Can Dry Eyes Cause Blurriness?

What is Dry Eye Disease?

Dry eye is more than just a temporary annoyance. It’s a chronic condition where the eye doesn’t produce enough tears or the tears evaporate too quickly. The tear film is crucial for clear vision. It nourishes the eye’s front surface, helps provide clear vision, and keeps the eye free of dust and other particles.

There are 2 types of dry eye disease people experience:

• Evaporative dry eyes: The most common type of dry eye is evaporative, where your tears are low-quality and evaporate too fast.
• Aqueous deficiency dry eyes: With aqueous deficiency dry eyes, your body doesn’t produce enough tears to keep your eyes hydrated.

Anyone can experience dry eyes, though some lifestyle and health factors can increase your risk. Factors that contribute to dry eyes include:

• Age
• Sex
• Medications, such as antihistamines, decongestants, and antidepressants
• Hot, dry, or windy environments
• Autoimmune conditions, such as Sjögren’s syndrome, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis
• Inflammatory skin disorders around the eyelids
• Digital screen use
• Excessive contact lens wear
• Laser eye surgery

Dry Eye Symptoms

Dry eye disease symptoms can range from intermittent discomfort to consistent irritation and include:

• Redness
• Stinging, scratchiness, or a gritty feeling
• Light sensitivity
• Stringy mucus
• Difficulty wearing contact lenses
• Watery eyes
• Blurriness

Recognizing your symptoms is the first step in finding relief and protecting your eyes from unnecessary damage. One of your tears’ main jobs is to protect your cornea, the eye’s clear front dome. A healthy tear film washes away particles that land on the cornea. However, chronic dryness can leave you unprotected and cause corneal damage or scarring.

How Do Dry Eyes Cause Blurriness?

The mechanisms behind how dry eyes lead to blurry vision are complex. Your tear film’s outer layer is responsible for keeping it smooth and uniform and preventing it from drying up too fast. Evaporative dry eye can affect this layer.

That means the tear film can become uneven when the eye is dry. This irregularity causes light to scatter and not focus properly on the retina, leading to blurriness, much like astigmatism.

Ironically, you may also produce extra tears as your eyes try to relieve the irritation. This excess of uneven tears can affect your vision. Imagine living your life looking through a glass of water.

The Link Between Dry Eyes & Blurriness

Sudden blurred vision happens for many reasons, some more severe than others.

Moreover, some conditions can cause dry eyes and blurriness, complicating diagnosis. One common condition that fits these criteria is becoming more prevalent as digital screens fill our lives: computer vision syndrome.

Also called digital eye strain, this condition results from the extended use of digital screens and can cause dry eyes and blurry vision.

The simple fact is people tend to blink less when looking at screens. This can be as little as 4 times per minute when the average is 17 times per minute. Lack of blinking makes your tear film evaporate, making your eyes tired and lose focus.

If you’re feeling the strain of computer time, take regular breaks and use the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

Dry Eye Prevention & Management

You can take simple yet impactful measures to help prevent dry eyes, including:

• Regularly taking breaks from electronic devices
• Keeping hydrated
• Using a humidifier in dry indoor environments
• Avoiding windy conditions
• Getting enough sleep

However, these lifestyle changes sometimes aren’t enough and require professional dry eye therapy. If you’re experiencing blurriness due to dry eyes, treatment options can include:

• Artificial tear drops or ointments
• Prescription eye drops
• In-office treatments
• Punctal plugs

Your eyes are unique, and so are your dry eye symptoms. This means treatment plans should be personalized to address your needs and provide comprehensive relief.