Dry Eyes & Blurry Vision

Do you find yourself rubbing your eyes to see better? Do your eyes feel dry and gritty? You may be one of the 16 million Americans that experience dry eye every year.

Dry eye can cause many symptoms such as irritation, tired eyes, and light sensitivity. But did you know it can also cause blurry vision? 

Blurry vision is one of the most common symptoms of dry eye.

What causes blurry vision? 

There are multiple reasons why you may have blurry vision as a result of dry eye. 

Excessive Tearing 

Wateriness is a common symptom of dry eye that occurs when tears evaporate too quickly. As a result, your eyes create excess tears. The wateriness in your eyes can affect your vision, like when you’re swimming underwater, and you cannot see clearly out of your eyes. 

Eye Strain 

Eye strain occurs when you spend a long time performing a visually stimulating activity like reading, staring at a computer, or driving. Eye strain occurs when your eyes blink less than normal due to overuse. As you blink less, your tears are more likely to evaporate, affecting your ability to see clearly.

Poor Contact Lens Hygiene

Taking care of your contact lenses decreases your chances of developing an eye infection or blurry vision. If your contact lenses are dirty and you forget to clean them regularly, you’ll have debris in your eye that affects your ability to see clearly. Also, an eye infection can cause your eyes to close or produce discharge, which will cause vision impairment. 

Dehydration 

Dehydration—not drinking enough water every day—can decrease your tear production, increase the salt levels in the tear film, and increase your risk of headaches and migraines. When your eyes do not produce enough tears, your eyes cannot wash away debris and bacteria naturally, which affects your vision. 

Also, headache pain can affect your vision quality, so drink 6-8 glasses of water daily to help prevent dehydration. 

How can you prevent blurry vision due to dry eye? 

If you have blurry vision due to dry eye, then you should start treating it to find symptom relief and ensure your eyes do not worsen over time.

In addition to using lubricant eye drops, you can also make a few lifestyle adjustments to better care of your eyes at home. 

These lifestyle changes include: 

• Using a humidifier in your home
• Limiting your screen time  
• Drinking plenty of water 
• Wearing sunglasses when outdoors
• Wearing protective eyewear while in dusty or smoky environments

When should you see a doctor for your blurry vision due to dry eye? 

Remember that it’s important to treat your dry eye condition. If your dry eyes go untreated, it can damage your eyes over time and lead to permanently impaired vision. If symptoms get worse, speak to your doctor about treatment options.