Blurred distance vision makes road signs, television, or faces across a room less clear. The most frequent cause is myopia (short‑sightedness), but other problems can contribute.
Common Causes
Myopia focuses light in front of the retina, while uncorrected astigmatism distorts images at all ranges. Early cataract, corneal disease, and dry eye can also reduce distance clarity, and neurological or retinal conditions may blur both near and far vision.
- Gradual distance blur in childhood often indicates developing myopia
- Adults may notice increasing glare or ghost images from lens or corneal changes
- Sudden distance blur with pain, redness, or field loss requires urgent care
- Poorly fitting or outdated glasses or contact lenses can under‑correct distance vision
Evaluation
A comprehensive eye test, including refraction and slit‑lamp examination, identifies most causes. Treatment ranges from updated optical correction to treating cataract, corneal disease, or retinal pathology.
- Drivers with blurred distance vision should seek prompt assessment
- Children benefit from early correction to support learning and eye development
- Monitoring is important in high myopia due to associated retinal risks
- Systemic risk factors such as diabetes and hypertension should be optimised
