Blurred vision in one eye is an indication of one of various underlying conditions. The causes can be anywhere on the spectrum, from genetic conditions to more serious conditions whereby the optic nerve is damaged. In most cases, the blurry vision is caused by nearsightedness or farsightedness and the condition can usually be resolved by wearing glasses with corrective lenses. This article will give details about the possible causes of blurry in one eye, followed by personal accounts from individuals who have experienced similar symptoms and how they have dealt with the situation.

Possible Causes of Blurred Vision in One Eye

1. Myopia

One of the most common eye conditions that lead to blurry vision is called myopia, or nearsightedness. This condition occurs when items near you appear clear, but those placed farther away from you appear blurry. The condition can be corrected with lenses.

2. Cataract

Cataract is another cause of blurry vision and occurs when the lens get clouded. Cataracts are usually detected in the later stages and can be corrected by surgery.

3. Glaucoma

Glaucoma is another condition of the eye. This is the result of damage to the optic nerve and causes progressive loss of vision. In most cases, the person will lose vision from the corners of the eye first, finally moving to the complete eye. Other symptoms of glaucoma include redness in the eye, pain, nausea and viewing halos around light sources.

4. Diabetes

Some medical conditions can also affect vision in one eye. Diabetes is the most common disease that can lead to vision impairment. It is a metabolic disorder and people who have been diabetic for a long period of time develop diabetic maculopathy which affects the retina. The retina’s blood vessels swell up and leak fluid. Once the retina gets swollen, the vision gets blurred.

5. Low Blood Sugar

Another condition that causes blurry vision in one eye is low blood sugar. If your blood sugar drops suddenly to below 70 mg/dL, you may experience blurry vision.

6. Mini Stroke and Autoimmune Diseases

During a mini stroke, blood flow to the brain is impaired. There are many autoimmune diseases that may lead to vision impairment in one eye. These include multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis and lupus.

7. Serious Medical Conditions

There are some serious conditions that may cause blurred vision in one eye. These should be reported to a doctor immediately and appropriate measures taken. First is a brain tumor. Other causes include trauma to the eye as a result of violence or even an accident. Optic neuritis and retinal detachment are additional serious conditions that should be treated immediately.

8. Medications

Medications can also lead to blurriness in vision. Antihistamines are usually taken to relieve allergic reactions and can often lead to a rapid increase in pressure in the eye, causing blurry vision. This is more likely if you have glaucoma. Other drugs that may cause vision impairment include those meant for treating tuberculosis, breast cancer and antipsychotic drugs.

9. Aging

As you age, the macula which is responsible for seeing details gets older and degenerates. This makes it difficult for you to see clearly from one eye. Presbyopia, or farsightedness, is another cause. As you get older, your chances of developing this type of visual impairment increases.

10. Other Causes

Other general causes of blurry vision are uveitis and iritis, both of which are inflammations of the eye structures. Dryness in the eye and migraines can also lead to blurred vision.

Other People’s Experiences About Blurred Vision in One Eye

Blurred vision is very common nowadays when screens have become necessities in our life. It is more likely that the blurriness you experience is caused by extended exposure to computers or cell phones. All you need to do is to have your eyes rest for several minutes after being exposed to the screens for an hour. Here are what some people had to say about their experiences with blurry vision:

“I have had Ocular Herpes, on an off, for the past nine months. It only affects one eye and the only symptom I have had is blurriness in one eye. It clears up as the day goes on, and is the most intense in the hours after I wake up. There is not much that can be done to treat it other than taking steroids and anti-viral eye drops.”

“I noticed that I was having blurry vision but it wore off as the day progressed. I soon realized that this happens most often when I sleep with my face down and in the pillow. For a few days, I slept on my back with my face upwards and the blurriness disappeared.”

“I contracted a sinus infection a few months ago and ever since then, I had intermittent cases of blurry vision in one eye only. Although the sinus infection was duly treated, my vision still gets blurred every now and then. Scans for tumors have come back negative and my ophthalmologist referred me to a neurologist to find out what could be the issue.”

“For many, many years, I have had blurred vision in one eye. More often than not, this blurriness was accompanied by a headache that resembled a migraine. The blurriness would occur only for about half an hour at a time. The doctor I saw explained to me that I was having visual migraines which are basically migraines without the nausea or the severe headache.”