Discuss Blurry Vision with Our Sandy Springs, GA Optometrist

Your vision is one of the most precious of your five senses, and experiencing blurry vision can make daily tasks difficult. Reading, driving, and using a phone or computer can become impossible. Here's a look at some of the most common causes of blurred vision and how regular eye exams can help you get clearer vision so you can live life to the fullest. 

Refractive Errors 

The most common cause of blurry vision is refractive errors. For vision to be clear, light must be refracted precisely onto a very small point on the back of the eye, called the macula. The shape of the cornea determines how the light is refracted, and aberrations can result in it not reaching the macula properly. 

• Hyperopia -- Refracted light attempts to go beyond the macula, resulting in blurred near vision 
• Myopia -- Refracted light stops before it gets to the macula, resulting in blurred distance vision 

Hyperopia and myopia can be mild to severe and is typically corrected by glasses or contact lenses, which refocus the light directly on the macula. Presbyopia is a condition that people over the age of 40 begin to experience, where the lens of the eye begins to harden and can no longer focus easily. Reading glasses or specialized glasses or contact lenses with a different prescription in only the bottom of the lens can help minimize the effects of this natural condition. 

Medical Conditions 

In some cases, blurry vision is not caused by the shape of the cornea, but by an ocular disease. Some of the most common diseases include but are not limited to: 

• Cataracts 
• Macular degeneration 
• Glaucoma 
• Diabetic retinopathy 
• Histoplasmosis 
• Floaters 

Some of these medical issues are mild or easily correctable, such as floaters or cataracts. Floaters are typically more of a nuisance and cataracts can be removed surgically on an outpatient basis. Some ocular diseases, however, are much more serious. Macular degeneration and glaucoma can cause dramatically decreased visual acuity if left untreated and once damage has been done to the delicate tissues in the back of the eye, vision cannot be restored -- you can only prevent additional loss. 

Do You Have Blurry Vision? How Regular Eye Exams at Eye 1^st Vision Center Can Help 

If you are experiencing blurred vision, don't skip your annual eye doctor visit. Glasses and contact lens prescriptions can change every year, and ocular diseases can sneak up on you when you least expect them. By visiting your local Sandy Springs optometry office as recommended by your optometrist, you can stay ahead of the curve and screen for changes to your eyes that could result in less than perfect vision. Book your appointment at Eye 1st Vision Center now by calling (404) 252-1702.