4 Causes of Cloudy Vision

Loss of visual acuity or blurring of visual perception, that affects one or both the eyes, is known as cloudy vision. This may lead to haziness, dull the color perception, accompanied with glare or halo around lights.

There are a few potential causes that might cause cloudy vision such as:

A cataract is the most common condition that causes cloudy vision. In this condition one lens of the eye gets cloudy. It seems as if you are looking through a foggy window.

As the cataract grows, it starts interfering with daily activities as it makes it difficult to see things sharply and clearly.

It grows in both the eyes bit the rate is not the same. It might grow fast in one while may take a long time.

Age is the most common factor associated with the development of cataracts. Other factors include:

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Steroid medication
• Previous eye surgery
• Certain eye injuries

The symptoms of cataract include:

• Cloudy vision
• Sensitivity to light
• Double, eye vision
• Seeing halos of light
• Changes in glasses or contact

A condition that affects the cornea is known as Fuchs’ dystrophy.

The layer of cells, known as endothelium present in the cornea help pump fluid out of the cornea and keep the vision clear. In Fuchs’ dystrophy the endothelium slowly dies and this leads to fluid build-up in the cornea.

The condition is more common in females and in those with a family history of the disease⁽¹⁾

In the early stage of Fuchs’ dystrophy there is no symptom in most of the people.

Hazy vision in the morning is the first symptom. Other symptoms include:

• Blurry and cloudy vision
• Sensitivity to light
• Gritty feeling in the eye
• Tiny blisters in the cornea

A leading cause of vision loss, macular degeneration occurs by the deterioration of the middle part of the retina, a part that sends images to the brain⁽²⁾

There are two types of macular degeneration:

• Wet Macular Degeneration: It is caused by abnormal blood vessels forming behind the retina and leaking fluid.
• Dry Macular Degeneration: It is the common type and is caused by building up of small deposits called drusen under the center of the retina.

Initially, no symptom is noticed. Eventually, the vision starts getting cloudy or blurred.

Age is a major risk factor for macular degeneration, family history and race (common in Caucasians) the other factors.

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that leads to the damage of the blood vessels in the retina.

It occurs as the excess blood sugar blocks the blood vessels and cuts off the blood supply to the retina.

Those with type 1 and type 2 diabetes can develop diabetic retinopathy. Longer a person is with diabetes more are the chances to develop this condition.

Other factors that can cause diabetic retinopathy are:

• High blood pressure
• Smoking
• High cholesterol

In early diabetic retinopathy, no symptom is seen. Gradually the following symptoms show up:

• Muted colors
• Floaters
• Vision loss
• Blurred vision
• Empty areas in the vision

Cloudy vision can also occur suddenly due to the following conditions:

• Eye injury, on getting hit in the eye
• Eye infection, that occurs from herpes, syphilis, tuberculosis, and toxoplasmosis.
• Eye inflammation, due to which the white blood cells rush to the place of injury to contain the pain and swelling and destroy the eye tissue and cause cloudy vision.
• If the cloudy vision occurs occasionally, there is nothing much to worry about. If the cloudiness lasts for a day or two a doctor should be consulted.

Also, see the doctor if the following symptom appears:

• Change in vision
• Severe eye pain
• Sudden headache
• Double vision
• Seeing flashes of light
• Gritty feeling in the eye

Whatever is the cause but when one encounters cloudy vision, it should be brought to the doctor’s notice and corrected, as it can hamper many activities of the daily routine.