Why is the vision blurred in only one eye?

Blurred vision as a symptom may be an indication of something entirely different from blurred vision in both eyes. While blurred vision in both eyes may be a sign of aging or the need for vision correction, the former might be something more serious. It could still be a non-serious cause like discharge from one eye or crying. But one thing is for sure, you should quickly see your ophthalmologist if you woke up with blurry vision in one eye and it doesn’t go away soon.

Let’s go through the possible causes of blurry vision in one eye and the solutions for that.

Eye trauma

The easiest to ascertain; just think if you were injured or took a blow to the head recently. You might have ignored it at that time, but sometimes an internal injury gets serious gradually. Not just directly, it can be the cause of delayed effects like cataract. Which brings me to my next point.

Refractive errors

This can be anything from myopia (nearsightedness) and presbyopia (farsightedness) to astigmatism. The good news is that all three can be managed with the use of prescription glasses.
Astigmatism is when because of an irregularly shaped cornea, the light rays can’t focus on a single point on the retina, leading to blurred vision at all distances.
If you already have prescription for farsightedness and have now been advised reading glasses, you can go for varifocals lenses (high technology lenses that offer vision correction at all distances - near, intermediate and far)

Cataract

In simple terms, because of cataracts the lenses of our eyes become slightly opaque or cloudy, leading to blurry or double vision. It can affect one or both eyes, so blurry vision in one eye might be indicative of this. The solution can be glasses or a cataract surgery. Get an eye test done immediately to get to the root of it. Apart from an NHS eye test, you can avail a free eye test in Bury or Walkden if you live in Manchester. Please note that blurry vision is actually different from cloudy vision, in which the objects appear to be “milky”.

Migraine or optic neuritis

Blurry vision in one eye and headache can be a result of a disorder in the nervous system or brain, like migraine or optic neuritis. Migraine is a neurological condition that causes intense headaches. It is often genetic, so check if someone in your family has had it. Optic neuritis is the inflammation of the optic nerve, which can cause blurry vision in only one eye at first.

Diabetes

Along with other conditions, diabetes can be responsible for one eye related issue called diabetic retinopathy. Because of high blood sugar levels, the tiny blood vessels in your retina can be damaged. It can lead to blurred vision or even loss of vision if left untreated. Please note that this condition can possibly be detected as a part of regular eye tests, since your optometrist or ophthalmologist might observe these blood vessels at the back of your eye. Schedule a free eye test in Walkden or Bury at one of our stores.

Stroke

One of the definite ways to tell if someone is having a stroke is if they are having sporadic and painless altering of the vision, with blurry vision in one eye. If accompanied by other symptoms such as face drooping, slurred speech or numbness, immediately call 999.

Psoriasis

The usual symptoms of this condition are related to the skin, but it can affect the eyes as well. Inflammation causes sensitivity to light and blurred vision, in one or both eyes.

Multiple Sclerosis

Blurred vision is actually an early warning sign of multiple sclerosis. It leads to the inflammation of the optic nerve, which can cause pain in rolling eyes and loss of colour vision as well. Other symptoms include dizziness, fatigue, problems in balancing oneself and stiffness.

Questions to help diagnose the exact cause of blurred vision in one eye

To determine the exact cause or condition, your ophthalmologist might ask the following questions.

• Since how long have you been experiencing blurred vision in one eye
• Is it continuous or sporadic?
• Is it more obvious when you wake up in the morning?
• Did you recently have any injury on the head?
• Are you currently on any medication?
• What are the symptoms apart from blurred vision in one eye, like headache, disorientation etc.
• Have you faced any other medical conditions in the past?
• Would you describe the vision problem as blurry or cloudy?

Conclusion - The causes and conditions discussed above vary in their seriousness. The easiest to treat are refractive errors, but some of the other disorders can prove to be fatal. Early detection is the solution, so book a free NHS eye test or visit your GP if you start facing any trouble. Whether the solution is mediation, glasses or surgery, early diagnosis will help manage the condition better.