Unilateral occurrence of blurred vision

Depending on which part of the eye and thus the visual process is impaired, blurred vision may occur in only one eye. For example, a disease of the retina or the optic nerve behind it can be unilateral. A process that leads to a clouding of the normally transparent structures of the eye – cornea, lens and vitreous body – can also occur in only one eye.

Also, only one eye can be affected by far or near vision. The defect can then be compensated by the healthy eye or, if the defect is too severe, results in blurred vision. Here it goes to the main articles symptoms of long-sightedness and short-sightedness.

Neurological diseases can also lead to unilateral and bilateral eye complaints. In the case of multiple sclerosis, unilateral inflammation of the optic nerve is often an early symptom. This then leads to a reduction in visual acuity, loss of visual field, pain during eye movement and a disturbance in color vision. A spatial mass can also lead to blurred vision if it presses on a part of the visual pathway and thus impairs the transmission of information from the eye to the responsible region in the brain.

Diagnosis

The first step in making a diagnosis is the medical history, i.e. the doctor asks the patient about his or her symptoms, previous illnesses and risk factors for certain eye diseases, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, as these diseases can lead to circulatory disorders of the eye. This is followed by a physical examination. In the case of ophthalmology, there are various examination options to determine the patient’s visual acuity.

A simple aid is the visual chart, on which the patient should recognize the symbols shown on it from a fixed distance.In addition, an examination of the eye can be performed, first of all by careful palpation of the eyeball by the physician to determine whether there is possibly too high an intraocular pressure, or by various ophthalmological devices. With the help of an ophthalmoscope, the back part of the eye, where the retina and the beginning of the optic nerve are located, can be assessed. By using a slit lamp, the doctor is able to inspect individual areas of the eye in high magnification and direct illumination. By means of tonometry the intraocular pressure can be determined exactly. A general physical examination of the patient can also provide helpful clues as to the origin of the symptoms, such as the measurement of blood sugar to determine diabetes.