Eye Health Blurry Vision in One Eye By Elizabeth Yuko, PhD twitter linkedin Elizabeth Yuko, PhD, is a bioethicist and journalist, as well as an adjunct professor of ethics at Dublin City University. She has written for publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Rolling Stone, and more. Learn about our editorial process Elizabeth Yuko, PhD Published on January 26, 2021 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Causes When to See a Doctor Whether it's gradual or sudden, experiencing blurry vision in one eye can be alarming. And with causes ranging from mild to severe, it's a good idea to have an understanding of what might be behind things looking fuzzy out of one of your eyes. WIN-Initiative / Neleman / Getty Images Causes Though they may sound similar, there is a difference between "blurry" and "cloudy" vision. Blurry vision means that what you're seeing is out of focus. Cloudy vision feels like you're looking at everything through a fog or a haze. Here, we're going to focus on blurry vision: specifically, when it occurs in only one eye. Along the same lines, there are many conditions that can result in blurry vision in either one or both eyes, and here we'll feature conditions that, in most cases, affect only one eye. Amblyopia Also known as "lazy eye," amblyopia causes blurry vision in only the affected eye. Other symptoms include: Lacking depth perceptionSquintingShutting one eyeTilting the head to one side Some children are born with amblyopia, while others develop the condition a little later on. It's the most common cause of vision loss in kids. Treatment for amblyopia involves re-training the brain and forcing it to use the weaker eye. This is typically done through wearing an eye patch or putting blurring eye drops in the dominant eye. Adie's Pupil Adie’s pupil is a neurological disorder where one pupil doesn't react normally to light. The affected pupil is typically larger than normal and doesn't get smaller in the presence of bright light. Other than the abnormal pupil size and blurry vision in one eye, other symptoms of Adie's pupil include: A general sensitivity to lightDifficulty readingExcessive sweatingNot having a knee-jerk reflex While there's no cure for the condition, it can be treated using: Eyeglasses: To improve reading or near vision. Sunglasses: To reduce light sensitivity. Eye drops: Either to make a pupil smaller and reduce light sensitivity, as well as to reduce glare while driving at night. Optic Neuritis Optic neuritis is the inflammation of the optic nerve, and typically only affects one eye. Though the exact cause is still unknown, it may be caused by an infection. Optic neuritis also affects roughly half of people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a progressive, neurologic disorder, and it is frequently the first symptom of the condition. In addition to blurry vision in one eye, other symptoms of optic neuritis may include: Trouble distinguishing colors, or noticing that colors aren't as vibrant as usualBlurriness that worsens after your body temperature has risen, like following a hot shower or a workoutInability to see out of one eyeAbnormal reaction of the pupil when exposed to bright lightPain in the eye, especially when you move it The symptoms can vary significantly, depending on the extent of the inflammation of the optic nerve. If the blurry vision becomes vision loss, it typically peaks within a few days and starts improving within four to 12 weeks. In some cases, a doctor may prescribe steroids (usually injected into a vein) to treat optic neuritis, though many times the condition will go away on its own without treatment. Eye Stroke Also known as a retinal artery occlusion (RAO), an eye stroke is a blockage in one or more of the arteries of the retina, caused by a clot or a build-up of cholesterol in an artery. There are two types of RAOs: Branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO): This blocks the small arteries in the retina. Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO): This is a blockage in the central artery in the retina, and considered a form of a stroke in the eye, requiring emergency medical attention. In addition to sudden, painless, blurry vision in one eye, an eye stroke can also result in sudden vision loss. This can occur in all or part of one eye. Other symptoms can include: A loss of peripheral visionDistorted visionBlind spots Though there isn't one consistent treatment with high levels of success, some methods that can be helpful include: Breathing in a carbon dioxide-oxygen mixture that causes the arteries of the retina to dilateRemoving some liquid from the eye to allow the clot to move away from the retinaA clot-busting drug Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy More men than women develop this eye disease. Leber hereditary optic neuropathy typically begins when young adults experience blurriness or the loss of central vision in one eye, followed months or years later by vision loss in the other eye. The condition is painless and doesn't usually come with other symptoms. At this point, there are no effective treatments for leber hereditary optic neuropathy, but antioxidant supplements are sometimes used, and scientists are working on genetic therapy treatments. When to See a Doctor Really, anytime you experience blurry vision in one eye (or both eyes), it's time to see an eye doctor. Because it's possible for one eye to develop nearsightedness or farsightedness while the other retains its full vision, sometimes, blurry vision in one eye can be diagnosed with an eye exam and corrected using glasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery. When Is Blurred Vision in One Eye Considered an Emergency? If the onset of blurred vision in one eye is sudden, it's a good idea to seek emergency medical treatment. The same goes if you lose your vision in the eye altogether. Also, if it is accompanied by other symptoms, it could be the sign of an underlying condition. Other concerning symptoms include:Eye painHalos around lightsDouble visionNumbness or weakness on only one side of your bodyAn extremely painful headacheDizzinessConfusionLosing your ability to speakThe sensation of a shade being pulled over your eyes or a curtain being drawn from the side, above, or below A Word From Verywell As a general rule, don't mess around when it comes to your eyesight. This includes experiencing blurry vision in one eye. If the blurry vision becomes noticeable gradually, it's likely a normal change in vision that would require some type of corrective or treatment. But when the blurry vision in one eye comes out of nowhere—or is accompanied by other symptoms—then you should seek immediate medical attention. Not only is it a safety hazard, given that your vision is limited, it could also be a sign of a more serious condition. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. National Eye Institute. Amblyopia (lazy eye). Updated July 2, 2019. American Academy of Ophthalmology. What is Adie’s pupil? Updated January 24, 2020. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Optic neuritis. American Academy of Ophthalmology. What is a retinal artery occlusion? Updated October 30, 2020. American Association of Ophthalmology. Leber hereditary optic neuropathy. Updated December 29, 2020. MedlinePlus. Vision problems. Updated August 28, 2018.