment with your doctor for a diagnosis.
Blurry vision in the morning could be a sign of a stroke, which is a medical emergency. If youre having a stroke, you may have other symptoms like:
- dizziness
- tingling or numbness on one or both sides of your body
- slurred speech
Similarly, a head injury and concussion before bed might cause blurry vision in the morning. Other symptoms of a concussion include:
- lack of coordination
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Could It Be Parkinsons Disease
Blurry vision is not the first sign of this nerve disease. But as it gets worse, it can affect sight. Thats because the condition may change how your eyes move. As your sight seems less sharp, you may strain your eyes because they have to work harder to focus.
Parkinsons disease affects much more than the eyes. It also causes:
- Poor balance and coordination
Could It Be Parkinson’s Disease
Blurry vision is not the first sign of this nerve disease. But as it gets worse, it can affect sight. That’s because the condition may change how your eyes move. As your sight seems less sharp, you may strain your eyes because they have to work harder to focus.
Parkinson’s disease affects much more than the eyes. It also causes:
- Poor balance and coordination
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Cataracts Or Blurry Vision Understand The Difference
If things start to look blurry, your first thought might be that you need glasses or contacts. If you already wear corrective lenses, you may wonder if its time for a stronger prescription. However, if youre over the age of 35, there could be another reason for your blurry eyesight: cataracts.
Often thought of as a condition that only affects the elderly, cataracts can begin to cloud the eyes decades before your senior years. The cloudiness is caused by proteins in the lens breaking down and clumping together. Over time, the cloudy area becomes more severe. If left untreated, cataracts can lead to blindness. The only treatment is surgery.
Dr. Matzkin performs Multi-Focal Implants for cataract surgery and has many patients thrilled with their results. Keep reading to learn more about cataracts and the innovative procedure that can restore your vision.
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Common Causes Of Blurry Vision In One Eye
Some common causes of blurred vision in one eye include:
Refractive errors
Refractive errors include astigmatism, nearsightedness , and farsightedness . These are some of the most common eye problems that cause blurred vision in one eye.
Corneal abrasion
Corneal abrasion refers to trauma to the eye. This can occur through injury from a foreign object.
Retinal detachment
If your retina tears from the back of your eye it will lose its nerve and blood supply. You’ll see black flecks followed by blurred or absent vision.
Medications
Some medicines can lead to blurred vision in one eye. However, they would usually affect both eyes.
Diabetes
Diabetes can lead to cataracts or retinal conditions that result in blurred vision.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration causes a loss of vision in the macula. This is the part of the retina responsible for noticing detail in the central vision.
Cataracts
Cataracts are the loss of transparency or clouding in the lens of the eye.
Dry eyes
Dry eyes can lead to blurry sight issues.
Migraines
Conditions that occur in the brain, like migraines, can lead to blurriness in one or both eyes.
Presbyopia
Presbyopia is age-related farsightedness. Typically, presbyopia causes blurred vision up close in both eyes. But it may be more pronounced in one eye if you have different refractive errors.
Conjunctivitis
Eye strain
Preeclampsia
Giant cell arteritis
Keratitis
Psoriasis
Uveitis
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Why Is My Vision Blurry
As noted above, blurred vision can be a sign of an underlying problem. Of course people who forget to wear their prescribed corrective lenses experience blurry vision, but its not always that simple.
Yet, vision loss issues such as blindness, double vision, or blurry vision can mean any of a number of different things, ranging from dry eyes or glaucoma to migraines or retinal detachments.
There is a long list of possible causes of blurry vision. Lets go over a few of them now
- Refractive Eye Conditions: Indicates the need for corrective lenses, or a new lens prescription
- Presbyopia: A diminishing ability to focus
- Other Eye Conditions: For example, glaucoma, cataracts, or macular degeneration
- Dry Eyes: Blurry vision is a symptom of this syndrome
- Migraines: Some people experience blurry vision before the onset of a migraine
- Cataracts: Causes the lenses to become cloudy
- Contact Lenses: Dirty or damaged contact lenses can cause blurry vision
- Diabetes
Sometimes medications cause blurry vision. There are many prescribed drugs, over-the-counter drugs, and supplements that can cause this problem, including:
- Certain anticholinergics
- Some heart medications
What Are The Symptoms
They include redness in the white of your eye or inner eyelid. Other warning signs: itching, tearing, blurred vision, a burning sensation, swollen eyelids, and sensitivity to light. Eye allergies can happen alone or with nasal allergies and an allergic skin condition called eczema. The only way to know for sure if it’s an allergy is to see your doctor.
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What Is Pink Eye
Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, causes swelling and redness in the inside of your eyelid and the white part of your eye. Your eye may also feel itchy and painful.
Pink eye is common, and some types of pink eye spread very easily. You can keep from spreading it to other people by washing your hands often and not sharing items like pillowcases, towels, or makeup.
Some types of pink eye get better on their own. If your case is mild, you can ease your symptoms at home using a cold compress and eye drops you can get over the counter, meaning without a prescription. Other types of pink eye may need treatment from a doctor.
Why Choose Allied Eye For Your Cataract Laser Surgery
Since 1995, Dr. Matzkin has treated thousands of patients throughout the southeast, including many eye doctors and their families. He is a cataract surgeon, refractive LASIK surgeon, ophthalmic eye surgeon, ophthalmologist and neuro-ophthalmologist.
