Blurred vision

Associate Editor-In-Chief:

Associate Editor-In-Chief:

Overview

 * Common ophthalmic symptom
 * Vision is less sharp and an inability to see small details exists
 * Alterations of the optical surfaces or media for which the visual axis travels typically cause blurred vision
 * Refractive errors cause the majority of blurred vision complaints.
 * Most can be corrected with glasses

Differential Diagnosis
In alphabetical order.


 * 3-Quinuclidinyl benzilate
 * Acetazolamide
 * Acetohexamide
 * Acute angle-closure glaucoma
 * Acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy
 * Aldicarb
 * Alfuzosin
 * Aliskiren
 * Alpha-Methyltryptamine
 * Amantadine
 * Amiodarone Oral
 * Amitriptyline
 * Amphotericin B Injection
 * Amprenavir
 * Anastrozole
 * Anesthesia
 * Anticholinergic
 * Antihistamine
 * Aripiprazole
 * Asthenopia
 * Astigmatism (eye)
 * Atenolol
 * Atropine
 * Avacor
 * Azelastine Ophthalmic
 * Belladonna Alkaloid Combinations and Phenobarbital
 * Benzatropine
 * Benzodiazepine
 * Benztropine Mesylate Oral
 * Bepridil
 * Bimatoprost
 * Biperiden
 * Bismuth Subsalicylate, Metronidazole, and Tetracycline Combination
 * Bisoprolol
 * Bortezomib
 * Bosentan
 * Botulism
 * Brimonidine Ophthalmic
 * Brinzolamide Ophthalmic
 * Bupivacaine
 * Buprenorphine Sublingual and Buprenorphine and Naloxone Sublingual
 * Buspirone
 * Butanethiol
 * Carbamazepine
 * Carbon dioxide narcosis
 * Carvedilol
 * Cataracts
 * Central serous retinopathy
 * Cerebral arteriovenous malformation
 * Cetuximab Injection
 * Cevimeline
 * Chiasma syndrome
 * Chlordiazepoxide
 * Chloroquine
 * Chlorpropamide
 * Clitocybe dealbata
 * Clomiphene
 * Clonazepam
 * Clorazepate
 * Coats disease
 * Colistimethate Injection
 * Computer vision syndrome
 * Congenital disorders
 * Conjunctivitis
 * Convergence insufficiency
 * Corneal abrasion
 * Corneal irregularity or abrasion
 * Cryptococcosis
 * Cyclizine
 * Cyclosporine Ophthalmic
 * Cysticercosis
 * Cytarabine
 * Cytomegalovirus retinitis
 * Dapiprazole Ophthalmic
 * Darifenacin
 * Darunavir
 * Deadly nightshade
 * Desipramine
 * Dexmethylphenidate
 * Dextroamphetamine and Amphetamine
 * Dextromethorphan
 * Diabetes insipidus
 * Diabetes mellitus
 * Diabetic retinopathy
 * Diazepam
 * Diazinon
 * Diclofenac Ophthalmic
 * Dicyclomine
 * Didanosine
 * Diethylcathinone
 * Diethylpropion
 * Difluoroethane
 * Digoxin
 * Dihydroergotamine Injection and Nasal Spray
 * Diphenhydramine
 * Dipivefrin Ophthalmic
 * Disopyramide
 * Disulfiram
 * Dorzolamide and Timolol Ophthalmic
 * Dosulepin hydrochloride
 * Doxepin
 * Dry eye, poor tear film
 * Duloxetine
 * Enfuvirtide Injection
 * Eplerenone
 * Ergoloid Mesylates
 * Esomeprazole
 * Estazolam
 * Ethcathinone
 * Ethchlorvynol
 * Etodolac
 * Exenatide Injection


 * Extraocular muscle paralysis
 * Fatigue
 * Fenoprofen
 * Fexofenadine and Pseudoephedrine
 * Flavoxate
 * Fluphenazine
 * Fluticasone and Salmeterol Oral Inhalation
 * Fosamprenavir
 * Fuchs' dystrophy
 * Fungal keratitis
 * Furosemide
 * Gabapentin
 * Gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid
 * Gatifloxacin
 * Gemfibrozil
 * Glaucoma
 * Glimepiride
 * Glipizide
 * Glyburide
 * Glycopyrrolate
 * Granisetron
 * Graves ophthalmopathy
 * Guanfacine
 * H1 antihistamine
 * Hawaiian baby woodrose
 * Head trauma
 * HELLP syndrome
 * Henipavirus
 * Homatropine
 * Hwabyeong
 * Hydrocortisone, Neomycin, and Polymyxin
 * Hydroxychloroquine
 * Hyoscyamine
 * Hyperbaric medicine
 * Hypercoagulation
 * Hyperglycemia
 * Hyperopia
 * Hypertension
 * Hyperviscosity
 * Hypervitaminosis A
 * Hypoglycemia
 * Imipramine
 * Indapamide
 * Indometacin
 * Indomethacin
 * Infection, inflammation or injury of cornea
 * Infliximab Injection
 * Insulin Aspart (rDNA Origin) Injection
 * Insulin lispro injection
 * Insulinoma
 * Intraocular lymphoma
 * Ipratropium Oral Inhalation
 * Iritis
 * Isocarboxazid
 * Isosorbide
 * Ivabradine
 * Ketorolac Ophthalmic
 * Ketotifen Ophthalmic
 * Lamotrigine
 * Lanthanum
 * Levalbuterol Oral Inhalation
 * Levobupivacaine
 * Lidocaine Transdermal
 * Lisinopril and Hydrochlorothiazide
 * Lodoxamide Ophthalmic
 * Lofepramine
 * Lomotil
 * Loprazolam
 * Lorazepam
 * Loxapine Oral
 * Machado-Joseph disease
 * Macular degeneration
 * Macular disease
 * Meclofenamate
 * Medroxyprogesterone
 * Mefenamic acid
 * Megestrol
 * Meperidine
 * Metformin
 * Methocarbamol Oral
 * Methotrexate
 * Methylphenidate Transdermal
 * Metipranolol Ophthalmic
 * Miconazole Injection
 * Miglitol
 * Migraine
 * Minocycline Oral
 * Minoxidil
 * Moclobemide
 * Monocrotophos
 * Moricizine
 * Morphine Oral
 * Motofen
 * Moxifloxacin ophthalmic
 * Multiple sclerosis
 * Muscarine
 * Mushroom poisoning
 * Myasthenia
 * Nalbuphine
 * Naltrexone
 * Nateglinide oral
 * Nedocromil ophthalmic
 * Nefazodone
 * Nepafenac ophthalmic
 * Neurocardiogenic Syncope
 * Neuroglycopenia
 * Niacin
 * Nitroglycerin ointment
 * Norethindrone
 * Nortriptyline
 * Ocular media opacity
 * Oculotect
 * Ofloxacin ophthalmic
 * Olanzapine


