What Causes Blurred Vision?

!±8± What Causes Blurred Vision?

Blurred vision can be an entirely unpleasant experience. Not to mention the fact that it can be a symptom of serious diseases and disorders. The most common cause of blurred vision is the weakening of muscles which misshapes the lens of your eyes. When the lenses also lose their elasticity, it can also occur. Loss of elasticity is quite inevitable with aging, but this process can be slowed down by antioxidants.

Cataracts are another cause of blurred vision. Driving at night can be particularly difficult for patients with cataracts because the headlights of vehicles may blind or dazzle them. Another cause of is macular degeneration. Macular degeneration occurs when neurons at the back of our eyes lose their light. Unfortunately, blurring of this type cannot be corrected by glasses alone because the neurons themselves are damaged. Some patients still find some relief from this disorder when their doctors correct micronutrients such as selenium, zinc and magnesium in their eyes.

It can also be caused by myopia, which is the medical term of near or short-sightedness. This occurs when there is too much curving of the cornea or if the eye itself is too long. Myopia is when objects from a distance will seem blurry. They appear blurry because they are too focused in front of the eye's retina. Nearsightedness is a common disorder and affects approximately 25 percent of American adults.

Another mild eye disorder that can be a cause of it is hyperopia or farsightedness. This is the opposite of myopia and occurs when objects from a distance look clear while objects up close look blurry. In contrast to myopia, hyperopia happens when the eye is too short and when the images are focused beyond the eye's retina.

If you have dry eyes, you may also be experiencing blurry vision. Dry eyes occur when you don't actually produce enough tears, or when your tear ducts produce poor quality tears. This is an uncomfortable sensation, because it can cause burning, itching and even loss of vision in some patients. Eye specialists suggest using special eye drops, or "artificial tears" to treat dry eyes. A humidifier in the home can also help regulate your tear ducts. In some serious cases, surgery may be needed to treat this disorder.

Blurry vision is not something to take lightly. It may be something as seemingly harmless as myopia or hyperopia, which can be treated by corrective glasses, lenses or laser eye surgery, or it may be a symptom of something more serious. Either way, when you experience blurry vision, have your eyes checked immediately by your doctor.