While there may be some reasons to wait before having cataract surgery, Dr. Matzkin believes in performing the operation as early as possible. This is because the lens becomes harder and more difficult to remove as we age.
Find out what previous patients have to say about cataract surgery at Allied Eye by watching these brief testimonies. Click on each name below!
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Could It Be Multiple Sclerosis
Blurry vision is often one of the earliest symptoms of multiple sclerosis . The disease causes inflammation along the nerve that connects your eyes to your brain, called the optic nerve. That causes a condition called optic neuritis, which can give you blurry sight, loss of color vision, and pain when you move your eyes. It often happens in just one eye.
Besides blurry vision, MS also causes:
- Trouble with balance
- Seizures
- Vomiting
If your doctor thinks you might have a brain tumor, theyll use different tests to check how well your brain and spinal cord work, as well as imaging tests to see inside your head. Learn more about the different types of brain tumors.
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When To Talk With A Professional
You dont need to see a doctor if the blurriness goes away easily after blinking or trying other home remedies. However, if you notice that your vision is gradually getting more and more blurry and the blurriness persists, visit an eye care specialist for an evaluation.
Eye doctors, also known as optometrists or ophthalmologists, may want to perform a comprehensive examination of your eyes on top of other tests.
You should call 911 or seek emergency medical care if your eyes suddenly become blurry and you experience any of these symptoms:
- severe headache
- loss of muscle control on one side of your body
- facial drooping
This could be a sign of a stroke.
You should also seek medical treatment if blurry vision occurs following a head injury, as this can be a sign of a concussion.
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When To Visit A Doctor
- You should call or see the local emergency services and get immediate medical attention if your blurred vision suddenly appears and you experience any of these symptoms:
- You should consult the physician as soon as possible if:
- Severe headache
- These signs are similar to those of stroke.
- Other symptoms that may require immediate attention include severe eye pain or sudden vision loss.
- Slow-onset vision or other blurred vision symptoms may require a visit with your primary care physician or eye care specialist.
Environmental Irritants And Foreign Objects
Besides pets and seasonal allergies such as pollen, potential irritants include tobacco smoke and chlorinated pool waterin fact, some people even react to the air around indoor pools. Foreign objects such as sand and sawdust can also irritate your eyes. In the case of foreign objects in your eyes, rinsing with water or preservative-free saline may help if you cant remove an irritant easily, see your local eye doctor. Never attempt to remove an object that seems stuck.
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Allergic Conjunctivitis In Babies And Children
The symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis listed above, as well as the treatment methods, are largely the same in children, toddlers and infants. It is advisable to see a doctor to confirm a diagnosis of allergic conjunctivitis and determine the best treatment approach for a child.
If a newborn baby shows signs of conjunctivitis, it is important to consult a doctor without delay to identify the cause and receive appropriate treatment. Babies sometimes develop strains of viral conjunctivitis or bacterial conjunctivitis that can be very serious if left untreated.
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When To See An Eye Doctor
Blurry vision is usually temporary and does not require medical attention. However, if your blurred vision persists or has additional symptoms with it, its wise to see an eye doctor.
Suffering a head injury near bedtime especially one severe enough to cause a concussion can cause blurry vision in the morning. In this case, blurry vision may also be accompanied by other symptoms, including:
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You Have Unexplained Migraines
If you deal with annoying migraines after partaking in, say, a delicious cheese platter, it may be the dairy that’s to blame. As Dr. Mark Khorsandi tells Bustle, “Dairy is actually included as one of the âdirty dozenâ when it comes to headache and migraine triggers.” It’s all thanks to a bad reaction in your nerves, which can manifest a few hours or days after dairy is consumed.
Sinus Pressure And Eye Pain
The sinuses are located all throughout our face in the cheeks, near the ear, behind the eye, and in the forehead and nose. Infected sinuses dont drain properly. The mucous and debris that build up can cause a feeling of pressure and pain. If the infection is in the ethmoid sinuses the pressure can cause pain that radiates to the eyes.
Infection in the frontal sinuses causes a headache that can feel like it is coming from the eyes. Doctors often recommend decongestants to promote drainage and this reduces the pressure. The reduced pressure eases the pain in the area of the eyes.
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How To Reduce Swollen Eyes
Make sure you protect your eyes in cold and bright weather by wearing a pair of UV-protected sunglasses. You can also give your eyes a DIY spa-like treatment with the Thera-Pearl Eye Mask. The handy mask can be used either hot or cold, depending on your preference, and will help relieve tired, irritated and swollen eyes. For a hot eye treatment, Optase Moist Heat Eye Mask can soothe swollen eyes and treat conditions such as dry eye.You can also add oily fish to your diet a few times a week, fish such as mackerel and salmon will help to keep your eyes moisturised. Eye drops are another way of reducing swollen eyes and maintaining the moisture levels in your eyes.Don’t forget to make regular visits to your optician for a general check-up on your eye health.
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Your Eyes Feel Kinda Puffy
Robin Shirley, founder of the Take Back Your Health Conference, tells me she experiences red, swollen eyes about 12 hours after eating dairy. “It took me about two years to identify that dairy was the source, but I did extensive elimination testing on myself and it is the dairy â whether it’s milk, ice cream, butter, or cheese.” If this type of swelling also happens to you, get tested for a milk allergy ASAP.
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