 * Olmesartan
 * Olopatadine ophthalmic
 * Omeprazole
 * Ondansetron injection
 * Optic neuritis
 * Ornithine translocase deficiency
 * Orphenadrine
 * Orthostatic hypotension
 * Orthostatic intolerance
 * Oxazepam
 * Oxcarbazepine
 * Oxybutynin
 * Paliperidone
 * Pamidronate injection
 * Panic disorder
 * Parasites
 * Peginterferon alfa-2a
 * Pentamidine Isethionate Injection
 * Pergolide
 * Periphlebitis retinae
 * Perphenazine oral
 * Phentermine
 * Phenytoin oral
 * Pilocarpine ophthalmic
 * Pimozide
 * Pioglitazone
 * PMA
 * Post-concussion syndrome
 * Prazepam
 * Prazosin and polythiazide
 * Prediabetes
 * Prednisolone
 * Pregabalin
 * Presbyopia
 * Primaquine
 * Primidone
 * Procyclidine
 * Prograf
 * Prolonged exposure to the outdoors
 * Promethazine
 * Propafenone
 * Propantheline
 * Protriptyline
 * Pyridostigmine
 * Quetiapine
 * Quinidine Oral
 * Rasagiline
 * Refractive error
 * Reiter's Syndrome
 * Repaglinide
 * Retinal detachment
 * Risperidone
 * Rituximab injection
 * Rivastigmine
 * Rogaine (drug)
 * Ropivacaine
 * Rosiglitazone
 * Salmeterol oral inhalation
 * Scopolamine
 * Seizure disorders
 * Sildenafil
 * Sleep deprivation
 * Sodium oxybate
 * Solifenacin
 * Spironolactone
 * SSRI discontinuation syndrome
 * Subdural hematoma
 * Sulindac
 * Tacrolimus
 * Tadalafil
 * Tamsulosin
 * Tartrazine
 * Tegaserod
 * Telithromycin
 * Temazepam
 * Temik
 * Temporal arteritis
 * Terazosin
 * Tetrahydrozoline Ophthalmic
 * Thioridazine
 * Thiothixene Oral
 * Thygeson's superficial punctate keratopathy
 * Tiludronate
 * Tiotropium Oral Inhalation
 * Tipranavir
 * Tobramycin Ophthalmic
 * Tolazamide
 * Tolbutamide
 * Topiramate
 * Trachoma
 * Tranylcypromine
 * Traumatic brain injury
 * Travoprost Ophthalmic
 * Trazodone
 * Triazolam
 * Tricyclic antidepressant
 * Trifluoperazine Oral
 * Trihexyphenidyl
 * Trimethobenzamide
 * Trimipramine
 * Trospium
 * Uveitis
 * Valproic Acid
 * Vardenafil
 * Vasculopathy
 * Vertebrobasilar insufficiency
 * Verteporfin
 * Viral
 * Voriconazole
 * Vorinostat
 * Ziprasidone
 * Zolpidem
 * Zopiclone

History and Symptoms

 * Detailed history important, including the following:
 * Duration of symptoms
 * Progression of symptoms
 * Near or far sighted
 * Permanent or transient
 * Binocular or uniocular
 * Past medical history
 * Associated symptoms

Eyes

 * Complete ophthalmologic exam including:
 * Slit lamp examination
 * Dilated fundus exam
 * Visual acuity
 * Improvement of vision with pinhole
 * Dry or irritated eyes

Ear Nose and Throat
Palpate the temporal area to determine if there is pain in the temporal area to suggest temporal arteritis


 * Neurologic exam if necessary

Laboratory Findings

 * Complete blood count (CBC)
 * Fasting or random blood sugar
 * Repeat glucose (if initial glucose is elevated)
 * Prothrombin time (PT)
 * Partial thromboplastin time (PTT)

Electrolyte and Biomarker Studies
Check erythrocyte sedimentation rate to rule out temporal arteritis

Other Imaging Findings

 * Electroencephalogram (EEG) if seizures are suspected

Treatment

 * Treat underlying pathologies
 * For dry eyes, lubrication
 * Appropriate treatment for hyperviscosity

Acute Pharmacotherapies

 * Antiseizure prophylaxis (seizure disorders)

Surgery and Device Based Therapy

 * Glasses or contact lenses for blurred vision due to refractive errors
 * Possible surgical repair for retinal detachment
 * Temporal artery biopsy may be needed

Acknowledgements
The content on this page was first contributed by

List of contributors: