Blurred Vision in One Eye

Most patients with eye impairment often complain of blurred vision. It is probably the first sign you notice, which tells you that something is wrong with your eye. Hence, even though the underlying causes are different, one symptom remains same and that is blurriness of vision. Unilateral blurred vision is often a result of a deformity in the region of the corresponding eye only.

Causes of Blurred Vision in One Eye

Blurred vision results when the path of light between cornea and retina gets disturbed due to some reason. There are several reasons why this happens, which are as follows.

Mini-Stroke

Blurred vision is often a symptom of transient ischemic attack or mini stroke, which often precedes a massive one. The other symptoms to look for in this case are headache, dizziness, tingling sensation in one side of body, numbness etc. However, blurry vision in one eye often signifies this condition.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a result of sudden fluid pressure that builds up in eye ball. Glaucoma has serious implications and can cause permanent blindness, if not treated on time. Halos around the light sources and eye pain are yet other symptoms of glaucoma.

Near or Far Sightedness

It is rare to find myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness) in one eye only. In this case you'll experience blurred vision in one eye only. However, this condition may go unnoticed for long before you realize, since your healthy eye would make up for the impaired vision of the other eye.

You'll have to get yourself tested at an ophthalmologist, who'll recommend you glasses or contact lenses to correct your vision.

Cataract

Cataract can be a definite cause of blurry vision in one eye, if you are 50 years old or above. Most cases of cataract report formation of cataract in one eye, at a time. Cataract is visible even with a naked eye, thereby making it easy to diagnose even at home. Thus, you can consult an eye surgeon to get a cataract surgery done.

Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration is more prone amongst people who are over 60 years of age. Gradual loss of vision along with blurriness and distortion are some common symptoms of age related macular degeneration. If you develop sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes, then it may be due to development of a macular hole on the retina.

Diabetic Retinopathy

If you are a diabetic patient, then this could be the cause behind sudden loss of clear vision. Blurriness of vision points toward damage to retina. If the condition goes untreated, it could threaten your vision permanently.

Migraine

Migraine is a type of vascular headache with blurred vision in one eye as a major symptom. It is often accompanied by flashes and spots of light, nausea, vomiting and of course, severe headache. Thus, if you have blurred vision and headache you can attribute it to migraine.

Lasik Surgery

If you experience a blurred vision after lasik surgery, then it need not be always an indication of the laser eye surgery gone wrong. It is common to have a blurry vision for a few days after the lasik eye surgery. However, if the problem does not correct itself even after a week, then you should consult your eye surgeon.

Infections

Infections weaken the immune system, which can affect the vision. Eye herpes or optic neuritis can cause inflammation of eyes, leading to blurry vision. Also, persistent coughing due to infections can lead to bursting of blood vessels at the back of eye. This, eventually leads to blurred vision in one eye. Accidents or injuries may also contribute to it, due to similar reasons.

Side-Effects of Medications

Certain eye drops, allergy medications contain preservatives that can irritate eyes and cause blurriness in vision. The condition can be treated with the help of prescription medications for dry eyes or artificial tear drops.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Treatment for unilateral blurred vision can be initiated only after diagnosing an accurate cause. It is recommended that you see a reputed ophthalmologist for your problem rather than visiting your local optician. Some of the above problems are of grave consequence and may lead to permanent loss of vision if not treated properly and on time.

An ophthalmologist may advise you to undergo certain eye examinations and diagnostic tests to ascertain an accurate cause behind your problem.

People with known health problems such as diabetes, heart diseases should not ignore this condition. Timely medical intervention can prevent permanent damage to your vision.

Disclaimer: This story is intended for information purpose only. Do not use the information presented herein as a substitute for medical practitioner's advice.