My Vision Is Suddenly Blurry: Is This an Emergency?

If you notice gradual changes in your vision, you might assume you need glasses, but what happens when the changes happen quickly? Sudden blurry vision can be a startling experience. 

While it isn’t always a medical emergency, certain situations require immediate attention. 

Below, our team at Maryland Eye Care Center in Hyattsville and Silver Spring, Maryland, highlights common causes of sudden blurry vision, when to worry about it, and when to seek emergency eye care.

5 common causes of quick onset blurry vision

Several non-emergency conditions can cause blurry vision, including:

Dry eye syndrome

A lack of moisture on the surface of your eye can blur your vision (and cause double vision) temporarily. You might suspect that dry eye syndrome is the culprit if you also notice stringy mucus in your eyes, a dry or gritty sensation, or excessive tearing. 

Our team can test your tears in our Dry Eye Center to confirm (or rule out) dry eye syndrome as the source of your blurry vision.

Digital eye strain

Spending long hours on screens or reading on a digital tablet can tire your eyes and contribute to blurriness. Headaches, neck pain, and difficulty concentrating might indicate digital eye strain.

Incorrect prescription

Outdated glasses or contacts may not fully correct your vision. You may also develop a new condition and need updated glasses. For example, if you wear glasses for nearsightedness but now find books or menus hard to read, you may have developed presbyopia.

The good news is we can check for refractive errors during an adult or senior eye exam.

Migraine

Some migraines include visual disturbances (aura) like blurry vision or flashes of light. These tend to disappear before the headache portion of a migraine kicks in. About 20% of people with migraines experience aura. 

Facial products dripping into your eyes

Certain products — serums, lotions, or facial oils — can blur your vision if they drip into your eyes. Some products may also sting. 

These conditions may resolve on their own. However, if the problem persists, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Maryland Eye Care Center team.

When to worry about blurry vision

Some instances of blurry vision signal an issue that needs immediate medical attention, including:

Strokes

Sudden vision changes, especially with weakness or numbness on one side, could indicate a stroke. Call 911 if you or a loved one is having a suspected stroke.

Retinal detachment

A sudden shadow, flashes of light, or blurred vision could mean your retina is becoming detached. That can result from aging or accidental trauma. You can reduce your risk of retinal detachment from traumatic injury by wearing safety glasses during high-risk activities.

Glaucoma attack

Severe eye pain, blurry vision, and nausea may point to acute angle-closure glaucoma. This type of glaucoma affects over 17 million people around the world, and unlike other forms of glaucoma, it happens quickly. 

The usual cause is a swollen iris blocking the flow of fluid in your eye and leading to high intraocular pressure. Just like retinal detachment, this type of glaucoma needs to be treated right away.

Diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a diabetes-related eye condition caused by damage to the blood vessels in your retina. In addition to blurry vision, it causes floaters, dark spots, difficulty seeing colors, and vision loss in advanced stages.

Infection or inflammation

Sudden blurry vision with redness or discharge could indicate an infection.

Inflammation in the eye (related to uveitis or keratitis) can also cause blurry vision. While not as immediately life-threatening as some of the other conditions (like stroke), untreated inflammation, especially uveitis, can increase your risk of vision loss.

What to do if your vision is suddenly blurry

Don’t brush off blurry vision. You should:

• Note any other symptoms that accompany your blurry vision
• Rest your eyes 
• Avoid driving until the blurriness is corrected or resolved 
• Head to the emergency room for urgent issues

Call us at 301-431-0431 if you have concerns about your vision. During your emergency eye care appointment, we examine your eyes, review your symptoms, and recommend treatment based on the source of your vision issues.

Treatment may include new prescriptions, eye drops, medications, or procedures. 

For non-emergency issues, you can also request an appointment online.