It’s a common experience to find yourself blinking a few times, trying to bring the world back into focus. You might notice this happens more when you’re reading or looking at a screen for a while, or maybe even when you’re wearing contacts.
Dry eye is a common reason for experiencing blurry vision. When your eyes don’t have enough quality tears to keep them lubricated, this can directly affect how clearly you see.
The Link Between Your Tears & Clear Vision
Think of the tear film on your eye’s surface as a perfectly smooth window. For you to see clearly, light needs to pass through this window without any distortions. Your tears create this smooth surface, allowing your eye to focus light properly.
Dry eye disease happens when there’s something “off” with your tears. This can be because you don’t produce enough tears, or because the tears you do produce aren’t high enough quality. Tear-related issues are often due in part to a lack of oil supplied by glands along your eyelids.
When your tear film is unstable or evaporates too quickly, the surface of your eye becomes uneven and bumpy. This rough surface scatters light instead of focusing it correctly on the back of your eye. The result is vision that seems hazy, blurry, or out of focus.
How to Tell If Dry Eyes Affect Your Vision
What Blurry Vision From Dry Eyes Looks Like
The blurriness that comes from dry eyes isn’t usually constant. You might find that your vision is clear one moment and fuzzy the next. It often gets temporarily better right after you blink, because blinking spreads a fresh layer of tears across your eyes.
Some people describe the sensation as a film over their eyes that makes it difficult to see sharply. This fluctuating vision can be especially noticeable during activities that require sustained focus, like driving or working on a computer.
Common Signs of Dry Eye
Besides blurry vision, you might notice other signs of dry eye. These can include:
- A scratchy or gritty feeling, like sand is in your eye
- Stinging or burning sensations
- Redness or irritation
- Sensitivity to light
- Watery eyes, which are the body’s response to the irritation
Common Reasons for Dry Eyes
Your Health & Age
As we get older, our bodies tend to produce fewer tears, which can lead to dryness. Certain health conditions can also contribute to this effect. Even common medications like antihistamines, decongestants, and blood pressure medications can reduce tear production as a side effect.
For many women, hormonal changes can play a part. Events like pregnancy and menopause often affect the body’s ability to produce healthy tears. This can lead to new or worsening symptoms of dry eye.
Your Environment & Daily Habits
Your surroundings can have a big impact on your eyes. Spending time in dry or windy climates, or in places with air conditioning or heating, can cause your tears to evaporate more quickly. This leaves the surface of your eyes unprotected.
Our daily routines also contribute. When you stare at a computer, tablet, or phone screen, you tend to blink less often. Blinking is what replenishes your tear film, so less blinking means more opportunity for your eyes to become dry and irritated.
Other Causes of Blurry Vision
While dry eye is a frequent cause of blurry vision, it’s not the only one. Other conditions can also affect how clearly you see. These might include refractive errors—like nearsightedness or farsightedness—that need correction with glasses or contact lenses.
Age-related changes in the eye, such as cataracts, can also lead to a gradual blurring of your sight. Because there are many possible causes of blurry vision, it’s helpful to visit a professional.
Why a Visit to the Optometrist Helps
An optometrist can perform a thorough eye exam to figure out the exact reason for your blurry vision. We can look closely at your tear film and eye health to see if dryness is the cause. A comprehensive evaluation helps distinguish between dry eye and other conditions.
How to Address Blurry Vision from Dry Eyes
Simple Lifestyle Adjustments
You can often find some relief by making small changes to your daily routine. When using digital screens, try to take regular breaks to rest your eyes. A good habit is to follow the 20-20-20 rule, where you look away from your screen every 20 minutes at something across the room.
Using a humidifier in your home or office can add moisture to the air, which helps slow tear evaporation. It’s also important to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day. Your body needs water to produce tears.
When to Use Eye Drops
Over-the-counter artificial tears can offer quick, temporary relief for mild dryness. These drops help supplement your natural tears and stabilize your tear film. This can help clear up the blurriness for a short time.
If you find yourself using artificial tears frequently, look for preservative-free options. These are often packaged in single-use vials and tend to be gentler on your eyes for long-term use. They can be a great tool for managing occasional discomfort.
When to Schedule an Appointment With an Optometrist
If your blurry vision continues or your symptoms don’t improve with at-home care, it’s a good idea to schedule an appointment. Persistent discomfort or vision changes that interfere with your daily activities are signs that you may benefit from a professional evaluation. An optometrist can recommend more specific treatments tailored to your needs.
At Valley Eye & Vision Clinic, we’re dedicated to helping your family enjoy clear and comfortable vision. If blurry vision is impacting your life, we invite you to come in for an examination. We can help you understand the cause of your symptoms and find a solution that works for you.