Blurry Vision Vs. Cloudy Vision: There are Differences You Should Know

There are two common ways in which people tend to describe the difficulty they have with their vision. Often, a person may interchangeably say that their vision is cloudy and blurry. While the point they are trying to make is that they aren’t seeing as clearly as they used to, the terms that are used mean specific things to an eye doctor. Here, we will discuss both, including what each could mean.
What is blurry vision?
Blurry vision is the problem of not seeing objects in focus. This could happen when you try to read small print on a label or read a street sign in the distance. Blurry vision may affect the central field or may occur at the left or right peripheral field of vision.
Potential causes of blurry vision include:
Nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism
Retinopathy
Corneal scarring
Cataracts on the lens of the eye
Age-related macular degeneration
Corneal abrasion or injury to the eye
Optic neuritis
Infection
What is cloudy vision?
Cloudy vision feels like looking through fog or haze. It can feel as though there is a film on the eyes that you’d like to blink away. When vision is cloudy, additional symptoms are also often present. These include:
Poor night vision
Halos around lights in low light environments
Dry and watery eyes
Double vision
Light sensitivity
Redness
Causes of cloudy vision include:
Cataracts
Infection or inflammation in the eye
Macular degeneration
Damaged or dirty contact lenses
Blurry and cloudy vision are common complaints, but that doesn’t mean these symptoms may not be serious. Both blurriness and cloudiness can indicate potentially serious eye conditions. It is important to schedule a comprehensive eye exam if either symptom persists for more than a few days. Additionally, eye exams should be obtained once a year in the absence of symptoms.
Are you current with your annual eye exams? We’d be happy to serve you! Call 540.722.6200 to schedule a visit in our Winchester, VA office.
Posted in: Eye Conditions, Eye Health

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