Definition
Blurred vision is basically when you lose sharp vision and are no longer able to see things in great detail.
Causes
There are a great many causes of blurry vision, but essentially they can be divided into underlying visual problems and disease of the eye itself. The underlying visual problems in this case basically result in the loss of ability to accommodate, thus losing the ability to see clearly. These disorders include astigmatism, farsightedness, myopia, incorrect eyeglasses and retinal detachment.
There are certain diseases of the body that can and up affecting the eye. The most common one is diabetes, which causes arterial damage in the eye. Certain infective or inflammatory process may result in blurring of vision. These include optic neuritis, uveitis, iritis, keratitis, scleritis and temporal arteritis. Other causes may include cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, stroke, migraine, corneal abrasion, bleeding into the eye, and trauma.
Just as with any muscle in the body, eye muscles can also become weak. The muscles inside the eye control the shape of the lens, changing allowing you to see objects that are both near and far. If these eye muscles fail to work properly then it cannot focus properly, leading to blurry vision. Eye muscles can weaken just as a result of age, or it can be due to certain metabolic disorders. You can strengthen your eye muscles by doing certain exercises everyday.
Sudden blurred vision
We all get blurry vision from time to time, and sometimes it is just due to tiredness and straining the eyes. Sudden blurred vision can often indicate that there is a serious underlying problem. If you have sudden onset blurriness then close your eyes for a second and see if it subsides. With eye problems this blurriness often takes a while to develop and it happens gradually. The sudden onset will often indicate that there is something wrong elsewhere in the body.
With sudden onset blurriness the common cause is a stroke, precipitated by things like hypertension, diabetes, obesity, smoking and excessive alcohol intake. While hypertension and diabetes can also cause it, the onset is not as sudden. If you have any of these diseases and you have blurriness suddenly then you should consult your doctor immediately. This may help to avoid any irreversible damage to your eyes.
The second factor that you should consider is what other parts or organs of the body might be suffering from. Diseases like stroke, diabetes and hypertension are known to cause sudden blurred vision.
Treatment
Treatment of blurred vision will depend largely on the cause. If it is due to a visual problem like myopia or farsightedness then eyeglasses will work well. Infections can be treated with antibiotics, and inflammatory conditions can be treated with anti-inflammatory medication. Secondary causes like diabetes and hypertension requires that you try and control the disease as far as possible by adhering to medication and lifestyle changes including stopping smoking, having a healthier diet and exercising. With things like trauma to the eye you should get to a doctor immediately so that they can repair the damage.
