10 REASONS YOU GET... BLURRY VISION

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DIGITAL EYE-STRAIN On average, more than nine in ten adults spend over two hours each day using a digital device, with more than half staring at a screen for at least five hours. The knock-on effect is a new form of vision problem, dubbed digital eye strain. Blurry vision and water can develop suddenly in one or both eyes. Eye experts suggest reducing the brightness on handheld devices, not using them in dark rooms and purchasing a blue light filter – a thin sheet of plastic that you can stick to the screen.

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YOU NEED AN EYE CHECK One in five spectacle-wearing adults admit to not having had an eye test within the past two years, according to RSA Insurance Group. In a Specsavers survey, four drivers out of 20 failed a number-plate-reading test, while the firm’s research suggests that as many as one in three motorists wouldn’t meet the legal vision requirement for driving – though 83 per cent of those polled said their eyesight was ‘good enough’. Time to book that appointment…

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CATARACTS Clouding of the lens of the eye is called cataract. The problem usually develops slowly, but the first noticeable symptom is blurred vision. A new study by Optegra Eye Health Care suggests that the condition, usually associated with older age, is increasingly being seen in patients in their 50s. Their experts suggest the rise of the beach holiday is to blame as UV exposure is a risk factor in developing the problem.

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BLAME BLOOD SUGAR Diabetes – a condition that leads to high levels of sugar in the blood – results in damage to small blood vessels, and a condition known as diabetic retinopathy. This affects the blood supply to the back of the eye and causes blurring of vision. If not treated – usually with laser surgery – problems can worsen and become untreatable, even leading to blindness.

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YOU’RE UNDER PRESSURE The eyeball contains a fluid called aqueous humour which is constantly being renewed – the excess is drained away via tubes in the eye. Glaucoma develops when the fluid cannot drain and pressure builds up. This can damage the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain, and the nerve fibres from the lightsensitive retinal tissue at the back of the eye.

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HAY FEVER TABLETS Antihistamines can increase the pressure inside the eye, especially in those who already suffer from glaucoma. Apart from blurred vision, reactions can include eye pain, headaches and nausea. Other drugs that may cause blurred vision include corticosteroids, which are often given to relieve arthritis.

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TOO MUCH VIAGRA An overdose of Viagra may cause men problems. Studies found that otherwise healthy men who took at least 200mg, double the maximum recommended dose, will have visual disturbance.

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YOUR EYES ARE DRY Dry eye syndrome occurs when the eyes do not make enough tears, or the tears evaporate too quickly. This leads to the eyes drying out and becoming inflamed and irritated. Also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, symptoms include feelings of dryness, grittiness or eye soreness worsen throughout the day, redness, eyelids that stick together especially in the morning, and temporarily blurred vision.

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A MIGRAINE IS COMING A migraine is usually a severe headache felt as a throbbing pain at the front or side of the head. The condition is believed to be linked to hormone levels. Some sufferers also experience nausea, vomiting and increased sensitivity to light or sound. Many describe visual disturbances before an attack, such as seeing flashing lights, blurry vision or halos around lights – known collectively as ‘aura’, which act as a warning sign.

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YOU NEED TO GIVE YOUR CONTACTS A REST Not taking lenses out – or ‘lens over wear’ – can lead to the cornea being deprived of oxygen and neovascularisation, which results in abnormal blood vessels growing in the clear cornea, causing blurred vision. It depends on the type of lens worn and the condition of the eye and other health concerns. An optician should be able to advise on how long you should wear contacts for.