5 Causes When Your Vision Is Blurry Suddenly

Imagine you’re at an art museum, observing paintings and sculptures. Suddenly, everything looks fuzzy and you can’t focus on the small details of the art.

Sudden blurry vision is more than frustrating. It can be a sign of a life-threatening problem.

If you’re wondering, “why is my vision blurry,” this guide can help you determine if you need urgent care or if you can give blurred vision remedies a try. Let’s look at five possible reasons why your vision is blurry.

1. Possible Concussion

An injury to the head can cause a concussion. One sign that you may have a concussion is blurred vision.

If you’re concerned about a concussion, contact a doctor. You may need rest or medicine so that your eyesight returns to normal.

2. Detached Retina

Another serious cause of blurry vision is a detached retina. This happens when your retina pulls away from tissues that support it. It can happen because of an injury, or it can come on suddenly.

If flashing lights or darkening vision accompany your blurry sight, it’s important to get treatment right away. Waiting too long can mean permanent loss of eyesight.

3. Stroke Symptom

When a person has a stroke, blood supply can’t get to a part of the brain. If that part of the brain that controls vision is affected, you may have blurry vision in one or both eyes.

If you have sudden blurred vision in addition to other symptoms of a stroke, call emergency services immediately.

4. Eye Infections

What causes blurred vision besides serious issues like stroke or retina detachment? Eye infections can lead to blurry vision.

A bacterial or viral infection can cause conjunctivitis, or “pink eye.” This infection causes blurry vision along with eye discharge.

Other infections can cause keratitis, which is an inflammation of the cornea. The tearing and redness that follows will make your vision blurry.

Eye irritants like allergies and corneal abrasions will also cause blurry vision. Over-the-counter eye drops and remedies may help. Your doctor will be able to assist you with deciding on a treatment.

5. Eye Strain

If you’ve been sitting in front of a computer all day, your blurry vision might be caused by eye strain. This can also happen if you are looking at something for a long period of time. For example, if you were doing needlepoint for hours without a break and your vision suddenly blurs, it’s likely eye strain.

If the blurry vision doesn’t go away after a few hours, it could be myopia. You’ve probably heard this called “nearsightedness,” and many people have it. 

Fortunately, it is easy to get help with myopia control. You may need glasses, or professionals may determine that you need a bit more assistance.

Get Help if Your Vision Is Blurry

Your vision is precious and vital to everyday life. Changes can indicate a serious problem. If suddenly your vision is blurry, don’t hesitate to contact your doctor. 

If you’d like to learn more about conditions that can cause sudden problems, check out our Health Matters section.