Blurred vision

Blurred vision is a common complaint in clinical practice, encompassing a range of ophthalmic issues. It is characterized by a loss of clarity or sharpness in vision, which can significantly impact a patient's quality of life. The challenge for clinicians lies in the broadness of this term, as it can represent various underlying conditions, necessitating careful patient questioning and evaluation.

The most frequent global cause of blurred vision is refractive error, a condition easily corrected with glasses or contact lenses. However, it's crucial to distinguish this from other symptoms that patients might inaccurately label as blurred vision. These include scotomata (visual field defects), diplopia (double vision), floaters (small shapes drifting through the field of vision), photopsia (perceived flashes of light), and metamorphopsia (visual distortions).

Let us review an overview of the diverse causes of blurred vision that primary care clinicians may encounter.