Can Dry Eyes Cause Blurry Vision?

Are you experiencing blurry vision and dry, irritated eyes? You may have dry eye syndrome.

It’s a common eye condition that occurs when your eyes don’t make enough tears to stay properly hydrated, or the tears you are producing don’t have all the necessary components for lubrication. So, what are all the symptoms of dry eye, and how does the condition impact your eyesight?

Keep reading to learn more about whether dry eyes can cause blurry vision.

What are the Symptoms of Dry Eye?

As the name suggests, dry eye, or dry eye syndrome, causes a dryness in your eyes that can be very uncomfortable. It is often due to a lack of one of the main components of your tear film: oil, water, or mucus.

Without the right balance of these elements, your tears may evaporate too quickly, have a difficult time spreading evenly across the eye, or be unable to keep your eyes properly lubricated and free of particles. This can result in frustrating symptoms like:

• Red, irritated eyes
• Eye fatigue
• Overly watery eyes
• Eye pain
• Light sensitivity
• Burning or stinging sensation
• Mucus in or around the eyes
• Discomfort wearing contact lenses
• Blurry vision

While all of these symptoms, including blurry vision, often indicate dry eye, they could be signs of another eye condition. It’s important to get an official diagnosis from your eye doctor at BMid Ohio Eye to ensure you receive the proper treatment.

Why Does Dry Eye Cause Blurry Vision?

While not everyone with dry eye syndrome experiences blurry vision, side effects of the condition can lead to temporarily impaired vision, like:

Eye Strain

Patients with dry eyes are more prone to experiencing eye strain from looking at digital devices. This strain can cause blurry vision and headaches.

To reduce eye strain, you can limit your time spent on electronic devices or implement the 20-20-20 rule when looking at screens. This rule involves looking away from your screen every 20 minutes at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

During this time, it’s recommended that you blink to relubricate your eyes, as looking at screens can also reduce your blink rate and, in turn, worsen your dry eye symptoms.

Trouble Wearing Contact Lenses

While patients typically wear contacts to improve their vision, if you have dry eyes, you may experience bouts of blurry vision while wearing them. This is because contact lenses block oxygen from reaching the cornea, which can dry out your eyes.

Dry eyes can make it difficult for your contacts to sit properly on your cornea, leading to blurry vision. Artificial tears made for contact lens wearers or rewetting drops can help to lessen your symptoms, thereby stabilizing vision.

Excessive Eye Watering

If you have dry eyes, your eyes may try to produce more tears than necessary to compensate for the lack of moisture. However, these tears are usually low in quality and do not properly lubricate the eye.

The buildup of these excess tears can cause temporary blurry vision.

Get Relief from Dry Eye with Expert Eye Care

When you schedule an eye exam with your eye doctor at Mid Ohio Eye, they can diagnose your condition, discover the root cause, and recommend treatment options to help you find relief from dry eye symptoms, including blurry vision.

Treat your dry, irritated eyes and blurry vision with ophthalmologist-approved dry eye solutions when you schedule an appointment at Mid Ohio Eye in Colombus, OH, today!