What Is the Most Common Cause of Blurry Vision in One Eye?

Blurry vision is perhaps one of the most annoying vision issues. Not being able to see clearly can impact your quality of life in a number of ways. Sometimes, we experience blurry vision in one eye only, and this can be one of the most unsettling forms of blurry vision. Luckily, there are a number of reasons why your vision may go blurry in just one eye. Those causes range from the benign dry eye or refractive error to something much more serious. Today, we’ll discuss more about these causes and how to tell the difference between something that will go away on its own and something that warrants urgent attention.

Blurry Vision Causes

While it might seem odd for only one eye to be impacted by blurry vision, in actuality, this is fairly common. This is because, while our two eyes work together to create clear vision for our brains, they are actually independently shaped. They each have their own blood vessels and nerve pathways.  This means that one eye could suffer from astigmatism while the other may not. This brings us to one of the most common causes of blurry vision in one eye: refractive errors.

Refractive Errors in One Eye: The #1 Cause

Refractive errors are the most common cause of blurry vision in one eye. People with this issue often suffer from anisometropia, which is when each eye has a different prescription. The eyes are very special parts of the body in that they are extremely adaptable. So, when one eye struggles, the other compensates. It will grow stronger and work to produce a clear image for your brain. This means that the weaker eye’s refractive error often goes undiagnosed.

Myopia or Hyperopia in One Eye

Myopia, or nearsightedness, is something we talk a lot about here at Rebuild Your Vision. While myopia typically impacts both eyes, there are some cases where one is more significantly impacted than the other, causing blurry vision in one eye. Only about six percent of the population will experience a significantly different level of myopia between their two eyes. However, if this is the case, especially for children, it can be a problem. Having two drastically differently sighted eyes when you are young can lead to amblyopia, or lazy eye.

On the other hand, some people experience hyperopia, or farsightedness, in one eye. This means that one eye struggles to focus close up. This can cause fatigue, headache, and, of course, blurry vision. This condition is much rarer and often goes undetected, since vision otherwise appears fine.

Astigmatism in One Eye

Astigmatism is the most common refractive error culprit when it comes to blurry vision in one eye. An irregularly shaped cornea will cause distorted or smeared vision at all distances. While astigmatism typically causes similar vision issues in both eyes, about 23 percent of the population will experience significant differences in the clarity of their vision due to astigmatism.

Astigmatism is the most common cause of the link between blurry vision and headache. It is also a common cause of eye strain. This is because the brain has to work extra hard to reconcile the differences in images produced by eyes with different levels of astigmatism.

Peripheral Blurry Vision in One Eye

Sometimes, people experience blurry vision just in their peripheral vision. While this might not seem as obtrusive, it can actually signal a more serious issue. Loss of peripheral clarity is a key warning sign for glaucoma and some other retinal conditions. This is why it’s important to get a visual field test at every eye exam. This will help you and your eye doctor determine whether your peripheral vision is deteriorating and what the cause may be.

Dry Eye and Blurry Vision

Dry eye is another common culprit of blurry vision in one eye. An unstable tear film in one eye can cause a fluctuating, film-like blur. This is especially prevalent after blinking or prolonged screen time.

Experiencing dry eye more in one eye than the other can be caused by a variety of issues. You may have an asymmetric eyelid anomaly, or your sleeping position could be blocking airflow to one eye.

There is one common way to determine whether your blurry vision is caused by dry eye or a refractive error: if the blur clears momentarily after you blink, dry eye is probably the issue. Seeking treatment for dry eye through lubrication and hydration should help clear up the issue.

Blurry Vision and Headache

Blurry vision in one eye can also sometimes be linked to headaches. Sometimes, this is a result of uncorrected astigmatism, as the brain strains to sharpen the image on one side. On the other hand, it could be a result of an ocular migraine, which pairs blurry vision and sometimes aura.

One more serious issue to consider if you experience a headache along with blurred vision is high blood pressure. This is especially common if you are someone who suffers from hypertensive retinopathy. If this might be the case for you, it’s important to check your blood pressure if you experience blurry vision in one eye accompanied by a headache.

Sudden Blurry Vision in One Eye: When It’s an Emergency

While the previous causes of blurry vision in one eye are fairly benign, there are some circumstances that may be a medical emergency. Here’s a good rule of thumb: if you experience a gradual one-eye blur, it’s usually nothing to be overly concerned about. However, if you experience sudden blurry vision in one eye, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Sudden blurry vision can be caused by a variety of serious concerns, such as the following:

• Retinal detachment: sudden floaters, flashes, and  a shadow or curtain in one eye
• Central retinal artery/vein occlusion: sudden, painless vision loss in one eye, like a stroke in the eye
• Optic neuritis: blurry or dim vision in one eye, often with pain on eye movement; associated with MS
• Acute angle-closure glaucoma: sudden blur, eye pain, halos, nausea
• TIA or stroke: sudden one-eye blackout lasting seconds to minutes is a stroke warning sign

Many of these conditions will be accompanied by little to no pain initially, so you may be tempted to shrug it off. However, each of these conditions is extremely serious, so it’s important to seek help immediately.

Vitamins for Blurry Vision

The good thing is that there are always natural approaches you can take to support blurry vision in one eye. By ensuring you are getting the right vitamins and minerals and adding some eye exercises, you can do a lot to protect your vision.

If you’re looking to help support your tear film and retinal function, consider focusing on Vitamin A. Omega-3 is also great for dry eye relief. Lutein and Zeaxanthin are great for macular health, and Vitamins C and E are good to stave off oxidative stress. Our Rebuild Your Vision Ocu-Plus formula is a great one-stop shop for all these nutrients.

Eye Exercises for Blurry Vision

If you’re experiencing blurry vision in one eye, you can also try eye exercises to help you strengthen the weaker muscles. This is often used in conditions like amblyopia, or lazy eye, especially for children.

One that people of all ages can try is pencil pushups. To complete this exercise, follow these steps:

• Get Ready: Sit comfortably and put on your reading or distance glasses if you wear them. Hold a standard pencil vertically in front of you at arm’s length, pointing the tip upward.
• Focus: Stare at a small detail on the pencil, like the tip, the eraser, or a small letter.
• Bring It Closer: Slowly move the pencil toward the bridge of your nose. Keep your eyes locked on the target and try to maintain a single, clear image.
• The Split: As the pencil gets closer, it will eventually become blurry, or it may split into two separate pencils. When you see double, you have reached your limit.
• Recover and Repeat: Try to force your eyes to fuse the image back into one single pencil. If the image remains double, move the pencil outward slightly until it becomes single again.
• Routine: Repeat this in-and-out motion. A standard session is about 10 to 15 repetitions, done two to three times a day for roughly 5 to 10 minutes.

You can also try relaxing techniques like palming or the 10-10-10 rule to reduce blurry vision symptoms associated with eye strain. With these simple additions to your routine and your newfound knowledge about blurry vision in one eye that warrants worry and blurry vision that doesn’t, you can make good choices to preserve your vision throughout your life.